Last week my hometown was struck by a freakish spin off from hurricane Dolly that dropped nearly 7 inches of rain in 24 hours. Normally in the summers in New Mexico we worry about wildfires rather than flooding. I don't live there anymore but my mom does and I have lots of friends who do so it has caused me a great deal of worry. One particular area of town was severely torn apart, my mom's neighborhood. There is only one road in and out and the bridge washed out so she has been unable to drive out for days. At the end of June I was there visiting and spent some time hopping from rock to rock in the river, spotting rainbow trout, and looking for mint along the banks. My favorite places are there in that forest. My childhood wasn't spent with video games. It was spent exploring there. Throughout my years of "teenage angst" I took refuge in the stillness there that I couldn't seem to find in my life.
The most important thing is that my mom and all the people I care for there are safe. Things can be replaced and mud can be cleared away. I only worry that the next time I go back to visit I will find that my memories are all that is left.
