Just wow. What a commentary, what photos: @Patches, you’re already a stellar asset for this little community of talkers and gawkers. Thank you for sharing!
And @Ravenscry, your account makes me all the more eager to finally get to the Tucson area. We’ve only been to Phoenix and north, so this is a fabulous spur to visit the beautiful south and to meet Mark S in person, having followed and purchased with him over the years.
@OrbitOrange, the way they make these smart phones these days…I find it hard to believe it myself, but these are all taken with an iPhone 
isn’t that wild?! Appreciate your kind and thoughtful words!
I am honored to be here, @chicfarmer - thank you! This is going to be fun!
Thank you @Phoenix7!
Thank you, @Patina - thankful you enjoyed them. Pictures never quite do the justice but they help keep the memories alive!
No kidding! Took me long enough, huh? 
Hmm…good to know this is your favorite, I’ll keep that in my back pocket for a future date 
@here4turquoise thanks for having me!
Welcome to the forum. Looks like a wonderful trip and some great photos.
@Ravenscry It’s almost like it looks like a Sombrero! 
It sounds like you had a spectacular time! Every place in our great country is special. But the Southwest has an essence all its own. Sometimes, just driving around NM on a random errand, I catch my breath because of the beauty around me. I feel lucky to live here.
And a big welcome to @Patches !
We are very happy to have you join us in our lengthy and educational discussions of all things Southwestern!
A very warm welcome to Turquoise People! And you opened with a bang with such a heartfelt post.
First of all, I really enjoyed your post and the pictures are beautiful. Two thoughts on those…
Am I the only one here seeing a Mary Tafoya pendant in the first pick? 
Is @Ravenscry doing a Bigfoot walk in the last pic? If so, he’s in good company. My husband likes to do that when I take a picture, so much so that I have to tell him to stop 
In all seriousness, it moves my heart to hear about the closeness that you two have. My brother and sister were 14 and 12 yrs older than me (my initials were even P.S.
), and even though we are/were (my brother has passed on) close, I never had that kind of relationship with them due to our age difference. I didn’t know what I was missing until I married my husband who is the 2nd oldest of 5 (good Catholic family - 5 kids in 7 years, and I am saying that as a compliment). Especially seeing how his two sisters are best buddies makes me sometimes wish I could have had that. Anyway, I know that you do not take for granted the blessing of your sibling relationship.
And last of all, if you were the one that finally got Aaron to go to the Southwest, kudos to you! It needed to happen. For me my love of the jewelry came after and because of my love of the southwest. I cannot separate the two.
And one more time, welcome!!
Welcome @Patches! And…what glorious pictures! Your wonderful tribute to @Ravenscry is so appropriate. He is a true asset to this forum, and always polite and helpful. It must be genetic, you both seem to be, as you said, intensely beautiful soul(s).