Of all the places I have lived, New Mexico is  the closest to my heart and my genuine ancestral roots. On my mother's side is a family line that takes us back to the Native American Pueblos of  the central valley of New Mexico. The culture of New Mexico is rich and deep and civilizations here are among the oldest in North America. What is striking about the Land of Enchantment is the diversity of not only the culture but also the  landscape, from high desert floors to gypsum deserts to alpine forests. The cottonwood trees and the aspens are a glory to behold on a crisp New Mexican autumn day.