This time Canyon Road greeted us with a few surprises. Biting cold, rather than the dry summertime breezes typical of the New Mexican high country. Wall-to-wall people, instead of the usual meandering of summertime tourists that stroll the three-quarter-mile stretch of art galleries, studios, and homes that line Santa Fe's famed art colony. And if you know someone in the vicinity, the locals told us, there's a good chance you'll run into him or her. "Everyone walks the Road on Christmas Eve." So my wife and I began our walk, hoping to connect with friends who were in the area. Sure enough we did—by cell phone.
"It sounds like you're here," I shouted, "but where?
"We're in front of the such-and-such gallery," our friend shouted, struggling to be heard over the crowd noise and phone static.
