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