I had the best time with Grace, Bubba

The whole purpose of my quick flight to and from El Paso was ostensibly business development. Location scouting, too. I’m in El Paso a half dozen times a year as it is, I just never get to relax when I’m there. So I had about 24 hours of non–scheduled time. We cruised up to New Mexico, and I got a couple of killer photo opportunities, like me with a dance troop from old Mexico, like me with a pack of border patrol guards, like me in front of the requisite NM blue doorway. The adobe shots, you know, that staple of southwestern photography. Then, meandering — I am the master of meandering — back to El Paso, we passed in front of the strangest site, a tractor that looked like it was painted all sliver. “Border Art Residency” was the place, and they had all manner of strange stuff. Closer inspection revealed the tractor was a normal John Deere, it just had aluminum foil taped over it. All over it. Dinner on Saturday night was a bit if surprise, there not being a show in town, a few folks found me a little unexpected. I had the best time with Grace, Bubba, and the rest of the crew. Something as simple as a backyard BBQ sure sets itself apart, under the cool, desert sky, the almost full moon wheeling by overhead, the BBQ grill fired up with burgers and brats (Bratwurst). Of course, there was a special “field trip.” But more about that later — maybe.