February 20, 2003
Ashes to ashes . . .
Monday 2/17
One of the reasons I came out to New Mexico was to bring home my old buddy Bubba. Lara and I got Bubba, aka PigPen, in Algodones New Mexico, and some of my fondest times spent with him were desert hikes in the Jemez Mountains and the Sandia Foothills. When he died last January, I vowed to bring his ashes back to New Mexico.
After hiking through Bandelier for most of the day, I drove back into Jemez Springs and toward Jemez pueblo. Before you get to the pueblo, there are a series of small parks that give access to the Jemez River. When Lara and I used to bring the dogs up here, this was one of the places we’d stop to let them cool off on hot desert days.
I pulled into River’s Bend park, lit a cigar and walked down to the fizzing water. I took old Pig’s ashes and tossed them in, watching the water go milky white for a moment before coursing forward, carrying him off. I wiped a tear from my eyes and sat there, listening to the water and watching the cliffs ignite in sunset red.
Posted by Bob Benz at February 20, 2003 12:06 AM