Exploration 1: Back Away From The Meat!

New Year's Day I took a mini hike to the
Jemez Hot Springs, located about an hour north of
Albuquerque. It was a great way to connect with nature.

Before we dive into it, I would like to wish everyone a very joyous new year! It's something of a remarkable thing each year when we gather with friends and family, if not alone, to reflect on the year that so quickly came and went. Years, time I suppose, are like wide rivers that approach a restricted passage. Everything moves so slowly, calmly if we are fortunate, then without realizing it the water has sped up and we're sailing at full speed down the same river. Then the water again finds it's opening and everything again slows down as the new year starts.

In contrast to new year celebrations of my past, I brought in the new year in meditation. It was something of a last minute decision after a new friend that I made during this visit to New Mexico expressed he was thinking about driving to Santa Fe to spend NYE at the Zen temple. As many of you know, in my own way I practice Buddhist teachings and meditation for the new year is something I've wanted to do for at least two years now. It was my chance! I invited myself as much as I could without actually forcing myself.

He called the next afternoon and that night we dashed off to Santa Fe for a rather profound and remarkable experience. On the way I asked him, "What should I expect? What's going to happen?" He laughed, "Don't expect anything. Nothing is going to happen."

You know what? He was right. Nothing did happen.

After midnight, meditation ended, and some
gathered around a bonfire placed in front of the temple.

When we arrived the space was already tranquil without about 300 people. One great thing about Buddhism is there aren't many rules, it's very opposite from my traditional (Native American) teachings that have strict dos and don'ts. Knowing this, my nerves weren't on edge. If I did something wrong or different, it wouldn't affect anyone but me and in that, I need to focus on the lesson contained there in. I did make a mistake or two.

Before signing up for this adventure, I didn't realize I was committing to two hours of meditation.

I'm tempted to detail the experience and it's effect on me, but maybe not. I will say that I recommend it to everyone, at least once, and it was an experience that I'll truly remember forever. I'm grateful the opportunity presented itself and my friend allowed me to tag along. I'd easily do it again at the close of this year.

As for new year's resolutions. I'm not a big resolutions guy. I just don't see the point. They are like rules, meant to be broken. lol However, for the first time in a long time I actually set myself a resolution - "To love. To love as many people as possible, as soon as possible, even if they can't, forever."

Changing gears, New Mexico has done more than present itself as an unintended spiritual journey it also has contributed to 7 additional pounds that I worked oh so hard the last month to drop. In one week, I gained 7 lbs, the horror! It pains me to realize it will take anywhere from 2 to 3 weeks to chisel it off again. To further emphasis that I've been doing nearly nothing but eating, I've also been eating meat.

The pork in the posole wasn't that much, posole is mostly water. It wasn't until New Year's Eve I made my mark and ordered a green chile cheese burger. If you've never had a cheese burger with green chile, especially that from Blake's - you don't know what you're missing out on. I fucking loved every bite and even had to force myself from ordering a second one immediately after in fear I'd be regretting it later.

The next day, January 1st, I again ordered a cheese burger with green chile, ate eat throughout the day, including ham and chicken and finished the night with a juicy stake. The decadence of it all is shameful, I know! Like I said at the start of Exploration One, I'm not trying to become a vegetarian because I don't like meat. I, actually, very much enjoy it. YOLO! lol

For the past week, my mom has suggested I cook dinner, a vegetarian dinner. It's something she wants to start exploring after hearing me rant about the benefits I've experienced - energy levels, digestive system happiness, etc. Last night she invited a friend over and held me up at gun point to cook. Well, not really, but I think we both were just as tired of eating out when she asked me to cook, I insisted that I do because I found myself missing the kitchen.

"I placed the turkey on the counter," she added.

"Turkey? Why turkey. You asked me to make you a vegetarian meal."

"You can cook whatever you want, I need something of substance. I need meat."

I recognized the resistance. I had the same resistance once. You might recall from earlier posts that being a vegetarian is more of a mental state. Well, perhaps better stated, eating meat is a mental state, overcoming it, letting it go, finding the peace within yourself allows you to accept not eating meat. That sounds very yogi, I know. I am something of a hippie.

"You told me to cook a vegetarian meal because YOU wanted to learn to cook a vegetarian meal," I pointed out.

"I know, but I need meat," she insisted.

I stopped. I already decided that I wasn't going to cook the turkey because it was I who was cooking. In that, however, I didn't have room to play with a new recipe - as much as I wanted to, I switched gears from looking at book marked recipes to re-reading this blog. What things did I label as a 5?

Curry, my second attempt. Keep in mind that my sister, a Georgia raised meat eater, expressed incredible amount of approval for the dish. It was a safe option.

Re-stating what was already said about it, the other benefit of that particular dish, it was easy and fast. My mom doesn't have a kitchen-kitchen. She has a sink, refrigerator and a microwave. This should give you some indication of how much she cooks. She does have a hot plate, however. That is what I'd use to create the feast.

While the onions started to caramelize in the frying pan, she sat next to me making small talk as I chopped up the vegetables. (Side note, she asked me to cook breakfast also, so I picked vegetables that could go both in the dinner and the breakfast as not to waste any. I'm pretty sure she won't touch these vegetables after I leave. Today is my last full day here.)

Then she started to walk away.

"I thought you were going to help me cook?" I teased.

"I like to watch people cook. I only cook for parties."

"Well, my life is one big party," I laughed.

She stopped, gave me THAT look then said, "umm, okay..."

Yeah, that didn't work.

When dinner was ready, I called her and her guest to the table.

"Where's the turkey? Did you cook the turkey?"

"What turkey?" I asked an innocently as possible?

"The turkey I told you to cook."

"I completely forgot about that." - lies. I could sense her frustration, but felt supported because, as I came to learn, her friend was also something of a vegetarian so it was two against one. "Trust me, this is a good dish. You won't even notice the meat missing. You'll be fine. I promise, you'll feel satisfied."

So, we started to eat.

"This is really good, Tyson," my mom praised.

As expected, she accepted the dish without meat and enjoyed it, even having seconds and didn't mention anything about not feeling full or somehow at a disadvantage because I didn't prepare the turkey slices.

Personally, I know I felt overall better, like my body was thanking me for not shoving more animal carcass down my digestive track; raising its white flag.

My mom had an early start today, so I didn't get a chance to cook breakfast, but will tomorrow as I fly out tomorrow afternoon. I figure the potato, bean, and egg breakfast burrito I made before leaving Georgia would make a great choice before leaving New Mexico.

As for the remainder of my stay, a friend of mine who owns a goat farm outside the city invited us over to check out his cheese operation. I visited it when it first started about ten years ago and from what it sounds like, it has grown considerably. Then focus on laundry, packing, and spending what remaining minutes with my mom. I hope to do a walking tour of UNM since it's where the adventure of New Mexico was initiated, but we'll see.

It's still in the air of whether I am heading straight home after arriving in Atlanta or if we are staying the night to "play" the next day. So I'm going to safely assume, I won't be in ideal conditions to post an entry Friday, but I will get one up on Saturday. So we'll "see" you then.