September 15, 2003

Dear Parents and Students,

     We began our day by visiting La Cueva High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  The campus is very attractive, and we received a friendly reception from the secretary and activities director.  The director showed us where we would perform and gave us information about contacts that we could make in the area before our presentation.  As we were taking pictures of the school and preparing to leave, the principal who was previously unavailable, asked us why were taking pictures.  When we explained, she told us that her school would be busy, and she wasn't interested in our visit.
  
     So, we set out sights westward and proceeded towards Gallup, New Mexico.  Along the way, about 32 miles west of Albuquerque, we stopped along Route 66 and took time for a special moment.  It was at that approximate location 62 years ago that Mr. Gwartney's aunt, Josephine Jones, became a victim of a terrible accident.  We stopped along the side of the road to take pictures and memorialize this young woman's life.

     The next stop on our westward journey was at a tiny hamlet named Laguna.  There amongst the tiny Indian homes and desert sand we found an ancient whitewashed church sitting on a hill.  Mission San Jose de Laguna was built in 1699, and it has been in use ever since.  We were impressed with its simple beauty.

     We continued on along Route 66 and reached the town of Grants.  We stopped at the high school with some trepidation after our experience from earlier in the day.  We needn't have worried because Grants High School's vice-principal, Anita Bryant, couldn't have been friendlier or more enthused about having us perform at her school.  We look forward to returning there in the spring.
     Today was shopping day.  Mrs. Carter and Mrs. Miller "needed" to get some souvenirs for their families.  Mr. Gwartney patiently pulled the van over whenever asked and let the ladies do their thing.  That was one problem Tom Joad (from the Grapes of Wrath) never faced on Route 66!

     Crossing the desert today made us appreciate the beauty of the Southwest.  Red cliffs and mesas stretched to touch azure skies and white, billowy clouds.  Dark vegetation dotted the sandy hillsides like the stubble on an old man's face.  The desert has a beauty that is uniquely its own.

     Tonight we are spending the night in Holbrook, Arizona.  We thought about staying in a teepee at Wigwam Village, but they had no phones or Internet access.  Next trip!

     Tomorrow we will be visiting a school in Flagstaff and then pushing westward towards Needles, California.

Teachers in the PAST lane

Ed Gwartney
                                                                                                       Susan Miller
                                                                                                       Sandra Carter