How to Change the Way You Think in 13 Hours, Part 1
Grab toothbrush, wallet, pillow, bag of apples and chips. Stuff 3 pairs of jeans, 3 t-shirts, socks, hoodie and mud boots into duffel bag, don’t bother to comb hair or forward phone. Take stack of jam band cd’s, sharpie, highlighter, map. Fill water bottle, leave the lights on at the house, lock front door.
Toss gear in back of the car, get, start engine. Check compass. Head west.
Take a break in Amarillo. Get out map and highlighter. Choose one of 3 beautiful and perilous canyons through which to pass en route to Taos. Avoid the tempting challenge of free 72 oz. steak at Big Texan Steak Ranch. Or not.
After Amarillo, break out cd’s to avoid mind-numbing radio programming. Pass through blur of flat stretch of northwest Texas. At the border, use sharpie to leave your tag with everyone else’s.
Ascend mountain in 3rd gear. Avoid deer, elk, bears and falling rocks. At mid-canyon, get out and inhale deeply. Take it all in. Kiss the ground. Feel the love. Take some time.
Return to the car. Reset clock to Mountain Time.
Tune radio to KTAO and coast down hill into Taos. Stop at Eske’s and have a green chile draft beer. Forget about everything else and be here now.
