Out West. Friday. 7/2/2010.

This morning we got up at the crack of dawn. If I hadn't made it clear before, I'm not a huge fan of such early risings. However, as I have discovered, if it's something like exploring Monument Valley, I'm a little more reasonable about it all. I'm glad we had a chance to drive out there, even if we didn't do a tour or the "legit" scenic drive. Rather, we simply drove around the outskirts and made a visit to the overlook at the visitors center. It was without a doubt worth seeing. The solitary rock monuments were beautifully bathed in the orange glow of late morning. Impressive to say the least, it was worth the detour, even if we didn't linger long. Since we wanted a good chunk of the day to spend with Aunt Bev, we had to get back on the road fairly quick. I wasn't sure what to expect regarding Aunt Bev's place. I had heard a lot about it from dad, he adores the place, but couldn't picture any part of it. What I wasn't prepared for was just how unbelievably strong spirited my 76 year old Aunt Bev was. Here she is living alone quite literally out in the middle of nowhere outside of Rama, New Mexico. Completely self sufficient, her entire house is eco-friendly/green, she cares for 2 horses, numerous cows, chickens, pigeons, an 8 foot bullsnake, and her 3 boisterous and loveable dogs. She knows just about anything and everything there is to know about the American Southwest and the Navajo people and teaches part time out at the Navajo reservation right around the corner from her house. It's a different lifestyle here and immensely hard to explain over a blog. One can only partially understand the neighborly love and concern from an outsiders perspective by observation and one can only fully understand through experience, through living it. They all take care of each other other there, it's like one big family. True that she's quite alone out there in here little farm shack in the desert, yet completely and utterly false at the same time, because she's never truly alone. Not only that but it is unbelivable to see and hear of the love these Navajo people have for her. How much respect they have for this fearlessly independent 76 year old. I'm more than proud to call her family, I'm in awe that this amazing person is in fact family. You could listen to her stories and perspectives for hours and never tire of it. Although it was the first time I formally met her, I feel like I've known her for my whole life. When it was dinnertime, we all helped cook a chicken dinner in her small kitchen and watched the sunset as we ate outside. There's a peacefulness about her lifestyle. A calmness. A sense of fulfillment. I don't think I've ever seen someone so content with their life before. After talking to Aunt Bev and listening to her stories till late, I finally retired to the small shed me and my family were staying in outside. It wasn't much, but I was more than happy. I could get used to living this way...