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| I do love the southwest terrain |
The Roadrunner train from Albuquerque to Santa Fe
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| Adobe everywhere |
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| Local vendors are in front of this ancient building, considered the oldest public building in the US. |
They do love their boots in the southwest!
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| Even the parking garage has a southwest flavor! |
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| Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi in Sante Fe |
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| Why not eat French in Santa Fe? |
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| Chicken, mushroom and spinach crepe for me! |
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| Dessert and forever friends! |
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| The very good salesman and my Acoma Pot |
Cattle sculls anyone?
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| Christine is a warrior, not a vet, but a caregiver warrior who gets support through the Wounded Warrior Project. |
All of Erik's therapies will discontinue on Monday, October 15 without the VA approval. The head of the home health care division is hiding, avoiding meetings, avoiding emails, avoiding phone calls. Chris and Gordy know it is harder for them to deny services if they have to look people in the eye (Erik's and the caregivers). And so the advocacy fight continues. Every day. 24-7. No vacations. No breaks. Little time for Christine to address her own medical condition that is worsening, gradually limiting her range of motion in her hands and, effecting her feet. She has scleroderma.
Scleroderma is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease (primarily of the skin) characterized by fibrosis (or hardening), vascular alterations, and autoantibodies. You can read more by following the link below if you are interested.
Scleroderma
Likely, Chris's conditioned has worsened due to stress. Ya think?
While the family certainly uses Western medicines, Christine's German heritage means she is more open to Eastern and natural medicines. She uses essential oils and prays with Erik every night. She uses them for herself. The doctors at the VA cannot explain why Erik continues to improve, especially cognitively. We know why. He has the Schei's for parents.
Christine and Gordy have been wonderful hosts, taking time to fit in some site seeing for me, sharing family meals regularly at their table. She introduced me to kokopelli, the mythical hunch-backed flute player found in many southwestern arts and in ancient hieroglyphics. One of his roles is to spread joy to everyone around him. The basic facts are in the text below, but the link is particularly cool... especially with the kokopelli cursor dancing across the page!
There
are many myths of the famous Kokopelli. One of which is that he traveled from
village to village bringing the changing of winter to spring; melting the
snow and bringing about rain for a successful harvest. It is also said that
the hunch on his back depicted the sacks of seeds and songs he carried. Legend
also has it that the flute playing also symbolized the transition of winter
to spring. Kokopelli’s flute is said to be heard in the spring’s
breeze, while bringing warmth. It is also said that he was the source of human
conception. Legend has it, everyone in the village would sing and dance throughout
the night when they heard Kokopelli play his flute. The next morning, every
maiden in the village would be with child.
Whatever the true meaning of Kokopelli is, he has been a source of music making and dancing, and spreading joy to those around him. Even today, Kokopelli, with his hunchback and flute, is always welcome in our homes.
Whatever the true meaning of Kokopelli is, he has been a source of music making and dancing, and spreading joy to those around him. Even today, Kokopelli, with his hunchback and flute, is always welcome in our homes.
The
legend of Kokopelli (pronounced "Coke-a-pellie") is well-preserved in ancient
rock carvings and paintings dating back as far as 3,000 years. His legend
however, is no less popular today - having survived more than one hundred
generations. Below, is a compilation of stories collected through many hours
of research. Certainly, you can find more stories (and images in Art) on
the World wide web.
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