Happy New Year from New Mexico!

Happy New Year—from a place I never expected to call home! A quick switcheroo brought us to Santa Fe, where we have been enjoying the special magic of the holidays. Christmas Eve found us on the Canyon walk along with 30,000 of our neighbors, enjoying the warm glow of thousands of farolitos—or are they luminarias?—lining every building on the street.

Luminarias on Canyon Road in Santa Fe More luminarias on Canyon Road in Santa Fe

People gathered by the dozens around the little bonfires in the street, called luminarias—or are they farolitos?—to warm up from the chilly night and to sing carols.Singing around a bonfire on Canyon Road in Santa FeMy favorite gathering was the brass ensemble, about half a dozen horns plus a sax or two, leading “It Came upon a Midnight Clear” in expert style while people around the fire sang not just one or two but all four verses, reading from their sheet lyrics. Then the band broke the solemn tone with “Chicken Dance,” complete with motions, explaining that this was indeed “a Christmas chicken!” while we all chicken-danced in the street.

Everybody now—”I don’t want to be a chicken . . . “

Handcrafted door in Santa FeOur move to Santa Fe came about unexpectedly, but in hindsight it makes perfect sense. An opportunity opened up to rent a house in this city I have loved for twenty years, and being self-employed, we were free to turn on a dime. The move took place, start to finish, in about six weeks, the idea arising just days after my last blog post. We’ve been here half a month. My head  is still spinning.

I love being in walking distance of the Santa Fe plaza. I love the beauty that catches the eye at every turn.

 Carved facade downtown in Santa FeI love the history of handcrafting everywhere displayed.

Carved wooden door in Santa FeAdobe architecture has long made me drool—and now I get to live in it! (This is not our front door, but it’s nearby.)

Sending warm good wishes to each of you, and may you dwell with your loved ones in peace and beauty this year.

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10 Responses to Happy New Year from New Mexico!

  1. Rivvy Neshama says:January 1, 2014 at 7:56 pm

    I’m so happy for you and Tim! We look forward to seeing you in your new home and new city and state! Happy New Year! R & J

    • Priscilla Stuckey, PhD says:January 2, 2014 at 10:35 pm

      Thank you, Rivvy! Do come visit us in this very special town.

  2. karen l. kirsch says:January 1, 2014 at 8:17 pm

    Oh, Lucky you! I too love NM and after many visits your visual tour was like being there again. I wish you great happiness in your new ‘home.’

    • Priscilla Stuckey, PhD says:January 2, 2014 at 10:37 pm

      Thank you, Karen! Happy New Year to you!

  3. Julene Bair says:January 3, 2014 at 10:10 pm

    What lovely photos and thoughts. Glad that you and Tim are enjoying your new home.

    • Priscilla Stuckey, PhD says:January 4, 2014 at 4:39 pm

      Thanks, Julene! It’s a big deal to leave friends and mountains we know for friends and mountains yet to be known. Thanks for entering the most recent chapter of our lives, and may our shared stories continue. Readers, Julene’s memoir THE OGALLALA ROAD is coming out in early March. Check it out!

  4. Kimball Star Fox says:January 5, 2014 at 6:44 pm

    Priscilla, I listened to you on New Dimensions (Kissed by a Fox) and was drawn to this site.
    As you know the forest is full of beings which we are a small part of. I feel for the “Tall Standing Ones” (the trees) and I feel for the spirit of the unified forest. How we as beings strategize to make our offspring in such diversity is wonderment. The trees have grounded themselves both in the mother earth (the changing) and to the father sky (the unchanging) and to me I fell this to be their choice, they take this way to live. I believe we should choose to help them because of their healing and balancing effect they have on us. I am a believer that they are brethren. They are also working to save me to.
    Thanks for all that you do for us Priscilla.

    • Priscilla Stuckey, PhD says:January 5, 2014 at 7:32 pm

      Thank you for listening, Kimball, and thanks for dropping by! Yes, we are just a small part of this huge web of beings, all of us contributing a piece of the weaving. Thanks for listening also to the other-than-human beings—and being responsive to them. Go well.

  5. Cindy Stamm Landis says:January 8, 2014 at 10:08 am

    Priscilla~ What a beautiful place to live! I’m so happy for you and Tim. May this next year bring amazing moments of goodness, love, and light!

    • Priscilla Stuckey, PhD says:January 8, 2014 at 10:34 am

      Thank you, Cindy, and thanks for dropping by! As you can tell, we’re delighted to be here among all this beauty. Much happiness to you this year as well!