While my sister and I had doubts about many things related to our Daddy, one thing we never doubted was his love for New Mexico. He would rather be camping on a mountain or fishing in an icy stream than anywhere else in the world. Daddy had no need for fancy vacations to other countries or five star hotels, although he did enjoy nice things. All he ever wanted was to be in the state that he loved so much, surrounded by tall trees, breathing mountain air, with a drink in his hand, of course. I remember the majority of vacations that our family ever took when I was a child, were to New Mexico. He and my little sister's mother moved to New Mexico when my sister was very small and Daddy particulary loved living in Santa Fe. He felt a sense of peace there and he loved not only the land, but also the people. Daddy was a charmer and never met a stranger. He thoroughly respected the Native American people and their way of life. He would visit with the old ladies selling jewelry or fry bread on the square and loved attending different festivals. He took great pride in letting us know that our great-great grandmother was of full blood Cherokee descent, and I think he truly wished he had more Native American blood flowing through his own veins.
When he died, and we found out his life insurance had lapsed, we knew that our only choice was to have him creamated, as honestly, that was all I could afford. Fortunately, he had told both me and my sister many times that he did not want to be buried in the family plot in Childress, Texas, but wanted to return to the land that he so loved. It broke my heart to tell my dear aunt that I was not bringing his body to Childress, but she was kind and precious, as she always is, and understood our decision. And so, we creamated my daddy and on spring break in March 2011, my sister and I began the process of taking Daddy to all the places in New Mexico that he loved the most.
When going through Daddy's writings, I found many, many pages devoted to New Mexico and his love of that state. I think that they are all beautiful and will be shared eventually, but this was the first one I read upon my return from scattering his ashes and although I had no doubt that we did exactly what he would have wanted, this particular piece solidified that certainty. He wrote this prior to leaving New Mexico to go into rehabilitation at the H.O.W. Foundation in Tulsa, Oklahoma the first time.
When he died, and we found out his life insurance had lapsed, we knew that our only choice was to have him creamated, as honestly, that was all I could afford. Fortunately, he had told both me and my sister many times that he did not want to be buried in the family plot in Childress, Texas, but wanted to return to the land that he so loved. It broke my heart to tell my dear aunt that I was not bringing his body to Childress, but she was kind and precious, as she always is, and understood our decision. And so, we creamated my daddy and on spring break in March 2011, my sister and I began the process of taking Daddy to all the places in New Mexico that he loved the most.
When going through Daddy's writings, I found many, many pages devoted to New Mexico and his love of that state. I think that they are all beautiful and will be shared eventually, but this was the first one I read upon my return from scattering his ashes and although I had no doubt that we did exactly what he would have wanted, this particular piece solidified that certainty. He wrote this prior to leaving New Mexico to go into rehabilitation at the H.O.W. Foundation in Tulsa, Oklahoma the first time.
By Jerry Graham
1994
I know without a doubt that
this magnificient land is
truly enchanted.
And that I am addicted to
that enchantment.
She delights the heart and senses.
She charms us with warm days
and cool nights.
She intrigues us with her past.
She is truly a work of God;
His majesty is everywhere.
From the faces of the people
to the narrow adobe lined alamedas,
to the fantasy and serenity of it all.
I must leave this land for awhile
but I will return
when some of life's chores
are finished.
I must return to this land that
I love so much.
I WILL come back.....
To the land of long ago.
We are happy to say that he did return. And this time, he gets to stay forever.
1994
I know without a doubt that
this magnificient land is
truly enchanted.
And that I am addicted to
that enchantment.
She delights the heart and senses.
She charms us with warm days
and cool nights.
She intrigues us with her past.
She is truly a work of God;
His majesty is everywhere.
From the faces of the people
to the narrow adobe lined alamedas,
to the fantasy and serenity of it all.
I must leave this land for awhile
but I will return
when some of life's chores
are finished.
I must return to this land that
I love so much.
I WILL come back.....
To the land of long ago.
We are happy to say that he did return. And this time, he gets to stay forever.