Monday Mavericks: Mystery In The Desert

Welcome to The Urban Cowboy’s Monday Mavericks! Here, I welcome a guest to post whatever they like, right here, for your enjoyment. First will be a brief Q&A, followed by their post.

As I was doing some website maintenance within the comments and links on The Urban Cowboy, I noticed there was one person…who has followed me since the beginning! She first commented on one of my very first posts on July 14, 2009, and continues to stop by over two years later. I believe she is one of a small handful of people who continue to be regulars here at TUC.

So this Monday’s Maverick, I bring to you Christina of Rabid Tidbits.

How long have you been actively blogging?
Feb 2008 for the rescue, June 2009 on my personal blog

Why did you start blogging?
I don’t know exactly. Make room in my brain I guess.

If you could do one thing, right now, regardless of cost or repercussions of any kind, what would it be?
I would buy land in the mountains of New Mexico, a huge place. I would start an animal sanctuary and have inner city kids come stay, work and learn a different way of looking at the world and caring for something that totally depends on them. Give them a sense of pride and safety too.

Do you like cowboys? Why or why not?
Don’t really know any cowboys personally. (yeah I know I live in Oklahoma)
A cowboy once helped me pull my car out of the mud. I thought he was fabulous.

What is the ultimate goal you wish to achieve through blogging?
Don’t particularly have a goal. Animal welfare? Encourage more people to spay and neuter. Bunny education.

Which ONE word do you feel best describes you?
Irreverent

Which ONE word do you think your friends would use to best describe you?
Genuine

What is your favorite food?
Tossup between Italian and soul food

What is your favorite drink?
Coffee, strong enough to float a spoon.

What is one of your favorite blogs to visit, that isn’t The Urban Cowboy, and why?
sweetdaysundertheoaks.com, it calms me and soothes my soul a bit and her photography is gorgeous.

Is there anything you would like to say?
Always

Mystery In The Desert

I have only told this story to a few people and never in its entirety.

When I was in my twenties I loved to travel. I would find someplace I wanted to go and just go. I was never afraid to take off by myself and would still revel in that freedom but my life is different now.

I guess I was about 28 or so. I had gone on one of my adventures to Arizona. Fell in complete and utter love with the desert. I think people either hate it or love it on sight. I was in awe at the beauty of it and the ability of life to survive there. I admire the landscape and feel part of it, maybe I lived there in another life.

I decided to drive down to Tucson from Phoenix for the day. It was early morning, in the middle of summer. I went to a place outside of Tucson that is officially called a museum but often referred to as a zoo. I wanted to spend the morning wandering, watching the animals and taking pictures of the stunning cactus blooms.

It was so peaceful. I was completely alone at the back of the property, snapping pictures. I squatted down to get a shot of a flower when a horrible sense of dread came over me. A fear like I had never felt before. I wasnt afraid for my life but for my soul. I still get shivers now when I think about it. I stood up, shaking like a leaf and turned around.

Standing behind me was a very old Native American man. He had long white hair, a sun parched face and eyes as blue and cold as a frozen pond in winter. He had on a long sleeved black dress shirt, black jeans and black boots. (It was summer in AZ, who dresses like that during that time of year?) In my mind all I could think was “that is not a real person”. His face was completely devoid of anything human. I started to haul butt.

I walked the path as fast as I could without running. I wanted to find people, any people to be around. Every time I turned around to check he was still behind me. He would just stare over my head, not meeting my eyes. He seemed to saunter while I was almost sprinting, yet he never lost pace with me. I made it to the entrance of the museum where the office/gift shop was. Sweating, my heart was beating so fast I could hear it in my ears.

I wandered around the gift shop for a while, sipped at a bottle of water. I hoped he would go away. He didn’t. I decided to make a break for it and head to the car. He followed me. I had my keys out, ready to strike if I had to. When I got to my rental car a coyote was standing at the rear of it. I turned to check where my shadow was and he had stopped about 25 feet away or so and was staring at that coyote.

I turned back and looked at the coyote, he looked me in the eye and I am completely serious, he gestured with his head towards the exit. I felt safe looking in his eyes, completely safe. He was there to protect me and I felt it in my bones. We knew each other, we were kindred. I got in the car and backed out, sent out a silent “thank you” to whomever and got the hell out of there. The coyote stood at the entrance to the parking lot and watched me go. When I checked my rear view mirror after just a few seconds, the coyote was gone and so was the “man”.

True story, yes it really happened. Someone told me I may have met a Skinwalker in the desert that day. I have tried to tell that story to a few of my Native American friends, they always stop me. They don’t want to hear it. Crazy.

Tagged as: Guest Post, Monday Mavericks

 Printer Friendly Version