Several months ago I wrote this column, and the Albuquerque Journal, our morning paper, finally published it today. With the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent ruling upholding most of the Affordable Care Act, I guess the column was timely once more.

Thanks for reading. Stay vigilant and insist that your elected officials of all parties make it easier for more people to obtain affordable health insurance and health care.

Millions more people have their own stories to share. I hope America will listen.

Sunday, September 18, 2011, 3:00 pm

Oddfellows Hall, 1125 Cerrillos Road, Santa Fe

Please feel welcome to participate in an open sharing time.

Dress comfortably, and bring a pot luck dish to share.

For more information: 505-820-3535, will.wfd@gmail.com

Richard Wilson, former postmaster in Glorieta, community  dance leader, and poet, passed away on August 4, 2011 from  metastatic melanoma.  His passing has left a great emptiness in  the lives of those who survive him: his wife of 30 years,  Karolyn; his best friends Scott Crates and son-in-law Justin Perea; his daughters Emily Perea, Karina, Lily, Laurel and Char  Wilson; his grandchildren Elizabeth, Martin, and Beren Perea;  dear friend Merry Crates; mother Anastasia Haley, sister Margaret Woods, and brother Danny Wilson; and his many  friends among his postal patrons and fellow contra dancers. 

He was born on Christmas Eve 1947, in Los Angeles, CA, and  attended the John H. Francis Polytechnic High School in Sun  Valley, CA, graduating in 1966.  He first came to New Mexico in  1968 and lived at the New Buffalo commune in El Rito.  He  served in Vietnam in 1969 and 1970, and was honorably  discharged with a Bronze Star.  He traveled around the world,  spending a year in Australia before returning to the United  States to ride a bicycle from California to New York and back  again, and work as a miner around the Western US.  In 1978, in  the midst of a ladies’ chain, he met the love of his life, and he  and Karolyn were married in 1981.  They moved to Glorieta  with their family in 1991, and he became the postmaster there  in 1992. 

He embraced his life with gentle enthusiasm and joyfulness,  and his gracefulness, warmth, charm, and kindness touched  the hearts of all whom he met.  As postmaster, he became the  heart of the community of Glorieta.  As a community dance  leader he encouraged and supported both beginning and  experienced dancers alike.  His dances, like his spirit, were  lyrical expressions of his zest for life: his poetry given life and  spirit. 

The family would like to express their gratitude to contra  dancers everywhere, especially the communities in Santa Fe,  Albuquerque, Las Cruces, Taos, and Durango, as well as to the  community of Glorieta, especially the La Cueva Share the Care  group.  Individuals are too numerous to mention by name, but  please know that your support, help, prayers, and thoughts are  not only warmly appreciated, but were of critical importance.

Richard Wilson Memorial flyer (pdf)