Grit in my teeth

Having lived in Florida for the past 11 years, I thought I knew wind as the Sunshine state is also known for its summer storm season. We have winds down in Florida. From June to October we all begin preparing for the possibility of a hurricane. We fortify our homes, buy extra supplies of water and junk food, turn on our weather radios and track any potential storms. We know that tropical storms begin with wind speeds of 39 mph and becomes a hurricane when wind speed reach 74 mph. When a tropical storm approaches, we board up our houses and if you live on a barrier beach you begin to think about evacuation. When winds speed become hurricane force we hunker down and don't come out until the storm passes. That is Florida.

Not in New Mexico. Apparently, the winds blow 40 to 60 mph very routinely every spring. If you talk to the locals - that is normal. Oh, today is nothing they tell you; after being battered around by 50  mph winds. I believe them - the other day they gusted up to 70 mph. The fine sand blows across the fields and gets into your teeth and hair; your eyes water and you realize your skin was polished clean... your daily skin dermabrasion without going to the spa! Road signs warn of 'dust-outs' as sand blows across the highways recreating what the 1930's dust bowl must have looked like. To escape the wind and sand we sought shelter by hiking the many beautiful canyons of NM, many formed from wind we were trying to escape.

Finally, I couldn't take the wind in my hair and grit in my teeth anymore and we high-tailed it for the AZ border. I thought I knew wind - but my hat's off to New Mexicans!