The bird is back!

Heading east on I-10 on the way into Las Cruces, the road-weary traveler has an opportunity for a stretch break at a rest stop that overlooks the Mesilla Valley and the striking backdrop of the Organ Mountains. On a stormy day with the flashes of lightning brightening the sky, the view is awe-inspiring. On a partly cloudy day, it is uplifting. On a clear day, it can take your breath away.

On this partly cloudy Tuesday afternoon, we are rolling into Cruces on our way home from semi-annual dental visits in Tucson. We don't need a stretch break, we had just finished an amazing meal at El Mirador in Deming and would be stopping for gas shortly, but we do have a compelling reason to exit. On our way west we had noted an old friend was back, and we needed to stop for a visit.

We can't see him from the east-bound freeway until we pull off, and then yup... there he is. We follow the parking lot around, anxious for a better view, and then we pull into the closest parking spot. We get out for a better look. Yes indeed, the bird is back.

Standing atop his huge boulder, he has a perfect vantage point from which to keep an eye on the comings and goings along I-10. He faces east, keeping watch over the valley as he welcomes weary drivers in need of a break from the seemingly endless desert terrain, beckoning them to tarry a short while for a closer look.

Towering above the traveler, this roadrunner does indeed warrant a closer look. For something about him (in addition to his size) looks a bit...well, off.

The striations along his neck grab attention first. I don't recall them from our earlier encounters. As I approach my question is answered. The alternating black and white stripes are created by rows of white soles from tennis shoes and black tops from the same. His eyeball is an old automobile headlamp, with a black pupil painted on, surrounded by a small, gray tire.

Moving back to take in the view if his left wing, Chuck and I find ourselves transported back to childhood, sitting in the waiting room at the dentists office, flipping the pages of Highlights magazines, hoping no one had been cruel enough to circle the hidden objects in the picture. We call them out as we spy them. A cell phone. A pair of crutches. A computer key board. A stock from a broken toy rifle. A toy motorcycle. A toy guitar. A paint brush...and the list goes on.

On his tail we find an assortment of trophy figures - bowling, baseball, and basketball among others. His legs are tires from motorcycles, bicycles, and very likely some retreads that flew off a vehicle at high speed.

Every feature of this old friend is formed from objects found along the highway and brought together by a talented artist who wanted to share his vision with all who care to slow down long enough to notice. I daresay that not an hour goes by without someone driving past totally unaware.

I say "The bird is back," because he was away for quite some time getting a (for lack of a better word) facelift. Time, the elements, and travelers had taken their toll on the original sculpture. The small amount of information we were able to find online indicated he was being worked on and would be back...eventually. Not much to go on when you are anxiously awaiting a return. But he's back now. There is no plaque offering the title of the sculpture nor any information about the artist...and I am traveling across White Sands with no internet access to look it up (don't worry, Chuck is driving). You are on your own to research that if you wish.

Regardless of his origin, the roadrunner beckons.

I hope you will slow down in your travels long enough to stop by and pay him a visit. Perhaps you, like me, will come away with a couple of thoughts. Mine? First, that talented people amaze me. Second, that it is a really good thing that living roadrunners are not as big as this guy.

I invite you to take a gander at the pictures and add any thoughts this roadrunner brings to your mind in the comment section.

 And remember, life is about the journey.