Last Thursday and Friday the road to and from the mountains was closed by semi trucks that rolled over. A company from Colorado was hauling away cars destroyed by the Las Conchas fire last summer, and apparently some of the drivers weren’t used to hairpin turns. Out of four truckloads two made it, two did not. (Both drivers are fine.)
We weren’t affected by the 5+ hour closure Thursday because we went to Santa Fe. But Friday Andy was stopped shortly after the accident occurred. He waited about an hour, and when it was obvious he wouldn’t be allowed through for several more hours he decided to drive home the long way…a three-hour trip. It was raining but he decided if he had to do it over he would simply have parked the car and walked the 5-6 miles home. Not the least because he triggered the 7-pm rule. If he isn’t home by 7 pm and hasn’t called I’m supposed to organize a search party.
He had tried to phone but his cell-phone battery was dead. So when he arrived at about 7:30 I was on the porch waiting for Beate and Tim to pick me up to go up and start looking for him. (They’re our closest summertime neighbors up there. They’re still here because they took a sabbatical to replant and rebuild.)
Their new cabin, taken from our property.
Beate in their kitchen/living room.
Needless to say I wish they lived here full time. Some of the sweetest words I’ve ever heard was when Beate said, “It will take us 15 minutes to get there, but wait on the porch. We’re coming to pick you up.”
Have you ever had neighbors like that?
i live in the same town as Jean. It was that very same curve where Tom saw a bicycler die. He was going too fast. When he braked Tom saw the back of his bike “fishtail”. His head hit the pavement. He wasn’t wearing a helmet, a definite No,No. He died even tho’ a nurse was in a car there a few min. later. 🙁
oh my goodness. amazing that the drivers lived through it.
as to beate… i think the picture says it all. simple. beautiful.
and obviously a wonderful soul.
your land is breathtaking. even after the fire.
i see why you re-build. i would too.
love,
tammy j
not good look for a ‘removal’ company but at least no one hurt…
i have had a number of helpers over the years, who offer help or gifts when they are needed. When I split up with my ex-DH, a friend just provided me with necessities out of the blue. My ex-DH was mean spirited and wouldn’t release anything that would get me started in new-life because he believed that if I had nothing, I would return. He hadn’t counted on my friends!
The guy next door, has a full on business and family but he will still drop everything and come fix my computer if it plays up…
Just last night I needed to be at a meeting, where I was one of the guest speakers and with short notice, i.e. last Friday hooked up with my friend (supportive all through things past/present) to drive me there, be there and bring me home. The weather was diabolic, we didn’t really know where on Central Park Drive the place was but we did find it!!
I managed quite well as it turned out to give my short speech about the now defunct journey to get a BA/degree as a mature student…
Have I ever had neighbors like that? Sure, the neighbors keeping an eye on our house while we’re gone. (We’re currently in New Mexico, at the start of our slow trip home.)
bikehikebabe,
I wouldn’t bike down that hill and curve even with a helmet! You and Tom are much more coordinated than I ever was. 🙂
tammy,
Yes, the trees may be gone but the views are still spectacular at times. See the ten photos starting with http://www.flickr.com/photos/8185675@N07/6229159841/
Cathy,
Bless your friends! I’m so glad you have so many.
Mike,
Yes, life is so much easier and richer with good friends and neighbors.
Jean, I live among neighbours like that. I am mollycoddled, spoiled and pampered by a whole lot of them. Right now in my convalescence, I am thoroughly enjoying the attention and care.
Like the 7 pm rule that you have, these friends too insist that I call regularly to give progress reports failing which, they land up to check that I am in good shape.
I am blessed, as are you.
oh little monk!
i just went to flickr and the pictures are beautiful. the trees and the snow… they almost look like abstract paintings!
and rummy’s and cathy’s comments made me think of the actual question of your post…
i too am so fortunate. i live in a real “leave it to beaver” neighborhood. it was one of my favorite shows growing up.
and i always have my beloved brother of course.
life is good.
love,
tammy j
and ps to cathy in NZ… way to go girl! good on you!!! 🙂
thanks tammy and of course Jean for your comments on my journey…and so forth
Oh, what a breathtaking image of the incident! I wonder what the drivers had gone through but they were lucky to get out alive. Good that your friends helped you out. My friends always help me out in trouble and I feel all those who have got such friends are really very lucky.
Rummuser, tammy and Leo,
I agree. We are lucky to have good friends!