Last week was our now annual Spring trek to New Mexico. We arrived in NM just in time for huge wind storms. I remember the constant gust that lasted from March to September, but this was some insane wind. The kind that makes you grab the airplane seat in front of you because the turbulence is so bad. The kind that throws open doors and blows up your shirt. The kind of wind that is hated and feared by all contacts-wearers! The kind where you can tell the beautician to skip the exfoliation step at your next facial because the first three layers of your skin has been sand-blasted off.
Anyhoo, I digress! We also arrived at the New Mexico Tech campus just in time for the opening of the new Student Union Building. One of the things I have always loved about the Tech campus is how it feels like home when I’m there. It’s this lovely oasis in the desert, with green grass, tall trees, and vibrant flower beds. There are several buildings that were built in the 1930’s by the WPA, so there’s a wonderful feeling of history on the campus. And they have worked hard over the last few years to make all of the buildings look similar in their old Spanish Mission theme, even as the buildings are renovated.
And then they built the new Student Union Building. It’s ironic to me that the new SUB is 3 floors tall, but only one floor is for the students. But what made me sad is that the building completely dwarfs everything around it, and totally throws a wrench in the the architectural theme of the campus. The interior is cold and uninviting, and they sucked up at least 1/3 of the gorgeous lawn. I was just disappointed all around.
But after my meetings at NMT, we headed up to Albuquerque for the weekend to visit a couple of friends. It’s impossible to visit everyone I should visit in 2 days, so I know we missed some folks. But I had so much fun! And we got to frolic, albeit for a short time, in the mountains, which is always good for the soul.
We spent quite a lot of time wandering the streets of ABQ. I remember just enough about the street layout to get us almost hopelessly lost until we happened upon a street that was familiar. I called this the Becca Method of Navigation, which you’ve probably heard most people refer to as Trial & Error. Okay, in my case, it was mostly error. 
I was sad to be leaving ABQ after what seemed like such a short visit. I saw my college roomie for the first time in almost 7 years. I saw a few more friends, and met some who I hope to call friends in the future. I miss my friends terribly sometimes, more so at that moment of leaving. I can’t say I don’t have friends at home. I do. But there are different types of friends with different levels of connection. The friends I have in ABQ are kindred spirits. Those are the friends that nuture our spirits, share our dreams, know our secrets, and love us anyway. You can’t find those everywhere!
Recent Comments