We left Provo on Friday and stayed in Moab that night. Friday we headed out and stopped at a couple of places in southern Utah including a place where we visited some Indian ruins (can't remember the name of the town at the moment) as well as Four Corners. I thought I remembered going there before, but when I got there I saw that it wasn't what I remembered, so maybe I've never been there after all.
After that we drove through a bunch of reservations in New Mexico and were all surprised at how rundown and dirty the towns were. We were having some trouble with the Uhaul so we stopped in Farmington, NM to get it looked at and to have dinner. Dirty, dirty town. Dirty restaurant. Terrible dinner. We were SO happy to leave that place. We were pleasantly surprised when we got to Albuquerque. It was great and after stopping at a super trashy hotel, we were able to find a great one to stay in. I'd love to take my kids back there. The pool had a water slide and they would have loved that.
On Sunday we left Albuquerque and drove the rest of the way to Big Spring, TX. We drove through lots of nothing and a bunch of little run down towns. Especially one called Clovis. Oh. My. Word. I thought I was in another country. The houses there were shocking to see. So beat up and run down. Not just here and there. The entire town.
We made it to Big Spring Sunday night (despite more truck trouble) but unfortunately Tyson and Jess's house had no power so we had to stay at another hotel. The bishop and his wife met us at the house and they had a friend who owned a hotel down the street so they got us a great deal. At the recommendation of a 7-11 attendant, we got dinner at a local truck stop (our choices were the truck stop restaurant, McD's or Denny's....we chose the lesser of 3 evils) and had yet another terrible meal. At least the restaurant was clean, though.
Monday morning (today) we met the bishop and another ward member at the house and got the truck unloaded and spent the day putting stuff away. Tyson and Jess really lucked out with the house they rented since most of the houses in the area are super dumpy. The house they rented has lot of room and is really clean and nice. We were able to get a ton done today and we're all pretty exhausted. My dad and I are headed home tomorrow. I'm so excited for my brother and sister-in-law to have the experience of living here. It's going to be a completely different atmosphere than what they're used to, but it will be so great for them, I think. I think they'll make some good friends and really enjoy the time they get to spend here. I hope I'll be able to visit again before they move away.
But I'd prefer not to drive.
We shall see.
2 comments:
Glad you all (or y'all since you're in Texas) made it okay! Funny to read about the reservations. We live right next to one and it is the same way. EVERY indian reservation I've seen is like that come to think of it, and I don't understand it! They all get their "indian money" and I know for a fact every indian recently got $40,000 dollars each because of a law suit against the US government for misappropriating some trust money/lands. I could tell exactly when they all got it too because there were all sorts of new vehicles driving around town. I used to feel bad for them. Now I'm not sure I do so much :)
Nicole- we were just talking tonight about why that might be. It really does seem so strange. Is it just because thats the way it's been for so long... Or because of the government aide... Or the way the reservations are governed... Or is it a cultural thing? I don't know. It made me sad to see little kids running around outside in yards full of trash, dirt and broken down cars/trucks. It's sad to think that that's probably all they'll ever know.
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