Peaks and Valleys

by Richard Blevins (United States of America)

I didn't expect to find USA

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Never in my wildest dreams did I envision a two week stay courtesy of "my job" (!!) in Las Cruces, NM. It was in the fall of 2007, and I cannot explain to you or my family why I so desperately want to return. I could sum it up in three words: majestic, healthy, extraordinary. Living in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains did not prepare me for the sightseeing expeditions of New Mexico. Training to be a chef in Charlotte (NC) did not prepare me for the cuisine of New Mexico. Photography classes were so appreciated when I returned to North Carolina with hundreds of images. I wake up some mornings realizing that I have dreamed of a triumphant return to see/smell/taste/observe the valleys and peaks of my earlier excursion. Oh, to jump on a plane again and fly into Dallas and El Paso. I cannot describe how small I felt when surrounded by sloping mountains and desert sand. The hospitality industry could take lessons from the citizens of this outstanding community. I shall return one day to experience Las Cruces again, and this time I may decide to stay!