The Old West & Other Thoughts

I have a fascination with the Old West. The interest started when we lived in Sierra Vista, Arizona ~ conveniently over the mountain from Tombstone, Arizona. This is where I let my imagination fly as to how it was back then. There are many times I wish I could go back in time and observe like a fly on the wall. Just to see how it was.

Tonight Greg & I watched The American Experience through our local PBS channel at ENMU in Portales. The show was about Geronimo and the Chiracahua Apache tribe. They had lived in the Chiracahua Mountains when escaping the U.S. Cavalry in the 1800s. The show brought the Indian experience being driven from Florida (their home) to the western United States and that labeled it very appropo .... ethnic cleansing.

The other night I had started out surfing the internet, looking for pictures of Clovis. I went through many pages of Google. Found alot of appropriate images for my web page. Then I saw a picture of Clovis in the 1800s (curry.nmgenweb.us). My imagination took off. I could see Billy the Kid riding through as well as the cowboys. The first visible sign on a building was the Saloon. I want to see alot more history around New Mexico. I'd like to go to Cimarron and Las Vegas; I believe that there was the Santa Fe trail in that area.

During the time we were in Sierra Vista, Arizona; we would take off to ghost towns. Most of the ghost towns were on dirt roads and we had a four wheel drive. We went in one old house (being dark inside) and a couple of bats flew out. Then I went walking over to an indention in the ground to take a good look and I chanced upon a snake. It appeared non-venomous; had round eyes but it saw me and took off surprisingly fast.

When Greg and I lived in Colorado Springs, we would go up into the areas of Cripple Creek and Victor and drive all around looking at old silver mills and old buildings. It was a great adventure. In a cow field one time just outside of Cripple Creek; there sat a street car. I don't think the cows were bothered by our going in. The inside was beautiful wood and velvet and brass. All of this was before limited stakes gambling hit Cripple Creek.

While in the Victor area one weekend, we went to a garage sale. The gentleman was selling old bottles in all shapes and sizes for a $1 a piece. He said he had heard that 'interesting things' could be found in the bottom of former 'outhouses'; so he started digging and found many old bottles. I have given some of the bottles away with potpourri inside, covered at the top with lace and satin ribbon; but I do have about 8 of the old bottles from Victor, CO in our house on display.

Down the road is Billy the Kid's museum and grave. That is still 'on the list' to see; just as Cimarron and the older area of Las Vegas is and Silver City and ..... The curiousity never ends.