Beyond Words

“Thankfulness is the beginning of gratitude.  Gratitude is the completion of thankfulness. 

Thankfulness may consist merely of words.  Gratitude is shown in acts.”

Henri Frederic Amiel

 

I’m sad. I’m a bit mad. And most of all I’ve had it. I’ve had it with Christmas taking over Thanksgiving’s important November role:  that of being the holiday of being gratitude, family, and friends. And food. And football. And fall. And simply one day for festivities and fun.

 

I LOVE Thanksgiving.  I love the food, I love the football, I love the family and friends, and I love fall.  I don’t love that people are already putting up Christmas trees and Christmas lights. Don’t get me wrong, I also love Christmas, but there’s a time and a place for everything.  And a month.

 

October is for Halloween.

November is for Thanksgiving.

December is for Christmas.

 

Holidays shouldn’t mix and match.  We don’t mesh Valentine’s Day with St. Patrick’s Day and Easter, so why Thanksgiving and Christmas? I don’t get it and it’s just wrong to be serving your turkey and dressing as you turn on the lights of your Christmas tree.  I know many of you disagree with me and countless of you may have already started your Christmas decoration deluge.  It’s bad enough that retail America starts with the Christmas stuff in October, but it’s not the Christmas season just yet!

 

Thanksgiving is very important.  Giving thanks and being grateful always is, so devoting an entire day to doing so should not be overshadowed by any other holiday or event…including Black Friday, the day we want everything after the day of being thankful for what we have.

 

For those of you who don’t know or have forgotten its origins, the very first Thanksgiving was celebrated by the Pilgrims in answer to their prayers for an end to the drought so they would have food. Those same pilgrims worked side-by-side with their new neighbors, Native American Indians, in a show of ultimate acceptance and teamwork.  These are important moments in our nation’s history and deserve to be saluted…all by themselves.

 

So please, do us all a favor and put away your lights and ornaments for just one more week.  Let’s all give Thanksgiving the holiday and the honor it deserves.

 

Agree or disagree?  Please let me know your thoughts on this.

As we gather round our tables and TVs later this month in celebration of the uniquely American holiday that is Thanksgiving, let’s take a minute to learn why we’re doing so and take another minute to actually be thankful, even in this most unusual and tumultuous year.

 

 

Appropriately, the very first Thanksgiving was preceded by a series of tumultuous events, starting in September of 1620 when a small ship called the Mayflower left Plymouth, England carrying 102 passengers. The group consisted of an assortment of religious separatists who were seeking a new home where they could freely practice their faith and were joined by others lured by the promise of prosperity and land ownership in a New World. You could say the Mayflower was filled with the original faithful and capitalists.

 

 

After a very treacherous 66 day trip, the Mayflower dropped anchor near the tip of Cape Cod and one month later crossed Massachusetts Bay where who we now call Pilgrims established a village at Plymouth.  It still was rough going though, as during that first brutal winter most of them remained on board and many got sick. Only half of the Mayflower’s original passengers and crew lived to see their first New England spring.

 

 

The following March in 1621, surviving settlers moved ashore and were later visited by various Native Americans who taught them how to cultivate corn, extract sap from maple trees, catch fish, and avoid poisonous plants. In November, after the Pilgrims’ first corn harvest proved successful, Governor William Bradford organized a celebratory feast and invited their Native American allies for what is now considered America’s first “Thanksgiving.”

 

In 1789 George Washington issued the first Thanksgiving proclamation when he called upon Americans to express their gratitude for the happy conclusion to our war of independence and the ratification of the U.S. Constitution. It wasn’t until 1846, however, that Thanksgiving became a national holiday when Abraham Lincoln made it official during the height of the Civil War. His proclamation entreated all Americans to ask God to “commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners, or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife” and to “heal the wounds of this nation.” Lincoln deemed the fourth Thursday in November Thanksgiving Day, but in 1939 Franklin D. Roosevelt moved the holiday up a week in an attempt to spur retail sales during the Great Depression.

 

 

As I write the I can’t help but think what our former leaders would think if they could see us today. Washington would probably cringe that our Constitution is being disparaged by many and in many ways and Lincoln would think his words sadly ring as clear today as they did back then. Racial and civil strife. Heal the nation. Chills, right? And as for Roosevelt’s move, it was probably a wise one for the times, but how ironic that the holiday meant to stimulate gratitude is followed by a day when we’re cajoled to spur retail sales all our own. We’re so thankful and yet want so much.

 

 

Yes, there is always, always something to be thankful for. So this year, let’s try to count really our blessings. Count our joys instead of our woes, count our friends instead of our foes, count our courage instead of our fear, count our health instead of our wealth, and count our smiles instead of our tears.

 

Thanksgiving Fun Facts

Benjamin Franklin wanted the turkey to be named the national bird instead of the bald eagle.

The tradition of the president pardoning a turkey every year started with Harry Truman.

More than 250 million turkeys are raised in the U.S. with more than 40 million gobbled up on Thanksgiving.

Male turkey gobble; females cluck.

The original Pilgrims and Native Americans probably shared rabbit, chicken, fish, goose, pigeon, squash, cabbage, beans, nuts, onions, eggs, and cheese at the first Thanksgiving, with not a green bean casserole in sight.

 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!

I’m no ancient spiritual, holistic, or New Age guru and consider myself devoutly faithful and religious, but I recently came upon something that piqued my interest. I was in New Mexico visiting my mom, sister, and niece and we were at an art/craft show when I saw a necklace I really liked. Pictured above, it’s a simple chain with seven colored beads dangling on the end. I thought it was so pretty and told the artist I wanted to buy it. It was then that I learned it’s a “chakra necklace.” Being that I’ve been a yoga devotee for many years, I was familiar with the term “chakra” but my knowledge was rudimentary. Until now.

 

 

 

Chakra (cakra in Sanskrit) means “wheel” or “disk” and consists of a complex and ancient energy system in our bodies that originated in India. Popularity has increased with the growth of yoga and New Age philosophies but they were first mentioned in the Vedas, a large body of religious texts originating in ancient India. Composed in Vedic Sanskrit, the texts constitute the oldest layer of Sanskrit literature and the oldest scriptures of Hinduism. Don’t get me wrong, this cradle Catholic is very religious and spiritual and I’m not jumping off the beliefs bridge; I just love learning new things. And, if along the way I can improve how my body functions and how my mind works, I’m all for it.

 

I’m here to share what I’ve learned and am pretty sure many out there know much more and can both add to and possibly correct some of this, but I’m giving it my best shot.

 

In short, chakras are energy points in our bodies. They are often referred to as spinning disks of energy that are in their best form when they’re “open” and aligned. They correspond to our nerves and major organs as well as areas of our bodies that affect our emotional and physical well-being.

 

 

 

 

Some say there are 114 chakras but the seven major ones that run along our spines to the tops of our heads are what most people refer to and talk about. Each of these seven has a corresponding number, name, color, health focus, and specific area of the spine from the sacrum to the crown of the head. It is believed that for a person to function at their best, chakras need to stay open, or balanced. If they get blocked, you may experience physical or emotional symptoms related to a specific chakra. One way to unblock or rebalance chakras is by doing certain yoga poses, breathing exercises, and mediation practices. Bingo! Now I truly understand why we do all those poses and breathing in yoga. It all makes sense. To clarify even more, let’s look at the seven major chakras.

 

 

The root chakra, or Muladhara, is located at the base of your spine. It provides a base or foundation for life, helps you feel grounded and able to withstand challenges, and is responsible for your sense of security and stability. A blocked root chakra can manifest as physical issues like arthritis, constipation, and bladder or colon problems. Blocked root chakras can also result emotionally through insecurity about finances, basic needs, or our general well-being. When it’s in alignment and open, we feel grounded and secure both physically and mentally.

 

 

The sacral chakra, or Svadhisthana, is located just below your belly button. This chakra is responsible for you creative and sexual energy and is also linked to how you relate to your emotions and the emotions of others. Issues with this chakra can be associated with urinary tract infections, lower back pain, and impotency. Emotionally, this chakra is connected to our feelings of self-worth, pleasure, and creativity. When balanced, you enjoy life and the fruits of your labor without overdoing things.

 

 

The solar plexus chakra, or Manipura, is located in your stomach area. It is responsible for confidence and self-esteem as well as helping you feel in control of your life. It is often considered the “bravery” and “boundary-setting” chakra. Blockages in it often result in digestive issues like ulcers, heartburn, eating disorders, and indigentsion. It’s also the chakra of our personal power, meaning it’s strongly related to our self-esteem and self-confidence.

 

 

The heart chakra, or Anahata, is located near your heart in the center of your chest. It should come as no surprise that it is connected to our ability to love and show compassion and feel connected to others. Blocks in our heart chakra can manifest in heart problems, asthma, and weight issues. It is the middle of the seven chakras, so it bridges the gap between our upper and lower chakras and when out of alignment, it can make us feel lonely, insecure, and isolated.

 

 

The throat chakra, or Vishuddha, is located in your throat and is related to our ability to communicate verbally. Voice and throat problems, including those having to do with our teeth, gums, and mouth, may indicate blockage. Blocks or misalignment can also be manifested through dominating conversations, gossiping, speaking without thinking, and having trouble speaking your mind and standing up for yourself. When in alignment, you will speak and listen with compassion and it will literally help you speak up in a smooth, confident, and authentic way. When balanced, the throat chakra allows you to openly and lovingly speak the truth and gives a voice to your personal preferences, beliefs, and values.

 

 

The third eye chakra, or Ajna, is located between your eyes. Think of this chakra as having a strong gut instinct as it’s responsible for our intuition. It’s also linked to imagination and connects us with our ego and our soul. Since this chakra is physically located on the head, blockages show up as headaches, sight or concentration issues, and hearing problems. People who have trouble listening to reality or tend to be “know it alls,” may also have a block. When open and in alignment, one will follow their intuition and see the “big picture.” When this chakra is balanced, you’ll feel in tune with the physical and spiritual world, as it is believed to be our human connection to the divine, aka God in my case.

 

 

The crown chakra, or Sahasrara, is located at the top of your head. It is linked to every other chakra (and therefore every organ in this system) so it affects not just all of those organs, but also our brain and nervous system. It is considered the chakra of enlightenment and represents our connection to our life’s purpose and spirituality. Personal habits such as poor physical alignment or posture, eating unhealthy food, or self-destructive behaviors result in an imbalanced crown chakra. Prolonged imbalance may lead to physical disease and illness, musculoskeletal issues, and mental health challenges like depression or anxiety. Those with a blocked crown chakra may seem narrow-minded, skeptical, or stubborn. When this chakra is open, it is thought to help keep all the other chakras open and bring about personal bliss and transcend suffering, otherwise known in the Buddhist tradition as “Nirvana.”

 

Opening and healing these chakras is key, and my amazing yoga instructor Nicki Simonich with www.inneressenceyoga.com is the expert healer and teacher. As she says, through life, these energy centers can become out of balance and show up in our days as things like lack of self-confidence, a creative block, or even a sense of not being safe. She coaches her clients to find their best inner selves and lives.

 

 

“Often when working one-on-one with clients for Trauma Informed Yoga Therapy and even Life Coaching, I can see how their struggles form a pattern connected to a certain chakra and together we work to bring balance back in,” she says. “For example, those who have experienced a trauma in their life will often experience a sense of not feeling safe and secure. This shows up in the Root Chakra being out of balance and can be worked on by grounding oneself with standing yoga postures that focus on the legs, hips, and feet. Mantras such as ‘I am here now’ can also be supportive as well as other tools and techniques.” (A mantra is a word or phrase repeated in prayer, meditation, or incantation for inspiration and motivation.)

 

 

 

So, where do we go from here? How do we keep these chakras open? One, you can contact Nicki, as I mentioned earlier, as a great way to promote chakra balance is to create alignment in your body through yoga poses, breathing practices that encourage the flow of energy, and meditation to bring about clarity of mind. I try to do all of these on a regular basis, the first two coming through my yoga class and the latter coming through my daily prayer and devotionals. To each his own on all of these, but I thought I’d share a few yoga poses that may help unblock specific chakras. Even I’m learning here and it’s so wonderful to grasp why each pose we do in yoga has a reason behind it. On that note, let’s go with some yoga!

 

 

Root chakra. Being that the root chakra is the base chakra and reflects our foundation, Tree Pose or any balancing poses like Mountain or Warrior are great for establishing a strong relationship with our bodies’ foundations.

 

Sacral chakra. Poses that strengthen your pelvic floor, where the sacral chakra resides, such as Bridge or deep hip openers like Pigeon are great for strengthening an opening your sacral chakra.

 

Solar plexus chakra. The solar plexus chakra is all about your inner fire and your core so poses like Plank, Boat, or Triangle are great for firing up your abs and creating more balance in this chakra.

 

Heart chakra. This one can open up all the other chakras in a sense and helps us open up better to others, so heart opener poses like Camel are key, as are Cow Face, High and Low Lunge, and Humble Warrior, which help open your chest, shoulders, and arms.

 

Throat chakra. Plow and Fish poses are great ways to open up your throat chakra as both open up the back and front sides of your neck, where the throat chakra resides.

 

Third eye chakra. This chakra rules your ability to dream up different life possibilities so poses like Forward Fold and Eagle, which involve getting your upper body intimately connected with your lower body, are great for third eye opening.

 

Crown chakra. It’s perfect to end with this, as the pose that’s best for the crown chakra is the pose that ends all yoga practices: Savasana. This relaxing pose helps strengthen your crown chakra by connecting you with your eternal self…your soul…and reminding you where you came from and where you can go.

 

 

So back to my pretty necklace and other chakra items…which can come in various styles and items other than jewelry. What’s their purpose other than being really pretty? Come to find out wearing a chakra necklace can be both an uplifting and stylish experience and as Nicki told me, they are not just pretty colors but tools of healing.

 

 

Made up of seven crystals – most often jasper, carnelian, citrine, rose or clear quartz, aquamarine, lapis, lazuli, and amethyst – they are thought to bring healing and clarity to those who wear them and when they come in close contact with the skin. Many believe a chakra necklace helps strengthen the spirt and encourage positive vibes in our bodies while also clearing our minds. Wearing one is also considered a way to open blocked chakras and keep good energy flowing in your body. They reportedly provide balance and emotional strength, remove internal doubts or fears, and can bring you more in tune with yourself and the world around you. I’m also guessing that if you want to strengthen a single chakra and put focus on its opening, you could choose a solitary stone related to it and wear it.

 

Lastly, fun facts about Chakras per Nicki: the bottom three are more connected to your earthly experience while the top three are connected to your spiritual experience. The middle, which is your heart, is what bridges your earthly and spiritual self.

 

 

That’s a lot of power in one little necklace! I’m all for hoping it does all that when I wear it or hold it but just in case, I’ll continue to wear my cross and a medal now and then and pray to God to keep my chakras open, my body healthy, and my mind at ease. Namaste!

 

If you are interested in learning more about working to bring balance into your Chakra system, Nicki offers a 20 minute free consultation at www.MindBodyTruth.com. She also hosts wonderful Zoom yoga classes at www.inneressenceyoga.com

 

 

 

 

Many of my friends and I are at that age where our parents are aging, transitioning into independent living facilities, or sadly, no longer with us. My dad passed away when I was a senior in college but thankfully my mom is still with us, albeit in a retirement home she doesn’t care for and with somewhat advanced aging issues. She is still her feisty self but at 92, limited in what she does and what she remembers. One thing I’ve learned through it all is that as we age and especially with the effects of Alzheimer’s and/or dementia, our short term memories dwindle but our long-term memories flourish.

 

 

It’s those long-term recollections that perhaps came alive, so to speak, when a recent group of retirement home residents stated their biggest regrets. I found their top five answers very interesting and am hoping that by sharing them with you we can all learn something, make adjustments in our lives, and take heed before it’s too late.

 

So…on that note…their top five answers in reverse order are:

 

 

No. 5: I wish I had let myself be happier.

I’m pretty sure we can all relate here. We’re all so caught up in racing and chasing that we don’t stop to smell the roses along that race route. We think more money, more stuff, more plastic surgery, and more time given to work will make us happier. News flash: if you’re not happy inside and happy to begin with, those things may bring you some happiness but you will still be unfulfilled if they’re all you’re after. Instead, stop. Stop and count your blessings, acknowledge your strengths, cherish your family and friend circles, and let yourself enjoy them and be happy. Stop and start smelling those roses.

 

 

It’s important to note here that in the pursuit of happiness and being happy, one must realize the difference between happiness and joy. Yes, we want to be happy but what we should really strive for is joy. Joy is not the same as pleasure or happiness, which is based on temporary circumstances. Happiness is an emotion and emotions are fleeting. Things in life make us happy and things in life make us sad. Joy, on the other hand, is a state of being. Yes, be happy but also be joyful.

 

 

No. 4: I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.

Back in respondents’ days, this might have been harder than in today’s social media and technology-heavy world. They didn’t have cell phones to make and receive calls 24-7, they didn’t have Facebook to see whose birthday it is, they didn’t have Instagram to look at photos of friends and family, and they certainly didn’t have YouTube or email to check out videos starring loved ones. But, ironically, they might have lived near friends they wished they’d stayed in touch with as people tended to stay close to home as they grew up and weren’t as mobile work and residence-wise as we are today.

 

 

Nope, long-distance phone calls were the name of the game and mail was the way to go. As recent as when our daughter was little, Christmas cards and accompanying letters were a big deal. I remember hosting an annual Christmas card signing party for friends while our kids were in school. I’d provide drinks and goodies and they’d come with their address books, cards, envelopes, and stamps and a good time would be held by all. I haven’t sent a Christmas card in years as my thought is nearly anyone I would send one to pretty much knows what I’m up to thanks to social media. My husband makes fun of me being on Facebook and Instagram but I try to explain to him that they both keep me in touch with people I probably wouldn’t otherwise and serve as sort of journals to me. You may not prefer social media, but whatever you do, stay in touch with friends. We really have no excuses today not to.

 

 

No. 3: I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.

I can almost 100 percent honestly say this is not the case for me but can totally see how it is for the elderly with my mom immediately coming to mind. Her generation was a generation of “Mrs.” as their identities in the most June Cleaver of June ways. Maybe that’s why today she is so adamant about not doing what she doesn’t want to in her new place as no one can make her. She doesn’t care to go to any activities and she makes her feelings pretty known about it. Oddly enough, her not wanting to is probably a combination of not having the confidence to go to something alone and simply not wanting to. Oddly enough too is the fact that she has never held back telling me and my sisters how to be and how not to be, but that’s a whole other blog!

 

 

If we’ve learned anything the past few years is that everyone has feelings and makes no bones about making sure everyone knows what they are. We have raised and continue to raise a generation of weaklings so easily offended they almost aren’t taken seriously anymore. We’ve become the opposite of the “Greatest Generation” in that they rarely expressed their feelings and it’s pretty much all we do. I’m doing it right here and right now. My feeling is yes, speak up and express your feelings but please be accountable for your triggers and your challenges.

 

 

No. 2: I wish I hadn’t worked so hard.

We hear this again and again but I would bet many of you reading this are thinking “I’ll get back to finishing this; I’ve got work to do.” Those who stated this guilt in the elderly responses regret that their working overtime (literally and figuratively) resulted in them neglecting family members, friends, and the simple joys of life. Work how you must but try to maintain a healthy balance in working and working on your family, friends, and your soul care.

 

 

And, the number 1 regret?

 

No. 1: I wish I’d had the courage to live life true to me not to what others expected of me.

Interesting and ouch, right?  And think about it, their lack of doing so was before social media files, photo filters, and face fillers. We’re all guilty of it though. We want others to think highly of us and making a good impression is important in both work and personal arenas. But, it’s when we become obsessed with what others think of us and how we look that we start to stray away from our true selves. This is never good. There will always be someone smarter, richer, and prettier than you so you need to just be you. Don’t worry about doing what others do if you aren’t interested. Do what you like and what makes you like yourself.

 

Don’t, of course, become self-centered or narcissistic, but also don’t allow others map out your life, your loves, and your laughter.

 

 

It’s time to retire habits that ensure you have the same regrets these wise elders do. Be happy, call your friends, speak up, don’t work yourself to death, and be yourself. Time is of the essence.

A few months back I was asked to write something for a client and in the copy was the term “Latinx.” I replaced it with Hispanic and had to defend my edit but ultimately won out. It can get a bit confusing that Hispanic/Latina/Spanish usage but I recently ran across something online that nailed it and thought I’d share it today. I do this in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, my Spanish ancestors, and because I’m a wordsmith and a grammar guard. Vamanos!

 

As much as many of us consider the terms Hispanic, Latino, and Spanish interchangeable, they are not. I’m here to educate in hopes that you will spread the word and be able to catch incorrect usage on TV, in written materials, and in every day conversations. Let’s start with Hispanic.

 

By definition, the term Hispanic describes someone from or has ancestors from a Spanish-speaking territory or country. I consider myself Hispanic as my ancestors were from Spain. I saw the Luna coat-of-arms in Seville’s Alcazar Palace and have family members who have traced our roots. Someone from Chile is Hispanic but their neighbors in Brazil are not. Read on…

 

 

Both Chileans and Brazilians are Latino/Latina, as those terms refer to someone from Latin America or of Latin American descent. Someone from Spain is not Latino.

 

 

 

Which brings us to Spanish, which is both a language and a nationality. According the report I read from “Good Housekeeping,” only someone from Spain is Spanish although it’s a common mistake to call a Spanish-speaking person Spanish.

 

Sounds simple, right? Well, it can get even more confusing.

 

 

Hispanic excludes anyone from Brazil because Portuguese is the country’s primary language, but it does include someone from Spain even though Spain is in Europe. I’m guessing this is the case with Portugal as well. Worldwide there are more than a dozen Hispanic countries and one territory, including Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Spain, Uruguay, and Venezuela. But are they Hispanic and Latino? Some, but not all.

 

Latino/Latina includes Brazil but not Spain, since Spain is not in Latin America. As for the rest of the above mentioned countries, yes, they are both Latin and Hispanic. But only Spain is Spanish.

 

Can Hispanics be Latino? Yes, but not someone from Spain.

Can a Latino be Hispanic? Yes, but not someone from Brazil.

Can a Hispanic be Spanish? Only if they’re from or have origins in Spain.

 

Then there’s Latinx, a somewhat new and what many would call woke gender neutral alternative to Latino and Latina.  Only  3 percent identify themselves as such according to a Pew Research Center report. I personally don’t use it and likely never will.

 

Also according to the Pew Research Center, there are roughly 62 million Hispanics (reminder: someone who is from or has ancestors from a Spanish-speaking country) in the U.S., making up nearly 20 percent of our population. Mexicans lead the pack with more than 60 percent of Hispanics in the U.S., followed by Puerto Ricans and Cubans.

 

 

In 1976, Congress passed a law mandating information about U.S. residents from Spanish-speaking countries be recorded. As a result, Hispanic appears as an “ethnicity” on official forms for government, education, and employment purposes. In 1997, Latino officially appeared on government documents as an option alongside Hispanic and since 1980 Hispanic has become part of the U.S. Census and Latino has been since the 2000 census.

 

Note: neither appear as “race,” as it is different than “ethnicity.” In basic terms, race describes physical traits, and ethnicity refers to cultural identification. Race is biological, describing physical traits inherited from your parents. Ethnicity is your cultural identity, chosen or learned from your culture and family. Race may also be identified as something you inherit, whereas ethnicity is something you learn. 

 

With the exception of Brazil, what all these countries and nationalities have in common is the beautiful language of Spanish. The Romance language originated from Latin and was first spoken in Spain. Of course, que no?! Today, Castilian Spanish is the most popular dialect in Europe but there are more Spanish speakers in Mexico, Colombia, and Argentina, in that order. My family is fluent in it and I remember aunts and uncles and some grandparents who only spoke it. It was their first language and I will say not being totally fluent in it is one of my biggest regrets. Yes, I can get away with speaking it in Spain or Costa Rica or even locally with Spanish speakers, but I can’t consider myself fluent.  Que lastima.

 

Quick recap:

Hispanic: someone who is from or has ancestors from a Spanish-speaking country.

Latino: someone from Latin America or of Latin American descent.

Spanish: someone from Spain.

 

So there you have it: the difference between Hispanic, Latino, and Spanish. It can be a bit confusing but when you think about it, it really does make sense. In the end, aren’t we all just simply Americans with some similar and special roots? Si si!

 

 

Red River Shootout.  Red River Rivalry.  Red River Showdown. OU-Texas.  Whatever you call it, it’s truly an unrivaled rivalry and brings out a two-sided disdain that is hard to explain. IYKYK. What time is it Sooners? Again, IYKYK. But why such animosity between two teams, two states, and two sets of fans?  It’s a mystery. It’s historic. And it can be a dream of a game. Or a nightmare.

 

I went to OU after being born and raised in Santa Fe, NM.  I really didn’t know what I was getting into and had never heard of OU-Texas weekend. I remember everyone making plans to go to Dallas for the game my first year there and thinking, “we’re going to Dallas for a football game?  I’m in!” I was in and I was in awe.

 

 

I have now lived in Austin for 36 years. You’d think that after that long I’d have a tiny bit of allegiance to the hometown team. Never. Ever. I could live in ANY other city or town in America (well, maybe not Stillwater or Boston) and be capable of rooting for the home team against anyone but my Sooners, but the Longhorns? No way. Jose. I don’t even like the color orange. It hasn’t always been easy living in the enemy’s backyard, but I’ve never wavered. Our daughter was Austin born but Sooner bred, is also an OU grad, and is as passionate about our Sooners as I am. Mamma done good and raised her right! Don’t get me wrong, I love my Longhorn friends but I love when my team beats theirs. If we could win only one game each year, hands and horns down I’d choose this one.

 

 

OU has won the last four games and has pretty much dominated the past 22 years, but as they say, you just never know. The favorite doesn’t always win. Rankings don’t matter. (This, sadly, is the first year since 1936 that neither team is ranked.) Records can be thrown out the window. Anything can happen and everything has. Fingers crossed.

 

It really is a rivalry unlike any other. There is something magical about the game named after the river that runs along the border of the two states. A river, I might add, that runs red.

 

 

First off (kinda like Georgia-Florida), it is played every year on neutral ground at the old Cotton Bowl in Dallas. The venue is logistically half-way between the two schools and offers one of the most memorable experiences as a student. Being that the stadium sits right in the middle of the Texas State Fair just adds to the festivity. Mingle around the rides and fried food booths on the second Saturday of October and you’ll see nothing but Crimson and Cream and Burnt Orange. You’ll hear words and shouts you normally don’t (which is the main reason we never took our daughter to the game until she was in middle school!) and confidence will be at an all-time high.

 

 

Something else that makes the game so special is how the seating is configured. Normally opposing fans sit on either side of a stadium. Not so in Dallas. The Sooner and Longhorn faithful are configured in two “U” shaped areas and each gets an end zone. Those lucky enough to get 50-yard-line seats are also unlucky in that they sit right next to their opponents. This proves awesome for the winners, but for the losers, it is crushing. The seating also means that walking out of the stadium is a firsthand lesson in humility and embarrassment for the losers as you are walking down the ramps shoulder-to-shoulder with the winners and amid jeers that your team sucks. There is often talk of making the game a “home and away” series, but each time it’s voted down. As a dues paying OU alum, I steadfastly vote no and always will and I’m hoping this stays the case when both teams go to the SEC. I remember how much fun it was to go to the game as a student and I want that same thrill for every current and future student.

 

 

It all started back in 1900 and the rivalry has been renewed annually and uninterrupted since 1929, which is also the year the game moved permanently to Dallas. Texas leads the series 62-50-5 but OU has been better than .500 since the end of WWII. In a classic “be still my beating heart” year, OU and Texas met twice in 2018…once in the Red River Showdown and again for the Big 12 title, both of which the Sooners won and with the latter, the classic ten-gallon Golden Hat trophy to take home to Norman.

 

 

But why the hatred between two legions of fans that are really so similar? Being that I didn’t grow up in either Oklahoma or Texas but having lived in both, I can honestly say Okies and Texans are very, very alike. I know they both hate hearing this, but sorry friends, it’s the truth. Dallas and Oklahoma City have the style and swagger, OKC and Houston have the oil history, and Tulsa and Austin have the rolling hills and a river running through them. In between them all are small towns filled with good ole boys and gorgeous gals. Both states love their football, love their religions, and love their guns. They are both, for the most part, friendly types and are the subjects and writers of many a country music song. But, when it comes to this game, they are anything but similar or civil.

 

 

Full disclosure: I’m very nervous this year as the Sooner team and program as a whole was gutted just mere months ago thanks to a contemptible “man” whose name I won’t mention. We have a good guy on board in Brent Venables, but we are also injured and young. Last year’s amazing comeback was tough to sit through so this year I’ve made a tee time during the game. I can’t watch. I admit it. If we lose, I won’t have to witness it and if we win, I’ll still be thrilled. I’ll have my OU head covers on, am flying an OU flag outside my Austin home, and will be hoping and praying it’s those wearing crimson and cream who are happy walking down those ramps and those who played the game wearing that cowboy hat trophy. I’d take that over any hole-in-one.

 

Boomer Sooner!

 

About twice a year my husband has business in the New Orleans area and every now and then I tag along just for the fun of it. I love history, food, live music, fun, and travel so NOLA has always been a great place to find all of the above. I decided to go with him last month but the day prior to our trip, we heard (and plenty of friends and family made sure we had) that New Orleans now has the highest homicide rate of any major U.S. city, up 141 percent. Not what you want to hear as you’re packing your bags, but considering it was a business trip for my hubby, the trip had to be taken…at least on his part. So, we headed to the Big Easy a bit uneasy but since we know the city well, we knew where we wanted to go and where we wanted to avoid. We for sure wanted to go to Drago’s for their uh-mazing chargrilled oysters and we knew we wanted one nice dinner. We did both. We wanted to avoid being out at night so we didn’t visit our favorite Frenchmen Street for some fun and authentic live and second line street music. Bummer, but better safe than sorry.

 

 

The city’s crime was certainly the talk of the town, and that’s saying a lot in a town where you have sooooo much more to talk about. (And can we talk briefly about that accent? It’s got to be one of the hardest to imitate and is so yummy to listen to.) Apparently the home of the Saints is now home to a record number of sinners and locals are praying it all changes soon. Keep in mind this is a city that lives and breathes on tourism with nearly 20 million visiting each year. In short, the majority says the police have been defunded, are at 50-60 percent capacity, predators know they won’t be prosecuted, and we as a society are raising a generation pretty much immune to consequences or standards. We have emboldened the worst part of our society and now we are dealing with the consequences. Funny how that works, right? And as we all know; it’s not just New Orleans.

 

Even though NOLA’s homicide rate is now four times that of Chicago, the Windy City is known as much for its crime as it is for its hot dogs and baseball teams. We see almost daily smash and grabs on the news and social media as well as car-jackings, which are up 210 percent in New Orleans. Two-hundred-and-ten percent! Insane, right? New Orleans is just the latest city to see its crime rates skyrocket and follows the likes of Chicago, Detroit, Baltimore, Portland, and others. I don’t think I need to ask what all those cities have in common but I will ask when are we as voters going to say enough is enough?  It’s so obvious it’s glaring and glaringly embarrassing for all of them.

 

 

But that’s not why I’m here today. I’m here to talk about the other New Orleans. The historic city synonymous with imaginative food and imaginative fun. It’s just so sad to see such a unique and historic city feel the blight of historically bad leadership but the history is still there and I got a great taste of it…both literally and figuratively. (One thing I learned that locals are adamant about is that those sweet candies made with sugar and nuts are “prah-leens,” not “pray-leens.”) Got it!

 

 

 

Food-wise, and you can’t talk New Orleans without talking food. Like it or not, I challenge you to name five cities worldwide synonymous with their local dishes and not have New Orleans on it. Not only is it famous; it’s worldly. Gumbo is the West African word for okra; French, Spanish, and African settlers begat Creole cooking; Germans introduced sausage; Italians pioneered the muffuletta; and Yugoslavs innovated the oyster industry. Today NOLA fisheries gather 20 percent of the nation’s oyster crop, which is considered the juiciest and briniest anywhere.

 

From the beginning, local foods have been experimental and to this day, local chefs and meals are well-tuned in the art of making do with what is at hand and nothing goes to waste. You could say “improvise” is the main ingredient.

 

 

As I’ve done on a visit a few years back, I took a cooking class at the New Orleans School of Cooking. I blogged about this back in https://carlawordsmithblog.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=10472&action=edit and explained the difference between Cajun and Creole food, what “The Holy Trinity” of the foods is, and where to find the best of both. It’s all fascinating to me.

 

 

For something new this time, I took an architectural walking tour of the French Quarter. We’ve all heard of it, many of us have been there, but how many of us really know the history of the famous Vieux Carré? Again, fascinating.

 

 

First, a brief history of The Crescent City, called that because Mississippi river takes a crescent shape at the city. The French founded the colony they named La Nouvelle Orleans in 1718 but by the mid-18^th century it was under Spanish control. It was then that Acadians (later named Cajuns, who not only brought with them unique recipes and foods, but also zydeco music) came from present day Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. After the turn of the century, Spain let Louisiana slip back to France but Thomas Jefferson, bent on keeping it out of Napoleon’s hands, purchased the entire Louisiana Territory (this is where our U.S. history classes are recalled) for $15 million. By 1840, New Orleans was one of the largest and wealthiest cities in the Nation.

 

Today’s modern New Orleans still has its foot firmly planted in the past. The city has survived much and residents are tried and true survivors; hence the penchant for celebrating. It also has a penchant for nonconformity and order, which is just one of many reasons it appeals to artists and writers. All of its intermingled cultures have resulted in flavor in both food and the spirit of celebration.

 

Amazingly, much of today’s French Quarter has the same boundaries as when the French first laid it out in the 18^th century and is a business center, tourist district, and residential area. To say New Orleans cherishes its French roots and heritage is an understatement.

 

Food-wise, many popular New Orleans dishes and foods incorporate or originate from French words, including remoulade, etouffee, beignets, hollandaise, and béarnaise just to name a few. Even the beloved King Cake is cousin to a French brioche.

 

 

And then there’s roux; the essential flavoring, coloring, and thickening agent made up of an equal combination of fat and flour. It is used in everything from gumbo to etouffe.

 

Most dishes are prepared in a single pot and slow-cooked and one of my favorites, red beans and rice, is no different. Today, most local restaurants offer it as their Monday special, a practice that hearkens back to when moms did the laundry on Monday and put red beans on to slow cook while the wash was done. New Orleans loves its rice, and only China eats more per capita than the Big Easy.

 

But enough about that; here are just a few fun facts I learned as I walked the Quarter in the trusty hands of Guy with New Orleans Architecture Tours:

 

 

New Orleans was the first American city in which opera was performed and the first opera house in the U.S. was in New Orleans, which was home to three opera houses before New York City had its first. The original opera house is today the above Sheraton Hotel on Bourbon and looks much the same.

 

 

Although called the French Quarter, the French Quarter and New Orleans itself have a lot of Spanish in them as well.. Bourbon Street was originally called “Borbon Street.” The Bourbon Dynasty has reigned on and off in Spain since 1700 and most of those lacework balconies we all photograph and marvel at? They are of Spanish design and hometown favorite Jambalaya is distant cousin to Spanish paella.

 

 

And about those balconies. They, like all the iron fences seen around the Quarter are the stuff of legends but the stuff they’re made of varies. The fences are generally made from wrought iron while balconies are made out of cast iron, which bends easier. Ironically, cast iron is the pot of choice for all those Cajun and Creole cooks. Many are actually included in family wills!

 

 

 

Now for those colorful and classic shutters. Today they are mostly decorative but many are still used like their original purpose. They were originally functional board and batten style and were used to close off the fully open and unpaned windows. They were also louvered, which allowed individual slats to rotate open and closed to control privacy, light, and weather.

 

 

You see those shutters on balconies throughout the French Quarter but are they really balconies? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. As Guy the tour guide explained, a balcony is a narrow platform projecting outwards from a wall. They are not supported by posts or columns and can be “Romeo and Juliet” small or stretch the length of a building. (yellow pic above).  A gallery is normally wider than a balcony and often hangs over the width of a sidewalk below. They are supported by posts or columns. (pink with green shutters pic)

 

 

 

One place that’s not the case is with beignets and chicory café au lait coffee at Café du Monde. Both , have been enjoyed locally since the 1800s and the Café itself is the oldest tenant of the French Market, a fun place to spend some time perusing and relaxing.

 

 

Since 1791 there has been a marketplace in the French Quarter. Today’s version has a fun tented café that hosts live music and some really cool dance competitions if you’re lucky. We weren’t lucky enough to see one this go ‘round but we did enjoy the music and the people watching.

 

 

Somewhere else you can do some people watching is at Pat O’Brien’s. Known for its raucous party atmosphere thanks in part to its signature cocktail, Pat O’Brien’s has quite a history of its own.

 

Built in 1791 as a private residence, it later became the first Spanish theatre in the U.S. Spanish turned to Irish when it was purchased by Pat O’Brien who ran a speakeasy in it. In the early 1940s, Mr. O’Brien introduced the famed Hurricane drink. Today the drink’s hour-glass shaped glass is recognizable the world over and is a popular NOLA souvenir.

 

On that note, did you know the term “cocktail” was coined in New Orleans? Antoine Peychaud came to NOLA from the island of Santo Domingo in the late 1700s and proceeded to make a brandy-based cure-all in his Royal Street apothecary and served it in the big side of a double-ended egg coup or “coquetier” in French. Voila! The rest is cocktail history!

 

 

Situated in the heart of the French Quarter on St. Peter Street, Preservation Hall presents New Orleans Jazz concerts over 350 nights a year and really has done so since 1961 in what is truly “Hall that Jazz.”

 

The story of Preservation Hall dates back to the 1950s at Associated Artists, a small art gallery at 726 St. Peter Street in New Orleans’ French Quarter. Upon opening the gallery the proprietor Larry Borenstein found that it curtailed his ability to attend the few remaining local jazz concerts so he began inviting musicians to perform “rehearsal sessions” in the gallery itself. The jam sessions became more frequent and popular so much Borenstein moved his gallery to the building next door. One day while honeymooning in the French Quarter, Allan and Sandra Jaffe followed some musician friends to “Mr. Larry’s Gallery” at 726 St. Peter Street and fell in love all over again. This time with the music and the place. Borenstein eventually passed the nightly operations of the hall to Allan Jaffe and Preservation Hall as we know it today was born. The small, intimate venue made up of one single room with worn floorboards, supported the unique culture of traditional jazz in New Orleans, which developed in the local melting pot of African, Caribbean, and European musical traditions at the turn of the 20th Century. Preservation Hall was a rare space in the South where racially-integrated bands and audiences shared music together during the Jim Crow era.  Since its opening day, more than two million people have walked through its door including presidents, prime ministers, movie stars, and rock idols…and yes, the occasional jazz great.

 

 

Former Creole Cottages can be found throughout the French Quarter. They were popular from 1790-1850 and were the most common house type found in New Orleans during the early 1800s. Built very low to the ground, each had four rooms, two fireplaces, two small rooms in the rear, and two front doors that could be switched depending on weather and guests. Famous NOLA restaurant Arnaud’s has a private dining room called The Creole Cottage.

 

 

If you’ve walked the streets of the French Quarter you’ve probably noticed an array of lanterns. I certainly have as I am a lantern fanatic. I love lantern-style lighting and take note of them anywhere I go. In New Orleans they are everywhere and in my mind, act as adornments to the city’s timeless architecture. In fact, NOLA is probably the American city most associated with lanterns. Sorry Charleston.

 

It all started in 1792 with Governor Carondelet organized a group of night watchmen to ensure safety in the very dark night streets. Oil lamps were hung by iron at intersections but were a bit dim. In 1824 James Caldwell introduced the gaslight and soon after created the New Orleans Gas Light and Banking Company. By 1900 electric arc street lights covered the city and around 1920 replicas of the charming cast-iron gas lamps were installed and are still in on city streets today.

 

 

The first pharmacy in the U.S. was in New Orleans and today the site is a sweet little pharmacy museum.

 

 

Authors William Faulkner, Tennessee Williams, and Truman Capote all lived at one time in New Orleans and wrote some of their famous tales while there. Faulkner’s former home is today a charming small book store and is always one of my favorite stops when I’m in town.

 

Storyville was the original “red light” district and when it was shut down it moved to Bourbon Street, which is where Jazz started.

 

Much of the city lies five feet below sea level! This is why cemeteries are above ground. Tours of them are very popular but I for one will never go on one. I hear they’re popular and fun though.

 

 

Not everyone likes New Orleans and I can’t blame you right now for avoiding a visit. I do hope you learned some interesting things here though, and will perhaps give the city a chance in the future. Here’s also hoping the city and voters figure things out and restructures the place back into somewhere we will all want to “geaux.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Waking up today without a queen. It’s all still sinking in. It’s so very weird to think I’ll never see her again in that carriage or on that balcony. She was never considered a classic beauty like Princess Diana or Grace, but she proved beauty is way more than skin deep. Oh sure, I never met her and I’m clearly not from Great Britain, but like much of the world, I am sad. And for any of you who live under a rock or simply don’t stay informed, here’s why: Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II died yesterday. She was 96 and was the world’s second longest-serving monarch. (France’s King Louis XIV reigned for 72 years, ranking him numero un.) In a word, she was living history and today I’m celebrating her life.

 

 

It was a life filled with joy and sadness and she has valiantly been at the center of so many historic events. As a young woman she witnessed the horrors of WWII and as a mature monarch she lived through the challenges of a pandemic. Perhaps 1992 was among her most challenging, a year she famously described as an “annus horribilis” as her family fractured and Windsor Castle caught fire. Princess Diana’s death is 1997 was a tough one too and you could say she’s not been quite the same since Prince Phillip’s death is 2021 and Megzit, when her grandson Harry and his American bride Meghan turned their backs on Harry’s royal background and family and fled to Hollywood. And yet, she handled it all with grace and dignity. She never complained and was a remarkable loyal servant. She was devoted to serving her people and duty was of utmost importance to her. She apparently had a wicked sense of humor too!

 

 

 

Time out here. Any of you who know me know I love royalty, particularly the British Royal Family (with the exception of a few). You also know I was and still am a bit obsessed with the late great Princess Di. Many of you called, texted, and messaged me yesterday saying you were thinking of me. So sweet! Today though, it’s all about Queen Elizabeth II, whose death officially brought an end to the second Elizabethan Age. It was a historic reign and yesterday was a historic day. Funny thing though, the longest reigning queen was never really supposed to be one.

 

 

 

It was her uncle, Prince Edward, who was next in line to the throne after his father King George V. But, in true scandal fashion, Edward abdicated the throne when he was not allowed to marry his American socialite love, Wallis Simpson, who was twice divorced. They ended up marrying but were considered persona non gratas in “The Firm,” which is what the House of Windsor is often referred to as.

 

So, in comes Elizabeth’s father and Edward’s younger brother, King George VI, who was named king. But he ultimately died at a young age, and so Elizabeth, at an even younger age and as his eldest child, became Her Majesty the Queen in 1952 at the age of 25. Even the beginning of her reign is the stuff of legends.

 

 

Young Elizabeth is crowned Queen in 1952. Let’s think about that for a minute. 1952. Harry Truman was U.S. president and get this; Joseph Stalin was head of the Soviet Union. And she was 25! What were you doing at 25 and could you have led a bevy of nations and done so with poise? Her amazing reign spanned 15 British prime ministers, 14 U.S. presidents, and seven popes. She is the last surviving head of state to have served during WWII and she reigned for roughly 30 percent of U.S. history. Again my friends, we’re talking history here.

 

 

What we’re not talking however, is ruling. You’ll notice “reign” is what she did. Queen Elizabeth never “ruled.” Even as Her Royal Highness, she was more of a ceremonial leader than actual ruler. The power to govern rests with Parliament but the Queen did appoint the nation’s Prime Minister and met with him or her weekly, as seen in “The Crown.” Fittingly, this monarch for life worked until the very end, appointing new Prime Minister Liz Truss just two days before her passing. Her official title was “Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Her Other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, and Defender of the Faith.” Whew! That’s a mouthful even in a beautiful English accent!

 

 

The last part means she was also head of the Church of England, which has been the case for each sovereign since 1534, when Henry VIII’s divorce debacle led him to renounce the Catholic Church and basically start his own.

 

 

To be sure, the Queen of England wasn’t just queen of England, She was also Queen of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, which make up the United Kingdom; and Queen of nations that make up the Commonwealth and include Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Bahamas, Belize, Jamaica, and others as well as a host of other territories, including Bermuda, the Falkland Islands, and Gibraltar. At her death she was also head of state or recognized as Queen in wholly independent sovereign states too many to list here. Trust me, it gets confusing so I’m not even going to try to hash it all out.

 

 

Pretty big job for anyone, right, much less a young sheltered lady living in the 1950s? It was a man’s world and yet she mastered it brilliantly. You could say she was the original working mom and that’s just one of many reasons why Queen Elizabeth was voted one of the top three most respected women in the world for years on end. Amazingly though, you never saw her being bossy or arrogant. She likely despised today’s “all about me” and “my feelings” mantras and very well could have been the last dose of sanity in an ever growing insane world. She was the constant steady and stable amid constant changes even when her family and the events around her weren’t. I’m confident that we will never see another like her and that yesterday marked the end of an era.

 

Note: You hear the terms “UK” and “Great Britain” thrown around a lot so here’s the proper particulars. Great Britain is an island on which most of England, Scotland, and Wales are located. The United Kingdom is all of Great Britain plus Northern Ireland and is a country and sovereign nation that exists as a political union between the four countries. These countries have their own local governments and autonomy but are not considered sovereign nations, meaning they can’t negotiate international treaties or declare war. Basically the UK is a political term and Great Britain is a geographical one.

 

Good to know, right? Here are also a few fun facts about the Queen. She was the first monarch to be featured on British bank notes, never took a driving test and wasn’t required to have a driver’s license, and could travel the world without a passport. Oh to be queen!

 

Queen Elizabeth fittingly passed at her beloved country estate Balmoral Castle in Scotland. An outdoorswoman at heart, she loved riding her horses and roaming the grounds. And I love that she loved dogs! Princess Di, on the other hand, notoriously hated going there and it was where Charles learned Diana had been killed in that car crash in Paris. I wasn’t happy with how the Queen handled Diana’s death but I do admire how she allowed it to soften her stiff British upper lip and monarchy just a bit. She was steadfast in tradition but knew when it was wise to change with the times. It all comes full circle at a castle in Scotland.

 

Charles had to once again leave Balmoral under somber circumstances and now we have King Charles III who upon his mother’s death, immediately became king although no specific schedule has been announced for his official coronation. This will take me some getting used to as will “Queen Consort” Camilla. I cannot help but imagine what a glorious Queen Diana would have been if Charles had been the husband she deserved and just can’t stomach Camilla actually being queen.  It will likely be a short reign for the two lovebirds as, at 73, he became the oldest to assume the throne. Fingers crossed that he continues his mother’s style of reign and if anything, stays politics-free even though he hasn’t as the Prince of Wales.

 

So here we find ourselves, mourning along with Britain again. It won’t hit me like Diana’s death did, but it’s a mourning unlike many will see in their lifetimes. Charles delivered a touching and beautiful address to the nation today as he called the Queen “muh-mah” and appeared emotional at times. I LOVE that he named William and Kate Prince and Princess of Wales and concluded his address with words that gave me chills and brought a little tear to my eye. In part, they were:

 

“To my darling Mama, as you begin your last great journey to join my dear late Papa, I want simply to thank you. May flights of Angels sing thee to thy rest.”

 

I’m pretty sure angels are rejoicing and welcoming an angel of a queen to the ultimate castle and throne. Well done Lilibet. Beloved mother, matriarch, and monarch you’ve earned a well-deserved rest. God’s speed your highness.

 

 

 

NOTE: As monarch, the Queen will be given a state funeral. Per Buckingham Palace, “Following the death of Her Majesty The Queen, it is His Majesty The King’s wish that a period of Royal Mourning be observed from now until seven days after The Queen’s Funeral.” It’s expected the Archbishop of Canterbury will lead the service and in the days prior, the Queen’s body will lie in state and the public will likely be able to pay their respects. What I would give to be there!

 

 

 

 

 

I wrote this as I sat in Ruidoso, NM gazing out the window watching a majestic rain storm pound our outside deck and clouds slowly blanket the mountain peaks normally in full view. This charming small town in southcentral New Mexico is special and it’s long been special to my husband and me.  It’s where we met. Long story short: I was working at a TV station in El Paso and he had moved from Boston to Houston. One of the sports anchors I worked with went to college with my hubby in New York so he came to El Paso to go skiing with him. A bunch of us from the station tagged along and the rest is history. I broke up with my college boyfriend of four years who was back in Oklahoma in law school, chose the boy from Buffalo, and all these years later we venture back to Ruidoso as often as possible. We love that it’s a true escape and still somewhat authentic.

 

 

 

In the summer, it’s a somewhat secret hamlet of warm weather pursuits such as golf and the famous Ruidoso Downs race track. There are also plenty of casinos, outdoor activities, family fun, and a handful of excellent restaurants. Peek out the window of the house we stay in or drive along the beautiful route into town and we see deer, turkeys, and a giant and massive antlered Elk we’ve named “Bucky.” At night we hear coyotes howling and our house has a sign alerting us that we’re in bear country and all that that means. In a word, it’s all beautiful and blessed.

 

 

 

Ruidoso’s main street is home to many darling and unique yet for the most part, affordable, shops and restaurants. In the winter, the Rocky Mountains’ most southern ski resort, Ski Apache, opens up to downhillers and shredders alike. Still, with all its amenities and beauty, Ruidoso remains somewhat under the Aspen and Santa Fe radar. As a native Santa Fean, I know exactly what that means. As a long-time Texas resident though, I also know Texans love Ruidoso as it’s a fairly easy drive from most of the Lone Star State. In fact, the vibe here is much more western then southwestern.

 

 

As I sit here watching the rain outside and golf on TV, I’m also reading an interesting magazine article in “Town & Country” that confirms our decision to head west and not northwest. The article details how Montana has become anything but a quiet get away. Go to Montana. Post on Instagram and Facebeook. And go on to the next destination. So much for chilling, practicing some soul care, and just taking in God’s landscape. But, good to know as we actually considered going to Big Sky Country this summer but it all became stressful and complicated to plan. Instead, we decided it’s much easier to pack the car, the dogs, and drive to our quiet little slice of heaven.

 

 

As with anywhere it seems, America’s Wild Wild West is sadly morphing into anything but. The magazine article, written by Antonia Hitchens, details the timeless dream of home on the range has been inundated by travelers and land buyers. In fact, 1.2 million acres were sold in Montana last year and Bozeman is now unaffectionately called “Boz Angeles.” Rumor has it that a California developer bought almost all of the remaining land around one town and Rupert Murdoch’s Montana ranch had a selling price of $200 million last year. With the median asking price for a single-family house in Bozeman now topping $905,000, many Big Sky realtors are telling potential buyers to buy any house or land they see as there may be little left very soon. It seems a ranch out west is the new house in the Hamptons. Oy.

 

Blame Keven Costner. His hit TV show “Yellowstone” has created a deluge of interest in places to escape to and feel the fantasy of the American West. Blame also the work from home craze. Post-pandemic workers realize they can indeed work from anywhere. Why not Montana? The owner of Ranch at Rock Creek…what many consider the most expensive ranch in America… put it simply to “Town & Country” when he said, “The match was lit and Montana is on fire now.” It’s happened in Colorado; Rockefeller’s Jackson Hole; and Hemingway’s Ketchum, Idaho and now in addition to Montana, Spokane, Washington and Coeur d’Alene, Idaho are cold weather hot spots. But it’s different now.

 

 

Gone are the days of packing the fam and renting or buying a rustic little place in the mountains or valleys. Small town charm has big bonuses but tell that to Aspen. Today’s buyers want exclusive and private enclaves that those in lines in Yellowstone and Grand Tetons National Park can only dream about. For example, the uber-exclusive Yellowstone Club in Big Sky not only boasts expansive and expensive homes and a golf course, but also the world’s only private ski resort. “Five-star living dressed up as frontiersmanship” as it is now described. Not exactly frontier authenticity but fabulous I’m sure.

 

So massive are many of the new developments that the gates to them rival those of entrances to nearby national parks. Elk antlers are all the rage and real Montanans reportedly consider Big Sky the Monaco of Montana. Who knew Montana and Monaco would ever be uttered in the same sentence.

 

So what is it? What is making these “billionaires in Wrangler jeans” as Hitchens describes them, long for a western paradise but one stocked with Whole Foods and Starbucks? Many are just tired of their day-to-day struggles and stresses and to get away far away is something they yearn for and can afford. Oddly enough though, their quest to be alone is proving more and more crowded and the impact all the building and development is having on the once pristine environment goes against many a climate change advocate’s chirping.

 

It’s all very similar to “Yellowstone’s” ranchers versus developers plot lines and as realtor Bill McDavid says, “People fall in love with authenticity but then wonder where they’ll get organic hummus.”

 

I’m not a fan of hummus and truth be told, neither my husband nor I are big outdoors people. We love walking along the streets near the house we stay in in tranquil Ruidoso, but hiking and the like are not in our wheel zone.  And, after reading Hitchens’ article, I’m certain we’ll continue to choose New Mexico’s Lincoln National Forest over all the hype up north and out west. We’re just hoping it stays a secret. Shhhhh!