On Friday night I went to a singles gathering with a new friend whom I met through my mother (strange, but true). It is called Friends First, which I like because it takes some pressure off. It seems like everyone in Santa Fe came from somewhere else. They have been here anywhere from two to thirty years. They come and go, and sometimes come back again. Many people are from the east coast, and I met two people from my home town. After the gathering I braved the cold night air and went out to dinner with three women, which was easy and full of laughter. We exchanged numbers and promised to get together again.
Yesterday I decided to walk everywhere, which was a mistake because distances are much greater when walking. “Just down the road” took me twenty minutes. I went out to breakfast (thirty minute walk considering getting lost), then to a yoga class (another forty minute walk) where a visiting violinist played in the beginning and end, had lunch, looked around in the shop, and walked home (another twenty minutes). A quick change and drove to my new friend’s house for dinner. The drive to her house at sunset was spectacular. She lives on a dirt road in a small community with grand vistas of the mountains. She considers it an honor when bobcats visit her backyard. She made butternut squash and black bean chili. She asked if it was too hot for me and showed me how to tone it down with sour cream. Delicious! Then we went to a salsa dance class where I danced until my legs could barely hold me up.
Today I am off to a yoga class and then out to lunch with someone I met on the plane. She is going to bring her friend so I can meet her. She and her husband live in New York and are building a new, green house here.
Tomorrow I am going to walk on Canyon Road, where many of the galleries are, with someone from the singles group. Santa Fe has the third largest art market in the country, only behind New York and Los Angeles. Art has a strong presence here, bringing vibrant New Mexico colors and bronze sculptures into every view. There is so much to see and do, and I just got here!
Wow! You made my legs wobbly. I do believe you have arrived where you belong! I can feel your hands itching to get creating, I can’t wait to see the outcome and Mr. Sparrow just laughed in my ear and said about your adventure, “You did good Ellie!” Hugs!
Fantastic! Thank you!
Loved your blog! I agree with your friend Barbara ! I do believe you found your niche! Enjoy to the utmost! Looking forward to the next entry.