Kathryn Lash married Dan Leeds in Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, New Mexico on Sunday, May 28, 2023. I’ll eventually dedicate an essay collection to the significance of my best friend’s wedding; for now; I’ll share that it served as a catalyst for a road trip through part of the American Southwest.
As I drove northwest through Texas on Friday, with the anticipation of the wedding festivities mounting, I took in the expansive grandeur of the plains. Passing through various hamlets, I recalled summers in Tallulah, Louisiana - my mother’s hometown. I saw Black cowboys and independent grocery stores that instilled a warm sense of nostalgia.
I passed through southern New Mexico to get to Albuquerque, so a stop in Roswell was beyond necessary. No aliens appeared, but the ever-classic JCPenney reeled me in after a delicious lunch.
I continued north on a state highway that allowed me to continue to take in the beauty of this region of the country. After making it through a tornado warning (I need to be more vigilant about heeding my phone’s warnings), I got to Albuquerque around 4:30 that afternoon.
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Following the perfect weekend, I began the SW state capital tour. A steady 50-minute drive landed me in Santa Fe on Monday evening. Through the gracious introduction of a mutual friend, I met up with an incredible comrade & fellow abolitionist lawyer, Vic, for dinner & a hike. If you ever find your way to Santa Fe, I highly recommend La Choza.
I followed Vic to a trail about 15 minutes away from the hike, and we began our climb to behold the sunset.
I can think of few things better than discussing prison abolition - and the importance of a radical imagination - with a brilliant comrade while witnessing the sights above.
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On Tuesday, I commenced my only full day in northern New Mexico with a walk to the State Capitol. The heart of the elementary school-version of myself fluttered, especially because, given the centrality of most capital cities, it would seem like Albuquerque would be the state capital over Santa Fe.
After I got back to my hotel, I quickly transitioned into a small road trip to Taos. About 60 miles deeper into the grand expanse of northern New Mexico, one can observe the most stunning sights within the U.S.
I didn’t previously realize that a great deal of the landscape in and surrounding Taos is managed by the U.S. Department of Interior’s Bureau of Land Management. In addition to a downright pleasant lunch & stroll through Taos Plaza, I also unintentionally visited a National Monument.
I’ll also elaborate in a subsequent post about how emotional this short trip to Taos made me. The recurring thought centered around my gratitude for existence in all of its wonder & complexity.
I’m off to Colorado today, and I can’t wait to share even more updates from this restorative journey.