The Treasure Chest
Map of Santa Fe, found in the treasure chest.
I created this blog because not everything that happens in this legislative life fits in a nice little newsletter. For those wanting to follow my deeper thoughts and reflections on issues, you’ve found the place! I hope that those who find themselves agreeing with me come here to read and take refuge in our shared sentiment, and those who do not agree with me will come here to find out why I care so much about the issues we discuss in committee and on the floor. While many electeds stray away from putting too much in writing, I feel exactly the opposite. There’s too much we don’t discuss and when we bury those issues, things fester, or at minimum, we don’t give them a chance to see the sunlight.
I wanted to dedicate this first blog to the recent treasure chest that I’ve inherited from Rep Chasey as she has been moving out of her office in Santa Fe. In two boxes, she delivered little bits and pieces of history, little treasures she’s collected throughout the years, little memories, stories that I have the privilege sifting through.
In the lid of one box are the tangibles- the infamous New Mexico flag pins that wonder through the capitol, little House of Representatives pins, a card holder made of a red chile and even a stress ball… because clearly she know's I’ll need it! :)
In the body of another box sit the not-always-tangibles— files full of history, committee documentation on issues she cares deeply about… that I care deeply about. Inside these files, there’s a small history of fighting for a safer, healthier and more prosperous future for the families of New Mexico. And in a special, separate file, perhaps my favorite— constituent letters she sent to the district throughout her years in office… some sent when I was a little girl and she was already fighting for families like mine. It’s a little retelling of all the battles we’ve fought, and won and sometimes lost. Many of which we’ve yet to see realized.
I opened up a book called Prayers for Peace— a fitting gift from Gail, the woman who abolished the death penalty in our state. I flipped through the pages and landed on a quote, appropriate for our current political context and symbolic of the reason I feel the universe asked me to step up and serve during this particular moment in our history. I’ll leave it here so you, too, can take what you need from it as you carry on with your day.
“When I despair, I remember that all through history the ways of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible, but in the end they always fail. Think of it— always.”
