People!

I'm baaaaacccckkk! and wifi enabled in, of all places, Carrizozo, NM. Nicest motel room aside from the one in Ogden. I'll 5-star them tomorrow on Travel Advisor where I found them.

I finally got the last few days' pictures into the new format that was somehow installed before I knew it at the Apple Store in Tucson. I didn't need the different photo handling thing, but...Oh, well. Maybe this new stuff will keep my brain from atrophying.

So, all this catching up took way too long. I have to be short since bedtime beckons after a Mexican supper followed by a luxurious shower.

Tucson, alas, didn't have its usual deep blue sky while I was there. Weather passing through with five or six raindrops over about three days time.

Your already know Phil hosted me for my short stay in Tucson while I ran around to see as many friends as I could. Alas, the few days didn't work out to get to Casas Adobes Church that I love, but that's on the itinerary for next time, for sure.

Phil

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My dear friend Gloria had her 80th birthday celebration. It was as fun, and as moving a birthday as any I've ever been to. She's shooting for 100 she says because she wants to see what her grandkids do. I'll raise a root beer to that!

Gloria with Rosanna, Jerome and Cecilia.

Joseph taking it all in.

Brunch at Ventana Canyon.

With Katie at Cecelia and Rolando's for the cake.

Rosanna.

Jerome and wife Maritza.

Host and Hostess, Cecilia and Rolando.

Perla, Maritza's mother.

Cecilia with school friend Alison.

While northwest for a few minutes I swung by Camino Fierro...Wendy, John and the boys will recognize...

The road is now paved as far as del Sur.

There was amazing catching up on what's taken place in a year and a half and in some instances catching up with most of a lifetime as with Katie whom I'd not seen but once or twice since she baby sat a few times for me and lots more for Gloria.

Not far from Phil's is Bob's place where the late afternoon sun shone through brightly bringing out the prickly pear blooms in his yard...

Bob in action.

What, you ask, is the Pope doing in a blog about Tucson? Well, Bob shared a picture he took of the Pope when he was last year in Rome to visit St. Peter's. As Bob arrived a huge crowd was already there, and suddenly the Pope-Mobile pulled into the plaza and there Pope Francis was right in front of Bob. What a moment.

The TPYO was performing I learned while talking on the phone with Keoni. So, I tucked that into an evening, thinking that the boys' cousin Ili was playing, but, subsequently, learned she wasn't performing due to an arm broken from a fall from a horse three weeks ago. She declined having a picture taken, but I saw Betsy and include here a link Janie sent of a newspaper article about Betsy: Retirement for Bolding.

Wonderful Dr. Batten was honored for her 25th year directing TPYO.

The program.

Afterward, I took Ili for some vegan ice cream while she made a convincing and worthy case for me to become vegan, but I backslid almost immediately and slurped down frozen yogurt. Ili said she wouldn't hate me. I promise here and now, I will help the planet the best I can by eating locally and organic when possible. (And Mexican.)

Janie striding across the Mosaic Cafe parking lot with her not-quite-one-month new knee!

Carol and Janie.

What kind of food are Janie and I smiling about?

Mexican! at the Mosaic Cafe. I love their table tops.

And...Pizza!

With Paula and Carl at Pizzeria Bianco on their sidewalk onTucson's Second Tuesday scene.

TucsonSecondSaturday

Tucson's downtown is a lot different than a few years ago. The new trolly system is in action now.

Some welcome messages arrived from home...

Aidan made peanut butter cookies.

Twyla birthed two tiny little goats today! The are males. I think maybe Wendy will have the videos on Facebook or soon on the web site http://casadetortugagoats.com

This morning back on the road...

Who knew Lordsburg would have a really nice rest and information stop? History even. This is the town that always  tried to sell me a new tire to replace the "defective" one. I think it's different now. 

White Sands was having the dunes moved and etched by the wind goddess today.

I must stop...

Good night, all. I love you.