Seeing Wicked In Albuquerque

Saturday, a few members of my family piled into my mom's car and headed off to Albuquerque to see the musical, 'Wicked.' It was a nice change of scenery. Living in a small town certainly has its perks but you can get cabin fever from time to time. It can feel as though the town's limits are closing in and you just want to get out and escape the suffocation.

So it was fun Saturday to leave town, eat at an unfamiliar restaurant and partake in some "big city entertainment." Even walking down the streets to the theatre felt a little like a novelty. The long rows of store fronts, the constant stream of traffic and wide range of noises seemed other worldly. 

But then we returned home and I went back to the familiar. I covered the Pumpkin Glow for the Post that evening. But there was a slight, welcomed twist: my niece came with me to help shoot grinning, glowing jack-o-lanterns. The event is outdoors so it was pitch black but far from silent. Chatter bubbled around us and old rock n' roll songs were serenaded from Fuller Lodge. We scooted and ducked between spectators to take pictures. My niece hovered the camera lens over carvings of witches, a Mickey Mouse, even an octopus. 

Later as I downloaded the pictures and admired my niece's handiwork, I thought how nice it is to go away to do something different from the usual routine. But routine has its benefits, too. It feels comfortable and welcoming. You feel at home.