More hot walking weather awaits me– temperatures in the upper 80s, reaching the 90s. Once again, I venture out to take steps on a path unfamiliar to me, this time guided toward an invitation to camp near Adobe Deli, which is just over 11 miles from the RV park on the east end of Deming, NM, where I’ve spent the last 36 hrs resting, recuperating, and chatting with the seniors of the RV park. The local United Methodist Church paid for me to stay two nights here– a wonderful gift which has allowed me to meet a handful of happy people here, in addition to the crusty-mannered owner/manager. One of my elder peers here tells me that the retiree-rich town of Deming is nicknamed “God’s waiting room.” If Cory is going to call Deming God’s waiting room, then it’s not fair to simply single out Deming: the whole Southwest is rich with retiree snowbirds, so many of whom I’ve been meeting ever since Palm Springs, CA. Most are great people, and their desire to escape the freezing weather of the northern climates is well understood– as I’ve acted similarly three of the past four winters, and will be south this coming winter as well.
Last week, I sent a message to the universe asking if anyone knew of a contact in Deming who would host me. Tamara, an acquaintance from high school (who I haven’t seen in fifteen years), appeared and had gave me the contact info of a friend of her husband (a man I haven’t met), Brooke, and I will be hosted by Brooke’s family, owners of Adobe Deli, tonight. Fortunately, I seem to have been having the best luck with all Brookes in the Southwest! (I’m so thankful to Tamara for lining this up!)
From Adobe Deli, it’s another 50 miles to Las Cruces, where I plan to spend a handful of days, with more than one host. I’m told it’s a cool town (most college towns seem to be), and I’m very optimistic about making it there soon.
After Las Cruces, I will continue walking near I-10, all the way to El Paso, where the NBC affiliate has been waiting to cover the Walk story ever since Tucson. El Paso is less than 50 miles from Las Cruces, and though my plan is to return to New Mexico and walk east through White Sands, Alamogordo, Artesia, and beyond, I love the idea of piercing through Texas’ spur-happy borders as early as next week. And since El Paso made the list of the ten fattest cities in America recently, it also makes sense for me to go there and promote a message of physical fitness, walking, etc. To add to this all, there’s the social interest: as few seem to have good things to say about El Paso, I somehow find myself more attracted to paying a visit there– especially given that I already have a handful of invitations from locals there. I’d love to gain a visual of the El Paso, which I find I’m totally lacking– we all have a visual of the Statue of Liberty or Empire State Building before ever setting foot in NYC, of the Sears Tower before reaching Chicago, the beach before bathing in Miami’s waves, but El Paso..? I draw a blank– but not for long…
I’m within just a few weeks of my summer recess. I’m not sure yet of the exact date or destination, but some time next month, I’ll be postponing the Walk, at which point I’ll return home for the summer months, strategize the PR of the next chapters of the Walk (including speaking to many schools), do some volunteer work, visit family, meditate, distribute lavender freely, and perhaps even walk across the State of Washington– all while missing out on torturous Texas summer heat.
For now, hotter miles to come and more happy people to meet, I continue east this afternoon through the dry, gently rolling valleys of God’s Waiting Room…