Another Walk

The girls and Joseph prepare to help Mary go wading at Sabino one last time.

Mary has gone on a new walk. For sixteen years I was lucky enough to be able to call her my adopted Mom. Today we released her mortal remains to wander Sabino and wherever else she chooses to go. It was a good place, cliffs, water, trees, a stretch of creek lined beach and people she loved, even more it was the canyon she loved.

She had told me once she wanted a handful of her ashes left on the trail to Pueblo Alto, also the trail to Wijiji, at sundown, the great kiva at Casa Rinconada and in the plaza of Penasco Blanco. She also wanted some left at the Village of the Great Kivas, at Hawikuh, Kinishba, Awatovi, Antelope House and Aztec. I remember I laughed and told her there wasn't enough of her to go around so Sabino would have to do.

She packed a lot of life into the last twenty years. I don't think she would give back any of it.

Perhaps my clearest picture of her is her toddling into The Inn at Farmington early one morning, having taken a brisk walk along the Animas River trail, couple of miles just to get herself ready for the day. I meanwhile, was dragging my rusty butt up to try and wolf down breakfast before we were scheduled to leave. She was a force of nature, a great companion of unflagging good humor who was always happiest to be off on another adventure. I can only hope she will enjoy this one near as much as all the others.