1877 March 5 - Lincoln, New Mexico

Oh, Diary, today was a day sprinkled with the magic of the mundane, a reminder of the simple joys that lace through this tapestry of life. Henry and I, we took a step back from the whirlwind of Lincoln, finding solace in the quieter corners of this bustling town.

There’s a charm, you see, in the everyday – a charm I often overlook in my quest for the extraordinary. Today, it was found in helping an old craftsman with his stonework. Each stone was a story, each chip away a revelation. Henry, with his sleeves rolled up, was a picture of focus and determination, his usual bravado softened into something resembling reverence.

And oh, we talked, Diary! Our conversation was a meandering river, flowing from the serious to the absurd. At one point, Henry caught me off guard with a question about the stars, his eyes twinkling with a mix of curiosity and mischief.

“Tak,” he said, “if you could be any star in the sky, which one would you be?”

I laughed, the sound echoing off the stone walls. “Oh, Henry, I’d be the North Star, of course – always guiding, always constant.”

He shot back with a grin, “I’d have pegged you more for a shooting star – here one minute, gone the next, but impossible to miss.”

It was moments like these, Diary, where our spirits truly danced – a playful joust of words and wits.

As the day faded into evening, we sat side by side, covered in dust and satisfaction, the fruits of our labor a testament to the day. Henry's tales of his escapades, each more daring than the last, filled the air. His life, a canvas of bold strokes and vibrant colors, never ceases to amaze me.

But beneath the laughter and the tall tales, there’s a depth to Henry, a well of thoughts and dreams that he seldom lets others see. Today, I caught a glimpse of that depth, a peek into the soul of the man behind the legend.

As I lay here under the blanket of stars, I find myself reflecting on the day, on the bond that Henry and I share. It’s a connection that goes beyond the thrill of adventure, beyond the rush of the moment. It’s a meeting of minds, a clash of spirits, a fusion of two souls traveling on their own paths, yet somehow walking side by side.

---

---