ABQ LOG: 30-31 January

[jesse_the_k]

Tuesday

I went to Highland Pool, a ten-minute trip over various sorts of sidewalks. It serves Highland High School and the general public--admission was $1 because I'm an honored citizen* They had two seated showers in the women's, as well as two family bathrooms, although in all cases the shower head was fixed to the wall. I jump in and crawl out on a ladder, so can't speak to the condition of the pool lift. The water was chilly and the people were friendly.

I wandered back home and poked along Central Avenue, one of the oldest commercial streets in Albuquerque. They've been almost finished with a bus rapid transit project for four years, and half the shops are empty. Don't know if that's really due to construction or just economic crash.

Dogs are mostly welcome in Albuquerque, although we infer permission from the lively signs which admonish

There is no poop fairy! Scoop your poop! Grab it - Bag it - Toss it

Generally this is next to a "mutt mitt" dispenser of plastic bags to grab poop as it happens, as well as a sealed trash can for deposits.

Compliance percentage seems about same as at home, without the Poop Fairy's spectral presence.

Dinner at Waffle House, and the hash browns didn't live up to my crispy dreams.

Went to bed early so we could watch the Eclipse.

Wednesday

Four thirty is when MyGuy & Bella usually arise for their morning business. So they were in good time to poke me awake. We stepped outside to admire the Super Blue Moon Eclipse. After a while, we went down to the NM Museum of Natural History. I was looking forward to their observatory deck but it was around 20 ft square and at least 300 people wanted to be there. No problem. The viewing weather was beautiful: crystal clear, gentle breeze, 40°. The disc started slightly yellowy-white, then got dingy, then got umber. The bright edge of the moon was returning just as dawn broke, and the moon faded into the blue sky.

Home for a nap, then our old standby, the cemetery walk. Cemeteries are for the living to visit, yes? In Historic Fairview Cemetery, there are several signs warning against trespassers. Parts of it were created without any funds for "perpetual care," so they're pretty ratty--tipped and chipped vertical headstones. Other parts are clearly well kept: there are flat markers--granite and brass--as well as upright granite markers.** We saw two set-asides blessed as Greek Orthodox and Jewish.

I'm hoping you can tell me why a Vietnamese couple would have a headstone in what looks like Chinese.

Most hideous was the recent installation of a balloon-themed outdoor columbarium.^ The hyper-realistic hot-air balloon, complete with woven basket below, does not lend itself to the medium of stone. Perhaps that's why this statue commands a circle of black granite that's empty of names?

This flat marker gave me the biggest thrill. Bea L Weber--I assume she's a pilot from the plane in the corner--anticipates her own death. She lists her "Arrival Date" but the "Day of Departure" is blank. An exceptionally languid cat-creature guards that empty spot, while her catch phrase is "I dance among the stars."

Finally we visited Thomason Stone, a Pueblo-family-owned vendor of semi-precious stones, pearls, and (of course) turquoise. The US stone was lovely and wicked expensive (turquoise has been heavily mined here). They also had some stunning^^ Chinese stone, mined and cut with the same care as US. Since I was vertical MyGuy gave me 30 minutes there. I could have spent days. The staff were delightful, chatty, and informative. The stock was FABULOUS! I know now I could buy online with confidence.

---

* Senior/disabled/vet

** Notable since we come from the land of limestone markers, which become unreadable after a century of rain.

^ A structure with niches to house cremated bodies in urns.

^^ Sadly, bad Chinese-origin generic stone dyed blue almost spoiled me for the good stuff.

Comments

[sasha_feather]

Sounds like you are having a good time! Sounds like Bea would be a good person to know.

[jesse_the_k]

...perhaps even a good person to fly with, if it didn't involve security.

[sonia]

Thanks for the virtual tour! Sounds like you're having a great time!

[jesse_the_k]

It's definitely knocked back my anxious anticipations.

[chanter1944]

Could the Chinese/Vietnamese blurriness represent members of the Chinese minority in Vietnam? Stone mostly written in home language, but names in Vietnamese due to name changes similar to what happened to people here i.e. Sebastiani becoming Sebastian, Schmidt becoming Smith, etc?

Bing!

[jesse_the_k]

Thank you. I’d forgotten about the Chinese in Vietnam, and that makes perfect sense.

[toft]

Bea sounds like quite a person!

I like the pictures.

[jesse_the_k]

So happy to hear it.

[wendelah1]

"I'm hoping you can tell me why a Vietnamese couple would have a headstone in what looks like Chinese."

There is an minority in Vietnam who are considered to be ethnic Chinese, the Hoa people.

[jesse_the_k]

Ah! Thanks.

[sovay]

An exceptionally languid cat-creature guards that empty spot, while her catch phrase is "I dance among the stars."

That's excellent.

[jesse_the_k]

Almost makes me want to have a grave marker, so I could entertain future people I would have liked to know.

[ismo]

So cool that you're an honored citizen! I'm bowing mentally. I find that stone balloon for ashes very disturbing. I suppose it could be taken as some kind of metaphor for death, but not one that makes me feel any better.

I share your creepy.

[jesse_the_k]

Balloons are one of Albuquerque's mascots--they host an annual international balloon festival with thousands of attendees. So that's probably why someone thought it would be a good idea--and perhaps there's an untapped market of ballooning enthusiasts who would like to be so memorialized?