Been at Apacheria for nine days. Today is a special event in Monticello. I’m excited to be invited to the wedding of Natalie Jeffries and Goren Basarovi. The wedding takes place at 2pm on Plaza de Monticello. These folks must have a good sense of humor, to pick Halloween day to be married! We arrive at 2 and are rushed inside to back patio. Ceremony just about to start. Bride ready to enter the courtyard at the very moment we arrive. Guests are standing around in a horseshoe, must be a hundred or so attending. Not bad for a ghost town. The courtyard has an adobe wall with interesting window openings (no glass) One opening is a wagon wheel imbedded into wall. An outdoor fireplace is built into the wall at the corner. Fire blazing. A few people I recognize, I’ve already met. Natalie (bride) enters escorted by father who is seriously dapper in dark suit and sporting long gray braid.
A woman greets the crowd, tells a few heart warming stories, she’s brides mother.
Basarovi family sit in the raised covered area which was added just for this wedding. Basarovi parents and grandmother come all the way from Macedonia. Some of the brothers travel from Chicago. They have black hair and dark eyes. Handsome and lively young men. Four huge rustic tables arranged on the side. Sun shining. Sky true blue with fluffy white clouds. Everyone is standing as brides mothers voice warbles with emotion. She introduces Marita who will conduct marraige ceremony. I‘d been to Marita and Harolds’ home the night before, the very same home with sweat lodge in back. Marita is a great conversationalist. Now I see her in a different light. This is her second marriage ceremony, she married Gray and Kristi four months before. She speaks beautiful words poetically about love and marriage, what it means. She brought a tear to my eye. "Ultimately Love will prevail over all difficulties you will encounter" she proclaimed. She used a large feather to touch the groom, first on the forehead, sides of face, shoulders, and chest. She seemed to dip the feather in a small jar after each touch of feather. Did I hear her say it was Apache magic? She did the same thing with the bride. I think she may have blessed the brides womb with a touch of the feather. She sang an Apache song, “Naya Naya Naya...” repeating in moaning nasal tone. Kristi mentioned she was calling white painted woman, an Apache spirit. Everyone was vibrant as the couple kissed. (did she toss a bouquet? missed it)
I congratulated bride and groom. Both smiling so young, fresh. I felt privileged to be there. People fell into a cue and feasting began. Pork from one of the farmers pigs was the main dish. It was prepared in two different ways. Both were delicious, as I had to try each. One with green chilis. My fave was the sweet pulled pork. There was beer, wine, and champagne. I wanted wine but couldn’t figure out how to work tap! I drank too much beer and champagne. Lots of conversation around. I remember the last wedding I attended was two friends, Brian and Sarah who got married on a lighthouse many years ago.
Watching the stream of water in the back yard amazes me. Here in dry high desert and there's a strong rushing stream in the back yard. One of the children says it comes from a spring. Kids jump around here like kids do everywhere. Once people were done feasting the folk dancing began. Macedonian folk dancing looks like Greek folk dancing I’ve seen. Basarovi guys danced in a ring holding hands to lively fiddle music (or was that accordion?) Four steps kick. One back kick (repeat with vigor). The dancing went on for an hour or so.
Gray, Kristi, and I drove back to Apacheria. The next day Kristi gave a few drops of mint oil for my heart burn. I laid low and watched Seahawks hang on to win against Dallas by one point.
I think about my perceptions of New Mexico compared to what I now experience. This state looks to be abundant in space and freedom. Rolling hills. Desert ranches. Good people. As a result of so much freedom there’s are a lot of rusty vehicles strewn about. Santa Fe impressed me with its narrow streets and galleries, but I’m not as excited by art scene as I thought. The Southwest theme had a ‘hay day’ twenty years ago, seems to be waning now.
Love the peaceful air. Magnificent quietness. I can actually hear myself think!
People seem to talk at an appropriate volume here. Am I imagining this? Many Seattle people shout when they talk (discuss). Please turn down your shouting city folk!
A woman greets the crowd, tells a few heart warming stories, she’s brides mother.
Basarovi family sit in the raised covered area which was added just for this wedding. Basarovi parents and grandmother come all the way from Macedonia. Some of the brothers travel from Chicago. They have black hair and dark eyes. Handsome and lively young men. Four huge rustic tables arranged on the side. Sun shining. Sky true blue with fluffy white clouds. Everyone is standing as brides mothers voice warbles with emotion. She introduces Marita who will conduct marraige ceremony. I‘d been to Marita and Harolds’ home the night before, the very same home with sweat lodge in back. Marita is a great conversationalist. Now I see her in a different light. This is her second marriage ceremony, she married Gray and Kristi four months before. She speaks beautiful words poetically about love and marriage, what it means. She brought a tear to my eye. "Ultimately Love will prevail over all difficulties you will encounter" she proclaimed. She used a large feather to touch the groom, first on the forehead, sides of face, shoulders, and chest. She seemed to dip the feather in a small jar after each touch of feather. Did I hear her say it was Apache magic? She did the same thing with the bride. I think she may have blessed the brides womb with a touch of the feather. She sang an Apache song, “Naya Naya Naya...” repeating in moaning nasal tone. Kristi mentioned she was calling white painted woman, an Apache spirit. Everyone was vibrant as the couple kissed. (did she toss a bouquet? missed it)
I congratulated bride and groom. Both smiling so young, fresh. I felt privileged to be there. People fell into a cue and feasting began. Pork from one of the farmers pigs was the main dish. It was prepared in two different ways. Both were delicious, as I had to try each. One with green chilis. My fave was the sweet pulled pork. There was beer, wine, and champagne. I wanted wine but couldn’t figure out how to work tap! I drank too much beer and champagne. Lots of conversation around. I remember the last wedding I attended was two friends, Brian and Sarah who got married on a lighthouse many years ago.
Watching the stream of water in the back yard amazes me. Here in dry high desert and there's a strong rushing stream in the back yard. One of the children says it comes from a spring. Kids jump around here like kids do everywhere. Once people were done feasting the folk dancing began. Macedonian folk dancing looks like Greek folk dancing I’ve seen. Basarovi guys danced in a ring holding hands to lively fiddle music (or was that accordion?) Four steps kick. One back kick (repeat with vigor). The dancing went on for an hour or so.
Gray, Kristi, and I drove back to Apacheria. The next day Kristi gave a few drops of mint oil for my heart burn. I laid low and watched Seahawks hang on to win against Dallas by one point.
I think about my perceptions of New Mexico compared to what I now experience. This state looks to be abundant in space and freedom. Rolling hills. Desert ranches. Good people. As a result of so much freedom there’s are a lot of rusty vehicles strewn about. Santa Fe impressed me with its narrow streets and galleries, but I’m not as excited by art scene as I thought. The Southwest theme had a ‘hay day’ twenty years ago, seems to be waning now.
Love the peaceful air. Magnificent quietness. I can actually hear myself think!
People seem to talk at an appropriate volume here. Am I imagining this? Many Seattle people shout when they talk (discuss). Please turn down your shouting city folk!