Last nights out, last Taco runs(jogs), last Dike runs(jogs), last ride to Martensdale, last ride to the locker, last trips to the grocery, last sunset in the park…..the list goes on.
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| Late July NM/AZ Sunset |
Almost without missing a beat the Firsts pick up where the Lasts dropped off. Starting with the first sunset over a baking Sonoran Desert in the middle of the Monsoon season.
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| Note the Hatch Chilies |
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| Weekly In-Town Outdoors Market |
This was quickly followed by hitting the local Farmer’s Market to pick up fresh staples for the week plus a bag of local coffee beans. Note the Hatch Chili sign; Ironically had just been through that town on the drive. More complete explanation of the Hatch Chili story at this very recently run NPR story: Hatch Chili story. Again, oddly timed (note the date of the story) given the drive-through followed by running into them at the Market.
No rest for the unemployed…..my first run with Ames’ team landed me at the weekly MMM (Meet Me at Maynard’s) social run. What an event and what a team! They immediately welcomed me and off we went at our strictly social pace.
Post-run each week live music kicks off a social/happy hour and according to the emcee this was the 121st consecutive week (yup: dead of winter, blistering summer, holidays, all of it) of running the event. Even on this evening of triple digit heat several hundred showed up for the event. I was one of 55 newbies. Within our group we had one who earned his T (after eight runs you get a free MMM T.) We’ll have members of the team earn their T’s over the next two-three weeks; impressive considering this is the first year Ames’ team has participated. In fact I believe she earns hers within the next couple of weeks. We hung around, had a couple drinks and chatted it up as the live entertainment continued with their acoustic set. Another first: I had no idea unemployment could be so busy and fun!!
AniMal ~~
permanently making trax in the desert