June 20, 2017 Day 3 Corrales NM

So today Dick went with his long time friend Ella Joan to witness the final adoption procedures of three children. She has devoted herself for many, many years for doing her part in helping to create things forever families for these children. It was an honor for Dick to watch her in action and to see the joy on these families’ faces. The process of adoption is in part a long time process of holding your breath and hoping it will all work out. Having the final word that says this child is now forever in this family! This is very cool, and very moving for Dick.  He was struck by the fact that not only the adoptive parents but large members of their extended families were  (grand parents, great grandparents, cousins, aunts uncles) were there to affirm these children as important members of their family.  Dick even got to the  “official” photographer taking photos for the families after the legal proceedings were done. 

Dick and Ella Joan had over an hour’s drive each way to the court house so they had a nice chance to catch up, but discovered there is no way to fill in all of the gaps of the past 30 years.  Nice to reconnect, though. 

While Dick was off in court, Patti first had some time to just hang out at the Airbnb.  She walked the meditation labyrinth that is behind the house.

Then she had the chance to hang out in the shade in a hammock.  Here are some thoughts she was able to dictate in the Dragonspeak app on her phone during that time.

So what is it about traveling that drives us to do it so often? The chance to get away from our everyday life to do different things to see different places, different sites, talk with different interesting people. The chance to be reminded that there are many different ways to live in this world, that there are many, many good people everywhere who are doing their part in caring for the earth, caring for the children. We get the chance to see the beauty of the earth, the mountains, in the deserts, the sunsets and sometimes even sunrises. We see the quirky places of the dinosaurs eating the mannequins. We see the places in history where people lived in triumph and suffered.  It is good it is juicy and we love it.

And so what is it about the desert that is beautiful and powerful? Driving to the desert reminds us of the power of sun and heat.  The power of what it means to have water or not to have water as we're dealing with temperatures that are 100° and higher.  As we are so grateful for air conditioning we are reminded for thousands of years people lived in this land and had no air conditioning, had no fans, had no electricity and they found their way.  They planted trees.  They found time to sleep in the afternoon, in the high noon sun.  They followed the water.  They changed with the seasons.  They were able to find a way to live in harmony with nature without destroying it.  There is beauty in those who survive in the desert.  Driving through it, staying in it reminds us of that.  Enjoying the feeling of a breeze while laying in a hammock watching the jackrabbit and the quail wander in the shade.  This is good. Enjoying the labyrinth in the backyard of the Airbnb, walking that meditative path which leads nowhere and yet to the center of all.  This is good.

And then, Tomi came over, and she and Patti spent a nice chunk of time just catching up on may things: life, family, health, politics.  Old friends are so precious and we have known each other since we were seminary roommates at Luther Seminary in 1982.   A long, long time ago.

When Dick got back, we got the chance to hear about the adoptions and we all got teary eyed as he told the stories and showed up some photos of the morning.

Then a little rest, and we met up with Tomi and Hank at a salad bar restaurant for cool food and good talk.  A nice way to end the day.