I’m back at the Mauger Estates B & B.

In spite of only being gone less than a week to the Taos Conference, I feel like I’ve been gone forever and have finally come back ‘home’. This place is a balm for the wrung-out memoir-writing soul. I’m sharing a large suite with my fellow memoirist, June Jackson, from St. Simon, Georgia.

We’ve just walked back from the Growers Market where we had veggie tamales and the best juice ever made. Homemade lemonade with fresh basil, blackberry with sage and watermelon with who knows what. If you’re ever in Albuquerque on a Saturday, find your way to the wonderful juice lady in the centre of the field.

But for now, the heat is just too much to take. We’ve retreated into the air-conditioned genteel atmosphere of this lovely home – and that’s really how it feels – very much a kick-your-shoes-off-and-stay-awhile kind of place.

I might head down the stairs in a few minutes to sample some of the homemade chocolate chip cookies on the buffet. You really have got to love a place that puts out fresh baking every afternoon. Seems very civilized to me.

On the little coffee table in front of me, there are two long stems of some type of orchid. They are shifting in the breeze created from the cooled air system. Unlike my recent stay at the Comfort Suites, where the air con sounded like a jet taking off, this air is more of a slight fanning sound. It’s rather apropos that it too, would have a refined sensibility.

I feel like I should swan about on the parlour divan or something with the back of my hand pressed dramatically on my forehead.

This place just feels so Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Did I mention the faux leopard print upholstered slipper chair in this room? It’s unexpected and irreverent. This place has personality and I’m so glad June and I are here together, rather than some generic airport hotel.

And now, I am going to finally get to work on the editing required for a story that will be published soon.