What's going on, Albuquerque?

Missing Albuturkey

On visiting family I'm reminded how much the South makes me miss the high desert. For one thing, if you stand still in Florida long enough you will grow mold. I miss Albuquerque weather.

I've avoided arguing politics and religion with this, the Christian Republican, wing of the family. Mostly. But only by storming out of the room everytime somebody starts in on Hillary. I miss my Albuquerque friends.

Huge swaths of vegetation are still being cleared for shopping centers in Florida. There are few obvious signs of real estate market distress, but I don't know the details. And the devil is in the details. Hell, I guess I miss Albuquerque sprawl.

My brother said yesterday, "I see a lot of Mom in you." It made me so distraught that I stormed out of the room again. Which, come to think of it, is a lot like something Mom would do. I guess I miss her too.

I went fishing off the Skyway pier. A big guy next to us hooked a grouper and was reeling him in when the look on his face changed to terror and he started yelling, "Son of a bitch! Flipper's got my fish!" He struggled to hold onto his expensive tackle as the dolphin went under the pier and wrapped the line around a post until it broke free. Later when one got close I made kissy noises and told him he looked like my big dog. I miss my dogs.

Tell them I'm coming home soon.

The dinnertime talk is scary
I'm trying to be wary
But my anger is starting to show
Let it go, let it go, let it go

Well the traffic outside is frightful

and the real estate insightful
But I'm missing home so you know

Let me go, let me go, let me go.

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Comment by SweetieDarling on November 25, 2007 at 9:01am: Great post, Coco! I think a lot of people can probably relate to a family gathering such as this. Hope you get back to 'Burque safely!

Comment by John Fleck on November 25, 2007 at 9:14am: Coco -

You might pass along Cynthia Barnett's book about Florida water to the Southern wing of the CocoFamily. It's called Mirage, and its characterization of Florida's water problems look every bit as bad as those here in the Southwest. Worth thinking about as one is plowing through that swath of vegetation in preparation for the next shopping center and the houses necessary to feed it.

Comment by Steve Anderson on November 25, 2007 at 12:26pm: Coco,

I'm always amazed by articles that go on and on about how miserable their gathering was -- And then they do it again the next year.

If you don't like it - stop doing it. Don't invite (or accept invitations from) people that you don't like.

Or tell us how much fun it was to see your relatives and share a holiday with them.

ie. be more New Mexican

Comment by bleve on November 25, 2007 at 4:34pm: Steve Anderson,

Bitching about family is categorically 'New Mexican', and its something real people do and something real people relate to. Good post Coco.

I recently moved back here from Florida (Gainesville), and we always dreaded going to Orlando where my girlfriend's family is, one giant strip mall w/ never ending construction... and those bloody tolls. Twenty minutes in any direction from any town in Northern Florida was KKK ville... but like anywhere people is people.

I wish I could explain how awesome the Mayor of Gainesville was... a young, progressive woman who actually listened to her constituents and worked well with her City Council... something Albuquerque is definitely lacking. Which reminds me, I went to the Twinkle Parade last night and Marty (the Don) was on the first float and instead of waving to the crowd he was perpetually patting himself on the back.

Comment by chantal on November 25, 2007 at 5:24pm: At first I thought the ongoing and sometimes strident debate about Albuquerque sprawl was ominous and then I realized that other regions had stopped debating altogether.

Comment by Rocky on November 26, 2007 at 12:05pm: I remember the last time I was with my older brother, Bill Junior. The physical resemblance to our father is not surprising, but it was his unconscious exact re-enactment of one of Dad’s mannerism that was metaphysical – it was like Dad was there, not Bill. As my aging visage starts to morph as well into my father’s, I think of him more and miss him, too.

If you do go back next year, try to remember to rent the movie “Home for the Holidays.” That pretty well sums it up.

Comment by terraambient on November 26, 2007 at 1:39pm: heeeyyy... christian republicans need love too..

... or at least that's what im told.

Oh wait... or is that hairless cats... now i know rememeber.

Comment by Osmium Dirigible on November 29, 2007 at 2:05pm: It really is ALL to easy to get her to bolt the room. Sometimes I just do it for the joy of seeing her move so quickly. But she's always back, mumbling snarky comments under her breath, eyes darting around searching for redeemable souls.

Comment by Coco on December 3, 2007 at 7:34pm: Your own is not too far gone, Os. A scientist can't deny the elements. Some facts are before you but you'll never know everything. At least the choice is yours.