Hooray! We have been given a deadline for Gallup. OK, so not really a deadline, more of a moving target some time in May. It is definitely a complicated timeframe. Emrys finishes school in late May and we need to be in Virginia in early June for a graduation/family reunion of sorts and Eric will most likely have follow on work in New Hampshire for a few weeks which leaves the kids and I to our own devices.
Times like these remind me of how much we are loved and how very lucky we are to have our family. They are so flexible and understanding, they completely amaze me. I send this: “There is a very real possibility we are out of Gallup mid-May. Any chance you’d like visitors until we go to VA?” And I get a warm and welcome reply. Family rocks!
Now my anal/OCD planning nature kicks in. It gives me a sense of control in a situation that is otherwise way beyond my control. I had our first day all planned and then it hit me…hey genius, what about Ethel? Needless to say, I am rebooting our driving to Texas plans. Since the kids are young, we can really only go about three hours before stopping. Unfortunately there isn’t a whole lot between Albuquerque and Amarillo and, once I got my head out of my butt, there is even less that is dog friendly. Right now it is looking like lots of fast food and parks, and maybe a quick visit inside Mesalands Community College’s Dinosaur Museum.
Since I have made plans, things will surely change. For now at least it looks like two days to Texas, visit with family, head to Virginia for a few days, then back to Wisconsin with the folks for a few weeks while Eric does his follow on. Hopefully after that we can settle in Illinois for a bit.
I cannot really say that I am sad to leave Gallup. For a town that was once named “The Most Patriotic Small Town in America” that luster seems to have faded. The parks and roads are littered with trash, people don’t say “hello” or “good morning” or even nod when you speak to them. I know a huge percentage of the community receives public assistance, and given that Gallup sees the convergence of three Native American nations (the Navajo, Zuni, and Pueblo I believe) there is a long history that comes into play. Poverty, alcoholism, unemployment, and crime (which all seem to travel together) are rampant, and what could be a beautiful place is instead randomly dotted with excess. This is only further exemplified by the careless mediocrity and abject poverty that surround it. Someone suggested cultural PTSD is partly to blame. I am not sure how I feel about that, the truth of it, whether it can exist for generations. I did see something the other day, which is probably easier said then done, but I think applies here
Healing doesn’t mean the damage never existed.
It means the damage no longer controls your life.
Is it all bad? No, there are some nice places and a few friendly people, but this is not the kind of place where I would invite family and friends to come visit and it isn’t going to make it on to our list of places to settle down.
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