FEELING FORTUNATE
I began writing this little column from my desk at La Puerta looking out at the giant block of snow covered granite that is our majestic Sandia Mountain rising up from the high desert plain. An occasional rabbit hops by under the portal. What a sight. I now write from my office at home where I can look out through a maze of mulberry bush twigs (that I purposely did not prune back and which provide a landing place for several Titmice this morning) toward the neatly stacked woodpile under the junipers. Dick’s splitting mall leans against a huge chunk of cottonwood that drum maker Ray Gallegos gave him. Camus and Dilly-Dog, our Poodle-Welsh Terrier team lie peacefully in the juniper dust (alas—so much for this week’s baths) but alert to any signs of a rock squirrel or mouse that might be working, storing things up for winter, in the wood pile. It’s a blue sky, chilly, sunny day, and tonight we’ll have a cozy fire in the living room kiva fireplace. Though I miss the gardens, the sunroom is ablaze with color thanks to the bougainvillea, lavender and every conceivable size, shape and color of geranium. Winter is definitely ok in Placitas.
We won’t have our family with us for Christmas as they are spread out all over the country. Dick and I will stay right here in Placitas to enjoy some quiet, perhaps, and a few of New Mexico’s traditions like Las Posadas in Placitas Village on Christmas Eve and midnight mass and the dances at San Felipe Pueblo. I did, however, see my brother and my sons and their wives and children last week when I was visiting Mom and helping her ready for Christmas. I cooked and cleaned and played cards with Mom and got in hoots of laughter with my brother over the funny frustrating times we have as we attempt to give love, care and guidance to our aged, very controlling, mom. She is still teaching her now young-old children a thing or two, and we are trying, not always successfully, not to regress into teenage revolt mode as we deal with these lessons perhaps the most important of which is patience. I talk to two year old Sofie on the phone; nestled under the comforter together, I read stories to seven year old Jules; hear Nicholas perform in the youth orchestra; decorate Mom’s Christmas tree with six year old Talia; discuss the Tolkein Trio with Jonah. Talia, Alexandra and I celebrate our December birthdays together, and back in Placitas Janelle whisks me off to Ten Thousand Waves so I can attempt to smooth away the effects of 65 years of being me. Later precious friendships and the holiday season are celebrated with a fine meal by a gentle fire in one of the Pink Adobe’s kivas. How lucky can I be?
My real estate business has seen another extraordinary year for which I am very grateful. La Puerta has also had a banner year. I feel we are very special group of Realtors and staff who are knowledgeable, dedicated and fun, and we have a good life together. I am part of a super creative and responsible partnership with Steve and Lynn who I care for and respect immensely. My personal business, and having a personal life, depends greatly on my lovely competent sister-in-law Realtor Marilyn who makes sure we both accomplish it all—whatever that ‘all’ may be.
Of course life is not ‘a bowl of cherries.’ There’s just a whole lot of really tough stuff we have to work our way through. All the more reason I think to love the creatures by the woodpile, the shadows on the mesas, the small discoveries of our daily lives and the folks we care about. May the New Year bring us patience, tolerance and the ability to be useful. May we also find pleasure in all the little things and have an abundance of joyful moments.
Feliz Navidad y Prospero Ano Nuevo.
Lucy Noyes, CRS,
Broker Associate & Co-owner
La Puerta Real Estate Services, LLC
01 Ridge Court, Placitas, NM
Office Phone: 505 867-3388
Mobile Phone: 505 280-8352