“Here and there” has become the theme to my life. I just spent time in Albuquerque; now I’m in Colorado, but Panamá calls as my five weeks here is winding down. Here’s what juggling my life looks like.
Dancing Fun,
From Colorado, I returned on an Amtrak train to Albuquerque on Thursday, November 13, 2025 and enjoyed dancing with the Advanced square dance club, AWK (Advance Workshop with Kris) on Thursday night. Then over the weekend I danced at the Pat Carnathan square dance festival. Bob and Sally Nolen cued the rounds and made sure I had the opportunity to round dance with Bob as much as possible. Yes, my leg hurt, but you know how I love to dance.
Storage Shed Visits,
During the day I went to our storage shed and went through boxes to fill up the extra suitcase I brought from Panamá.
On my first trip, I went on the weekend and the manager wasn’t there, so I had to open the door. He had shown my friend, Sheri, and I how to do it, so I went alone thinking I could open it. But when I tried his method it didn’t worked originally, but I’m stubborn and kept trying. Finally I got it open—yahoooo!
Lin did a great job of staging the boxes to go to Panamá, but there were specific things I had to have. So, I moved things around and found most of them. To see all of my precious belongings in boxes in that storage shed touched my heart. My life in boxes!
When I returned a second time, I FaceTimed Lin again because he’s the one who organized the storage shed. I squealed when I found what I was looking for, but I’m still looking for a couple things.
I had a great idea how to decide on what to take back to Panamá. What I did was open up the extra suitcase in the back of the rental car, so I stopped adding things when it seemed full. Then the manager of the storage company helped me weigh it. At that point it weighted 42 pounds—it has to be under 50! So, I have a couple packages of Monk Fruit to add to this suitcase, so I think I’ll be okay.
A Full Sunday: Denver Broncos & Chicago—What a Great Play!
For years, Sheri and I have texted each other during the Denver Broncos’ games but never watched a game together. What an important game to finally sit together and cheer: playing Kansas City Chiefs—and we won! We were hyped!
Sheri and another square dance friend had tickets to Chicago that night, so when I originally arrived, I got a ticket—not with them but near. So Sunday night, November 16, we went to the play! And it was fantastic!!!
And then Medical Appointments
Then on Monday, November 17, I had two medical appointments. In Raton, on Thursday, November 13, as my brother and I waited for the train to come, I put a stick of gum in my mouth and lost a crown. I called my dentist immediately hoping to get it fixed that afternoon or the next day. He had a 3:00 PM appointment, but the train didn’t arrive in Albuquerque until 3:30 PM. He didn’t work on Friday, so he fixed it on Monday at 1:00 PM. It was a short appointment, providing me time to do other errands I needed to do.
Then I had a 3:00 PM mammogram appointment. So glad my primary care physician urged me to do this. Again, it was a short appointment—uncomfortable but not as bad as it used to be!
Another Train Ride
On Tuesday morning, November 18, we dropped off my rental car and went off the train depot in Albuquerque. When I made my reservation, the lower level for “Elderly and Disabled” had filled up, so I checked my big suitcase. Then I wrestled my two bags up the stairs to the regular seating. I had no prayer time with two friends, but I love sitting up higher because the view is spectacular!
Now My Here
So, I’ve been in Branson for five days and I have six more. We’ve done much-needed ranch business.
As I’ve been in this so familiar place, memories surround me. It has been melancholy at times as I yearn for the people and joy of the past. So this moved me to write this poem:
Here & There: Juggling Two Lives
The familiar train whistle blows
And I know I’m home
In Branson,
A sound that echoes through my childhood.
The wind blows
Dust devils twirl on the plains.
The mesa towers to the southwest of us.
Saddlerock hangs to the west
As another reminder of home.
This my "here" now!
Our family ranch calls to me
Dad’s voices his familiar stories in my mind
Granddad looms large in my history
Mom’s sweet presence and squeals of delight
Memories overflow
Now, I sit beside my brother in our truck
With our stories.
He’s the only one who can verify their truth
Our stories
Our family’s legacy
Sometimes quiet fills the truck cab
Dust swirls
Silence
Reverence for our shared lives
My brother opens up while we ride around
Safe
With deep stories
His childhood disappointment
At our community church.
I never knew!
Why???
The familiar sights
Cholla cactus
Graceful with multiple arms extended
Yucca
Sharp spikes pointing heavenly
Pinon pine trees
Cedar trees
The smell I love!
Oak brush, orange at this time of the year
Dead trees ravaged by drought and bugs
A windy trail, bumpy with rocks
An evening graced with a crescent moon!
We try to make daily trips to the ranch,
But our busy schedule doesn't allow it.
Each trip feeds my soul, my spirit, my heart!
The train whistles in the background
Of my life here
Several times a day
Welcomed and comforting!
This house I inherited overfalls
With Mom and Dad
I just used Mom’s pressure cooker
To cook spaghetti noodles
She called it her “Poor Man's Microwave.”
Dad's pot on the floor stove
To add some humidity to this dry climate.
Here my life is
Ranch business,
English, English, English!
No one knocks on my door anymore
My brother only
I visited my nine six year old friend
but she is failing!
That's the "here," but underneath
The "there”" beckons!
Life there!
Our new life in Panamá
Green jungle surrounds us
New friends live near us
They knock on my door.
Beautiful mornings as we look towards
Vulcan Barú
Rainy afternoons during the rainy season now.
Our life carved out
Two markets per week for fun and people
A knitting group
My recovery group
Basketball games, following one of our landlords
A more relaxed life
Less stress
US politics not the focus
No dishwasher in our rental house
Gives me time looking out the window
At the green
The colorful flowers
The hummingbird buzzing the lavender flowers
Being present
A gift!
Here my life is
My book business
Lin and our life
Spanish, English, Spanish
Which I love!
I never planned to move
To Panamá
I planned to live and die in Tijeras
And visiting Branson monthly
My here and there
Used to be Tijeras, then Branson
But we stood on our decision and morals
We said "no" to the insanity
We took action,
Well planned by Lin
And it happened
Here and there—juggling these two lives
When I'm here, I think of there.
When I'm there, I yearn for here.
Finally,
As you can see, most of this post features my “here “in Colorado because I’m here. This busy time has continued in the States; however, I have had some quiet time. I have worked on my book #2, but I haven’t had dedicated time to finish it. Hopefully soon!
Here and there—two lives! That’s my life today!
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