Wonders of New Mexico

Imagine witnessing 500,000 or more 🦇 bats ascend on the night sky out of a deep cavern for over 2 hours as the sun dips below the New Mexican horizon. The roost swirls overhead. Countless. Infinite. Silent save for flapping of wings and faint squeaks. One bat elicits fear in most (not me i’ve always thought they’re cute lol). But thousands? Hundreds of thousands? They seemed more like a roost of 🦋 butterflies. So beautiful in their multitude. Such a special moment savored by an audience free of cell phones, cameras, devices of any kind. A collective experience of awe at the wonders of our world. And this happens every night at Carlsbad Caverns. And not one picture could be taken besides in ones mind. Prior to that, picture an afternoon driving through the town of Roswell New Mexico. Learning of possible alien sightings and crashing on our own soil. Walking through museums and galleries about 👽 ALIENS. Getting to dine at a restaurant that was like a scene from a movie. Everyone knew each other and knew we were from out of town because we picked a LIVESTOCK AUCTION to dine at for lunch. The menu was just a suggestion, the owners let you order whatever your heart desires and if they have the ingredients, they’ll whip it up with hospitality that will bring you to a state of happy belly and community. (Terry’s Sale Barn Cafe) Finally, the morning. Waking prior to dawn to meet your balloon 🎈 crew friends at the Alburquerque balloon fiesta 🪅 for dawn patrol and witnessing hundreds of balloons inflate and “glow” at once on a field full of joyful spectators and children. Handing out balloon cards to the happiest of kids and sharing in the collective joy of thousands around you. No one got to fly due to high wind, but it wasn’t any less special. More so actually to see so many balloons towering high and never getting too far out of reach to enjoy them intimately. The day described was my birthday earlier this month and I know the theme I can glean for the year to come is abundance and multitudinous because of the way the first day played out and the memories that were the greatest gifts. Especially to get to share the day with people I cherish dearly.