Georgia, Sarge, and Me - By Sandra Dippolito
Contributed by Mike Lord
When I was growing up, my mother ran the La Fonda Beauty Shop in Santa Fe. In the summer of 1966 (I was 14,) the phone rang at home. It was my mother. She told me to run over to the shop right away. I did not question why, being such an obedient child! My best friend Tinka and I ran barefooted to the La Fonda all the way from Casa Solana.
As we approached the front entrance of the hotel on San Francisco Street, we noticed a black limousine parked up front. I looked at it and thought that maybe that the Beatles were in town! It was none other than Georgia O'Keeffe! I had met her several times at the beauty shop as my mother Dolores was her beautician. My name was called out from the limo "Sandra....come here!" Continuing to be a very obedient child, I went to car as Georgia opened the car door and told me to get in. Who would do such a thing today? I proceeded to get into the limo, and there was a huge box, with two chow chow puppies inside. One was red, and one was black. She then asked me which one I wanted. I chose the red one. It was like a dream. Being a kid, I was not so focused on Georgia, but of course the puppy. I said thank you and started to climb out of the car, when Ms.O'Keeffe said, "where are you going?" I said: home! She then said, "Where do you live?" I replied, "Casa Solana," so she instructed Juan Hamilton, her driver at the time, to listen to instructions from me!
So much for another hot boring, summer day that had not ended up that way. I thanked Ms. O'Keeffe again and she pleasantly smiled at me and said "you're welcome!" My summer was no longer boring, for I had a puppy to train and take care of. I named him Sarge, because he had a marking on his tail that looked like a Sargent's stripe.
Ms. O'Keeffe asked my mother several times if she could paint my portrait, but we never got around to it. Could have, would have, should have.
--Sandra Dippolito
Preserving Traditional Agriculture Through Oral History
Contributed by Michael Miller
WHEN COLORADO WANTED TO BUILD A WALL AND MAKE NEW MEXICO PAY.
Contributed by Michael Miller
WHEN COLORADO WANTED TO BUILD A WALL AND MAKE NEW MEXICO PAY
Contributed by Michael Miller
Introducing Eddie Campos aka "El Vecino". Eddie is a farmer from the El Rito/Ojo Caliente area. He provides generational knowledge that has been passed down for decades in the Rio Arriba. He learned these agricultural techniques from his father and grandfather and is now teaching them to his grandson. He is a friend and colleague who shares agricultural knowledge with his community. We exchange seeds and "farming tips" and learn from each other. He is an excellent farmer and is well known in the community. Eddie and I write a monthly column for the Rio Grande Sun in Espanola. His column is called "El Vecino." My column is called Tradiciones y Historias. Thank you Eddie for all the knowledge you have shared over the years.
New Year's Celebration in the 1950s - By Gloria Mendoza
Contributed by Mike LordThinking back to New Year's Eve when I was young. New Year's Eve in the morning my mother would wake everyone up to clean house. Once done her and her sister would start making food, finger foods, finger sandwiches, dips, Posole & chile, cakes and other goodies. Then they would send my Dad for beer, wine, whiskey and Champagne. My Mom had a little savings just for this occasion. We used to look for change in the couches and all over the house to help her "change" savings. Tonight was a very special night. We had to be in bed by 10:00 p.m. We had to rush and get everything done by then.....Why?......because people, mostly relatives and friends were coming to sing Las Mananitas to my Dad...after all it is the Feast Day of Los Manueles....my Dad's name was Manuel. They would come serenading at our doors and windows singing and playing guitars and violins. We would wake up, greet them, feed them and then the music, dancing and drinking began. My mother served a special drink to the women (her and my Aunt made it up) it was called greenie. Lime sherbert, ginger ale and vodka in a punch bowl. It was a house full of people, singing and they would stay until close to noon time on New Year's Day. All the kids slept on the floor of our bedrooms. Talk about celebrating. Now my family got used to coming over and playing board games for New Year's. We enjoy this better than any other type of celebration. My kids and grandkids are smart.....they don't drink and drive. Always a designated driver if they do drink. I wish you all a wonderful year and slow down on your drinking if you are going to drink. Be sociable.......don't get all locos and locas......lol. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!
More...
Capilla de San Isidro Labrador - Village of Tesuque, NM
Contributed by Mike Lord
A history of the first Spanish settlers in the Rio Tesuque and their church.
From Rita Padilla Haufmann.
Thanks to Ed Saiz for sending us this.
Christmas Memories in the 1950s - By Gloria Mendoza
Contributed by Mike LordSo many memories of Christmas back in the 50s and 60s. As an elementary aged kid, we would wake up early Christmas morning, go to church and come home. We were more excited about grabbing our nicely washed and folded flour sack, that Mom had waiting in the kitchen. We would grab our flour sack and go house to house saying our little verse of "Angelito's Somos". Our neighbors and relatives, who lived in the neighborhood, would fill our sacks with oranges, apples, candy, cookies, popcorn balls, and some with a little prayer printed on a card. I remember smelling the coffee brewing on the wood stoves of some of my Aunts who never wanted a gas stove. The smell of wood used in the wood stoves as we walked around the neighborhood. We would finally get home,, eat breakfast and finally open gifts. Never more than two gifts each. As we got older, if it snowed, we would go skiing. NO?..not at the ski basin. That was for privileged kids. We would ski holding on to the bumpers of cars and wipe out on the sewer caps which melted the snow. They were on the street. Oh what fun we had. The drivers knew we were holding on to the bumpers, so they would drive slow and wave as we went back to get in line to grab onto another bumper. This is a memory that goes back about almost 60 years. What memory do you have?
Mysterious Origins of Los Matachines
Contributed by Michael Miller
