Sit Down Sunday #2

I know today is Wednesday, but I finally got online today and here is my "Sunday" post. 

Today at mass (Sunday), Father H was talking about the two disciples who were walking along on the road to Emmaus and came upon Jesus but did not recognize him.  And how it is important for us to look for God every day because we never know in what form he is presenting himself to us.  Later at “big breakfast” with gaga and pop, Pop was telling us about how when he was in the National Guard they would leave Tucumcari around 10 am and drive to Pastura in their guard trucks. From here they would camp for the night then head out the next day to White Sands around 530 am.  “Back then there were around 350 of us”   “it was because of the draft, no one wanted to be drafted so they joined the guard” “now there is only 20-some in our guard.”

You have to remember that this was in the 1950’s and they were going 40 mph. 

This story started me to thinking about how anymore we jump in the car and hit 80 on the interstate and get where we want to go in a flash.  Do we take the time to see God in our lives?  Do we stop to see the beauty he gives us in a sunset, a new born calf or the return of grass after a fire? 

I am as guilty as anyone for not slowing down to smell the proverbial roses.  Like driving through Yesso and not taking 10 minutes to photograph the old mercantile with the clouds built up behind it.. a moment lost. So this week it’s time to remember to slowdown and take the second look or simply take a moment to enjoy what God has given us.

Sit Down Sunday -- Fires

I

Chico Hills ..

Yesterday I was hauling booty over the hill to my house and got “picked up” as Gaga would say by the state police.  Luckily I was given a written warning and continued on my way, at a much more sedate pace.  I rounded the corner and saw that Pop – my dad’s dad—was sitting in his truck under “the tree.” I pulled over hiked through the bar ditch in my flip flops, hopped the irrigation ditch (in my flip flops) and was about to climb through the fence when Bear –50 lb Austrailian Shepard cross—gave me a flat tire.  I went flying sans flip flop and popped him in the chin with my heel in the process.  He promptly parks it on my errant flop while I hop around on my remaining flip trying to get him to move! Well finally get the flop back on and rip my favorite pair of Bermuda shorts while I’m climbing through the fence! And through all of this, Pop is still sound asleep (windows down) in the pickup.  SO at this point I’m no longer mad.. I’m steaming mad! I was mad to start with – hence the speeding so it was time to have an emotional explosion with Pop.. and I did and I felt better.  Then we started talking about some things that Mr. P had told me about the Clovis fire and all the fence his family was having to rebuild and my concern of grass coming back after a fire as hot as the Clovis fire which led to Pop telling me one of his infamous stories. So here is a story of Pop.. back in the days of Abbott, Farley, and Chico Hills..

“I remember one time there was a fire that ran from Abbott to Chico hills, and back then we couldn’t really fight the fires we just had to let them burn so if your house was in the way it just went.  This fire was almost 4 miles wide and it took everything in its path.  But the grass came back.. it always comes back.  “

So ending with that part of Pop’s story (which continued on and ended up about drinking whisky in “Looze-anna” ) I am going take on my week remembering that even though I may feel completely burnt out  . .. the grass always comes back. 

So with that, Have a great week!

Annie

(Pop napping under the tree with the sheep)

(Pop and I -- his favorite :))