It's hard to remember anything about today outside of our stop in sleepy little Deming, N.M., where we had some soul-satisfying lunch at Irma's restaurant. There we ate enough chile-smothered goodness to keep our tanks filled until our next trip home to Albuquerque and boy was it tasty: stuffed sopapillas, rellenos, carne asada, fresh tortillas and beans, all bathing in red and green chile. Oh! Sweet ambrosia. And L chose a couple of rubber ducks for her and baby C to bring on the road as souvenirs of Deming's annual duck races. We'd love for the Navy to transfer us to that quaint community for our next tour.
We put in a moderate 400-miler today, which got us to Casa Grande--about halfway between Tucson and Phoenix. Along the route C helped me spot "choo-choo" trains chugging through the desert and the scenery was absolutely breathtaking. I loved seeing those big person-shaped cacti standing sentry as we chugged along through the Arizona countryside. And with signs for Tombstone and the Rio Grande I felt like I was in the old wild west.
We're tired of the car and eating out now, and the good news is our new doorstep is just 350 miles away tomorrow, barring any disasters. California here we come!
Today's blessings are many: Catching my favorite radio program "This American Life" on NPR out of El Paso ... a Magic Tree House story on CD ... the way C says "Eeeeyah!" when I pull his socks off during a hot afternoon leg of our journey ... the way L helps her baby brother get through the last few minutes of a drive with her special big sister tricks ... that L thanks God for a wonderful day during dinner-time prayer, even though she was stuck in the car all day ... N's consistent loading and unloading of the vehicles each morning and night without complaint ... the knowledge that our new home is within striking distance.
What I could have done without: Locating our two cats inside the hotel box spring this morning, ripping apart the bed and flipping the spring upside down to find them, then tearing a small hole in the fabric to drag them out by their neck scruffs before hitting the road. Sneaky little vermin.
Thank you for sharing your journey. I know it has been a long one and it sounds like your children are doing amazing!! I just love all the pictures and the insight from you..it has been so fun! I can feel the anticipation of reaching your home and finally being able to get out of the car!! Hang in there..you are almost there!!!
ReplyDeleteI am loving keeping up with your travels. The kids are doing amazing -- they are real troopers! Good luck with the last bit of the trip.
ReplyDeleteHere's to red and green!
ReplyDeleteL's little face is so precious as she admires her ducks. And boy do I know those awesome New Mexico skies. Call when you get home.
ReplyDeletelove to each of you.