When
leaving Española, we almost took a detour to Taos, which sounds like
an Elmore Leonard western. Maybe I should steal that title for my
own. Yup. Something inspiring about this landscape. The Land of
Enchantment.
"We’re
going around the eastern flank of the supervolcano,” said Emily.
We stopped for a restroom break, and bought ice tea and water at a charming, non-corporate, middle of nowhere gas station/convenience store called Margarita’s, It was run by a talkative old guy, radiated back-country charm, and had a bar attached. The condom dispenser offered patriotic products.
There
were a lot of pizzarias along the highways, getting into the Indian
reservations. I wonder if they add green chile to make their pizzas
New Mexico Style?
As
we approached Farmington, we saw oil wells, refineries, casinos,
even a horse race track. Also farmland and beautiful mountains. What
more can working people want?
Pancho
Villa, Emiliano Zapata, and other Mexican revolutionaires looked over
us as we had dinner at Tequila’s in Farmington. Our motel had more
Native American patrons and employees.
Finally,
we were heading home . . .
What
century is this? Did we find America in Aztlán? Who was the
president?
And
a Koch brother died.
On
Highway 64 going toward Shiprock,we passed a massive automotive
graveyard. Soon we were going through the Big Rez, toward
Arizona, always mindblowing. Real wide-open spaces . . . spacey . . .
space . . . geological wonderland . . . modern day Native Wild West .
. .
Suddenly,
Emily swerved to avoid killing a reservation dog.
When
we returned to Phoenix’s urban sprawl, flags were at half-staff
again.
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