I’m Amelia Madrigal, an alum of Semester 54. I live in Western Massachusetts.
Right before third exped, all the expedition groups were sitting in the Academic Building, packing our food rations into specific food bags. I was sitting on the floor in the library, carefully sectioning off our M&M’s into three equal parts. Right then, Lia, our History Apprentice and an HMI alum herself, came bursting in with a couple books. Look at what I brought back from spring break! I was excited to see, and while I checked them out, she ran back to the App house to bring the rest of the stack. Lia came back with a tower of carefully curated titles and happily set them down, letting me choose one or two for expedition. She picked up a small white paperback and gave it to me, one of the best gifts anyone has given me. Lia thoughtfully introduced me to Terry Tempest Williams through her book When Women Were Birds.
I first read When Women Were Birds backpacking with HMI in Dark Canyon. Terry fit right in with HMI’s English curriculum. She helped shape my relationship with the Southwest, especially as someone who grew up nowhere near canyon country. I was in awe with how she articulated herself and her lived experiences within the framework of the natural world. Terry also introduced me to the conservation movement.
This February, I brought my mother to her book tour in Concord, MA. We listened to Terry’s refined and reflective perspective on finding beauty on her walk to work in Cambridge, MA. She spoke in stories and completely lived up to my expectations. She mentioned Bears Ears National Monument three separate times. To be there, almost a year since I’d first heard the name Terry Tempest Williams, with my mother, was a profound full circle moment. I’d brought my copy of When Women Were Birds to maybe, maybe get it signed. Afterwards, I walked up to her and told her she inspired me to pursue Creative Nonfiction in college. She gave me a hug and asked to sign my copy. As she signed, I mentioned that I’d first read her book sitting in a cave, during a graupel storm, in Dark Canyon. Terry’s eyes lit up, and she turned to her husband, Brooke, gesturing at him to turn around. She inscribed my book beautifully. I’m very grateful for Lia, HMI, and Terry, for introducing me to the Southwest.
