Southern New Mexico at 1400 - Tuesday
Kaesen and I just returned from a morning and afternoon of fun, it is an hour later here than Pacific Time, in El Paso, Texas, and Las Cruces, New Mexico. We started out with a short 25-mile drive east to El Paso to play at the Outlet Shoppes of El Paso. We had been there several times previously, with the last two times this past December and September during my two leaves from Afghanistan. We knew exactly where to go and what to do this time! We started out with breakfast sandwiches from Subway and obtained a roll of quarters for playing in all the amusement rides throughout the several breezeways at the mall. Kaesen had such a fun time with the different themed rides, as he did last time, but this time he rode nearly all of them. Later we played in the playground on the north side of the mall. Kaesen was nearly spent by the time we left and made our way back to Las Cruces.
We arrived back in New Mexico with Young Park and the four playgrounds, duck and fish lake, and green areas to run through. Again, Kaesen knew exactly where to go and what to do; we had been there several times before too during previous leave vacations! As school is still in session here in New Mexico, there were not very many families playing and we had the entire park nearly to ourselves. There were a few dads and children fishing; Kaesen again asked for a kid's fishing rod and wanted to see the catches of the day. The playgrounds these days are nothing like when I was a kid. Sure they have slides, monkey bars, and the like, but the play surfaces are cushioned recycled rubber or bark chips and the playgrounds are much larger and more interactive these days. Kaesen again played until he was spent... and hungry - for McDonald's.
Lunch was had at McDonald's; Kaesen had a Happy Meal and played again in their indoor playground. Daddy had a salad and coffee. This meal was slightly more healthy than usual fare when we eat there and tasty, too. Kaesen's toy in his Happy Meal is some sort of finger-based red laser gun; from a recent spy movie I think. Whatever it really is, he loves it of course, as with any and all toys cheap or expensive that are brand new and right now. What a joy being a child, of any age for this matter, is and without a care or concern for work or adult responsibilities. What a life!
Our time is coming to an end here in Las Cruces. We are likely leaving on Thursday to return to Phoenix, though with another overnight in Tucson as I need to pick-up my motorcycle. Next week is full of medical appointments for me - knees, back, headaches, etc., etc., as well as a few others requirements to follow through on while in Arizona. Life is good, pain and all, with my little boy by my side.
143, Kaesen.
Good night and good day.
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