Gallup, New Mexico
We started the day off in West Texas and are now in East New Mexico - a long day of driving. Lunch in Gallup and dinner in a Pueblo run restaurant. Got some nice crafts made by a Pueblo family - a carved buffalo miniature and a beaded necklace with a turtle charm at the end.
The bus amazingly, has been pretty good. Lots of massaging and stretching in the aisles, but people are in good spirits in spite 12 hours on the road. We startedtoday in a scary ice storm (Texas doesn't salt their roads and doesn't usually get ice storms) but managed to make it into New Mexico at a snail's pace and by the afternoon the sun was out and the ice was melted away. While the roads were treacherous, that trees were beautifully frosted. It was quite surreal to see this in a desert setting - stay tuned for pics on Fred Askews web site.
I've made two trips here before, once when I was about 6 with Patsy and Ed (PA parents) and once when I was about 15 with Jon and Inga and Alex (Illinois family). Both times, but particular when camping the first time, I felt a very strong draw to this land, and this trip has reaffirmed that feeling. I would like to move here for some period of time - I think it would be positive for my spiritual growth. There is something about this land that gives me great peace of mind.
At the back of the bus tonight we had a really wonderful jam session - we sang some standards (Brown Eyed Girl and some oldies I didn't know but made up a bass line for anyway) and some 12 bar blues for everyone to take turns making up verses. I started up a round of the old labor spiritual, 16 tons of #9 coal, one of my faves from high school choir days, though I never remember it sounding that good back then! It was a was a great way to build positive spirits on that tired bus trip. Nasser, a new member of the choir playing percussion who lives in NYC but is original from Uganda also got involved - he taught us a simple song from his home. I should write more about him - he was an olympic boxer! He boxed in the 2000 Australian games, I think middle weight. We are going to work out together in Vegas if we can find a decent gym. It is amazing to think he boxed, he seems to me like one of the most gentle spirits I know.
Tomorrow we have a later start, 10 AM, a nice change from our crack of dawn schedule. I should get some sleep now, though, my knack for being able to doze through almost anything has come in really useful for catching up on z's while we drive. I guess I perfected this on the road trips Patsy and Ed used to take us kids on - I had to sleep through all of Jenny and Robs teasing. Heh heh.
I was given a video camera by the film crew tonight. I am supposed to tape the choir with the idea being that I can get more initimate footage because they will be more relaxed around me. Which is true. But I also feel slightly traiterous. We are being filmed all day and the only time we are off is in our rooms at night and now not even then!!! Well, I am attempting to be respectful and I think most people here don't mind too much or make it obvious if they do mind.
Alas, no pictures of my own to post, but keep checking Fred Askew's homepage (see the very first entry for the link), he is updating them when he gets the chance.
And please please please leave me a comment, even if it just to say 'yo'! I want to know if anyone is reading this and if I should keep writing!
The bus amazingly, has been pretty good. Lots of massaging and stretching in the aisles, but people are in good spirits in spite 12 hours on the road. We startedtoday in a scary ice storm (Texas doesn't salt their roads and doesn't usually get ice storms) but managed to make it into New Mexico at a snail's pace and by the afternoon the sun was out and the ice was melted away. While the roads were treacherous, that trees were beautifully frosted. It was quite surreal to see this in a desert setting - stay tuned for pics on Fred Askews web site.
I've made two trips here before, once when I was about 6 with Patsy and Ed (PA parents) and once when I was about 15 with Jon and Inga and Alex (Illinois family). Both times, but particular when camping the first time, I felt a very strong draw to this land, and this trip has reaffirmed that feeling. I would like to move here for some period of time - I think it would be positive for my spiritual growth. There is something about this land that gives me great peace of mind.
At the back of the bus tonight we had a really wonderful jam session - we sang some standards (Brown Eyed Girl and some oldies I didn't know but made up a bass line for anyway) and some 12 bar blues for everyone to take turns making up verses. I started up a round of the old labor spiritual, 16 tons of #9 coal, one of my faves from high school choir days, though I never remember it sounding that good back then! It was a was a great way to build positive spirits on that tired bus trip. Nasser, a new member of the choir playing percussion who lives in NYC but is original from Uganda also got involved - he taught us a simple song from his home. I should write more about him - he was an olympic boxer! He boxed in the 2000 Australian games, I think middle weight. We are going to work out together in Vegas if we can find a decent gym. It is amazing to think he boxed, he seems to me like one of the most gentle spirits I know.
Tomorrow we have a later start, 10 AM, a nice change from our crack of dawn schedule. I should get some sleep now, though, my knack for being able to doze through almost anything has come in really useful for catching up on z's while we drive. I guess I perfected this on the road trips Patsy and Ed used to take us kids on - I had to sleep through all of Jenny and Robs teasing. Heh heh.
I was given a video camera by the film crew tonight. I am supposed to tape the choir with the idea being that I can get more initimate footage because they will be more relaxed around me. Which is true. But I also feel slightly traiterous. We are being filmed all day and the only time we are off is in our rooms at night and now not even then!!! Well, I am attempting to be respectful and I think most people here don't mind too much or make it obvious if they do mind.
Alas, no pictures of my own to post, but keep checking Fred Askew's homepage (see the very first entry for the link), he is updating them when he gets the chance.
And please please please leave me a comment, even if it just to say 'yo'! I want to know if anyone is reading this and if I should keep writing!
posted by Ben DT at 2:19 AM
4 Comments:
yay, ben. i salute you...er... for those about to rock...er... so happy to hear about your travels. stay safe!!
I haven't been to Texas, but your description sounds beautiful. It's sort of refreshing to spend time in a totally different climate from where you live. My husband and I just went to Vegas, and I was totally blown away by how imposing and beautiful the mountains are out west. Completely different from our east coast mountains. It's great to hear what's going on with you!
BEN! i know you will be so happy about this--don't know how much access to the news you have.
http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/12/21/arctic.drilling.ap/index.html
I like your narratives ben; makes me conformatable enough to be filmed.
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