At dawn you could see the town in the distance. Right beneath the rising sun, the lights twinkled as if the Milky Way itself had come to kiss the earth. The roosters wrestled with the morning silence to awaken the day from its slumber, and of course the roosters won. So, through the gentle coax of nature I slinked out of bed to let the ducks and chickens out of their coops. Flanked to my left was my feline companion, escorting me through boxes, tools, and debris to reach the sliding doors leading to the early chill. This Southwest Spring morning was actually not too bad– pleasant, almost, with a light jacket and hood guarding my head from the steady breeze. What brought me to this little farm in the middle of a place that many might mistake for nowhere? Well, I had a visceral need for something and a feeling that this was the spot to find it. I was not disappointed.
If you’re like me, with very little knowledge about New Mexico, the public relations that greeted me at the door let me know very quickly that New Mexico is drugs, aliens, and desert. And where I stayed was certainly the desert. Cacti and thorned bushes grew freely around the yard, something that the animals were used to navigating. I, on the otherhand, was glad for the thick jeans and close-toed shoes I had brought despite still getting the occasional prick and snag. Dust seemed to easily coat everything I owned with a vintage Western filter. However, the earth itself was striated in warm, lively hues ranging from the dark yellow of a coffee stain to a Martian red. And although I didn’t get to venture the sand dunes that I was told can be found in the state, I’m sure they,too, would’ve been sights to see. I think I like the desert.
Despite it being Spring and South, many of the days were similar to what I was beginning to experience before I had left Northern Virginia. It seemed as if the new season was struggling to push Winter out. Days peaked in the low 60s, often ranging in the 50s, and even dipping to rainy 40s, with the rare, but welcomed 70 degree day. The dry air made many of the cooler days more tolerable, however, nights brought a cold so outside of my expectation that I found myself turning to handy space heaters to be held in their warmth until the sun returned.
But the nights weren’t all bad. On some nights, I donned enough layers and went outside just to take in the sky. Looking up at so many stars felt like gazing into eternity. Coming from the suburbs, I was used to seeing flickering dots speckled sparsely across the black backdrop. Out in nowhere, however, more of the celestial beauties that typically shied away from the bright lights revealed themselves with brilliance. I hadn’t seen so many in one place since I had visited my father’s village in Ghana years ago. I think I like dark skies.
My days consistently held two chores, letting the birds out at sunrise and feeding the variety of critters at night. During these chores I learned through the tickling of my palms as they munched from my outstretched hand that llamas grab pellets with their lips. I learned that donkeys, or maybe just this particular one, are like over-sized dogs in demeanor, cuddly and playful. However, they are as stubborn as they say, or, again, maybe just this particular one. Her name was Nymeria and she doesn’t like harnesses nor when you run out of treats. I learned of goats who like Cinnamon Toast Crunch. There were three of them who’d rush to me whenever they saw a bowl in my hand. And when passing out the cereal, I made sure to give the smallest one, Ebony, hers separately while the other two locked horns.
I learned of the most affectionate cats. 4 of them. It took a couple days, a little longer for the biggest one, for them to feel comfortable to approach me, either keeping me company during my daily chores or demanding head scratches and belly rubs. Once the ice was broken, they’d even sleep alongside me in bed, nestling flush against my side or within the curve of my bent legs– an added bonus to the space heater. And lucky for me that I had them to help me write by sitting on top of my keyboard while I’m typing. I have never owned cats myself and so I sincerely ask: Is this a thing? Are cats drawn to laptops? Because I know it’s not just these particular ones.
The middle of the day varied. On most days we worked on the ongoing project of renovating the kitchen. My host instructed me in how to put a sink together which I was able to do TWICE with the help of tools I’ve never used before. Scratched up knuckles provided souveniers and evidence of the hard work. I learned how to use a caulk gun and was able to hear variations of the phrase “caulk it good” while keeping a straight face. We painted walls, stained cabinets and drawers, and I measured, cut, and glued wood for the trim of a tile counter. Handyman is officially on my resume and a miter box is on my wish list. For those who don’t know what a miter box is, it is a tool of sorcery.
In my free-time, I explored the wealth of reading material available. Music books, encyclopedias, magazines spanning decades filled the many bookshelves making this hideaway just as much a library as it was a farm. Although, I was able to finish some magazines, with more time, I would have loved to take a look at the science fiction and fantasy books which took up the greater part of the south facade of the house. According to my host, it is a collection she has been growing since childhood. And although a couple of days were also set aside to see caverns, aliens, and some of the natural landscape, she wondered why I wasn’t itching to go out even more. Part of it was my determination to finish this kitchen project and part was because I felt her library was the cooler option.
After spending weeks getting to know my host and her animals, leaving was tough. I’m not good at goodbyes. But like any adventure, I left with what felt like new incite and definitely some new skills to show off. No promises, because I haven’t asked her yet, but my hope is to record some of the life stories of my host, because she has lived some lives. As for me, the next part of my journey was a train trip across the country.
