Ben is a friend of my mom's, who lives in the Navajo nation, close to the New Mexico border in Arizona. He was in Santa Fe yesterday, (where I currently am) and came over to talk to us. Ben has been all over the world, by a funny co-incidence he was in Cusco Peru in June 2000, meaning Karen and I were there at the same time. Too bad we didn't run into him. He went to the solstice ceremony at Saxewoman that I was too embarrassed to admit we slept through.

The Navajo's, who are the descendents of several Apache tribes, have one of the best-preserved native cultures in North America. Unlike the Pueblo tribes around Santa Fe, they never mix the Catholic ceremonies with the traditional ones, and draw strict bloodlines. Ben got water to his Hogan a few years ago, before that he lived in a more traditional manner. He herds sheep, is the Director of Education at the Dine college, graduated from Saint Johns college in Santa Fe, and has traveled more widely than I have. He questioned me on Thanksgiving, asking what it meant to me. He said Navajo's don't understand it, because eating with the family like that is a weekly if not daily occurrence, and there are no ceremonies associated with Thanksgiving. (what about beer and football??). I stuck to my position that it is as close to a tradition as we have in American culture, and it was good enough. Families go out of their way to get together, no matter where they are.

When I told him I was going to Guatemala, he asked why? What was I trying to accomplish, who was I visiting. He's been there, with a group of Native American’s, and the visited certain tribes. He said I would stand out a lot, but I think I convinced him that our main motive is not to necessarily become best friends with all native peoples, but really to have a good and maybe educational time, to see the world from an un-American perspective. Ben said I should have clear purpose, spiritually, for the purpose of my trip. I felt a little frivolous, but what can you do. He invited me to the Navajo nation, and I've already planned out an at least 1 week mini vacation from working on the ranch for and Karen and I (and any of you stragglers who make it to NM!). It will involve the northwest part of New Mexico, Canyon de Chelly (pronounced che), and probably loop back around through Taos and El Valle. It’s quite an invitation, as Canyon de Chelly is purportedly exceedingly beautiful, and not open to the public. He said we can camp on his land. I invited him to Pecos.

Santa Fe is beautiful as usual, but I have to leave today, back to Reno for another week of work. Only one week to go, and I'll be in Guatemala!