$Intend$

Life comes easy here.

Golden warm through the cats fur on the window sill. Slugs in the bellies of the turtles in the Iris' of our I's. Artistic albums from the speakers in a speeding vessel towards a privilege that my childhood never dictated I'd have.

The basic niceties of our society, "Have a good day", "Take Care" , "Catch you later", "Thanks for stoppin' by", have gained meat here. Fleshy microbes are forming on the bone-frame of my permanent satisfaction. Everyday that entity gorges itself on the sincere interest of strangers, feeding off of smiles of fast-loving friends. Give, give, take. That's the system in these summer parts, these looking-forward people. It's not just Albuquerque. It's getting out of Vegas and the humdrum of a big city. That hometown that's nobody's home for long, where no one has time for you when they're caught up in their rush to nowhere. I'm thrilled to be here- when the security officer at the airport saw my ticket, she rolled her eyes and said "Pfft, have a good time in NEW MEXICO, wink". I want this for all of you, though. Prove her wrong. Have the thrills of your life riding a ski- lift to Oprah's Grocery Store. Take pictures of your toe hair, if that's what suits you.

I've always had a deep seated anxiety about running out of my resources. Call it childhood programming, survival instinct, or preparation for flying the coup, until 4 months ago, it was an appendage of mine. I can now take as many pictures as I want, enjoy my tea even though its the last bag, and stop stocking up everything like its the damned Apocalypse I see on my doorstep rather than the forces cosmic SCREAMING at me to love it all. It's provided me with everything, and for the first time in my life: I have the courage to down that cup of Jasmine, use up every picture on my memory card. After all- pictures are just frames of life caught up in happiness.

For the first time, there's enough to FILL a memory card with.

P.S. A year ago I had a distaste for all but 3 or 4 humans, for perspective.