Santa Fe: Dad, Gangbangers, 007's, but no Georgia CONT'd

I'll admit it. As I got closer to Santa Fe, I got more and more nervous. This NY "thing: was becoming a reality. And I was going to have to face Dad see all of his concern in his eyes and talk to him about this. Or so I thought.

I got to Santa Fe around 6:15. As i pulled up to my Dad's place, he was outside on the phone with his "bestie" Susan. I literally was out of the car two seconds and Dad is handing me the phone: "Say hi to Susan!!! Say hi to her!" I've got the dog, my leg is almost numb, and I'm just trying to digest that I am here. With Dad. In Santa Fe. I kept it brief.

Dad got off the phone, and told me to put my stuff down and we were going out to dinner with his friends. Whaaaa? huh? Okay. I changed pants, put on makeup that I'm sure would rival a drag queens (no offense) And we were off.

We had dinner with Dad's friend Jo Ann. JoAnn was born in San Francisco during WWII- her parents moved to Santa Cruz, NM to work on the war's behalf. Jo Ann's mother went to work as a "Rosie the Riveter" snd Jo Ann was sent to live with her Spanish speaking grandmother. When the war was over and her parents were able to resume full time parenting, JoAnn who was 7 years old at the time, but could only speak Spanish. So her parents shpped her off to convent school (I know, can you imagine?) in WISCONSIN to learn English. She went on to Harvard, Kennedy School of business, Phd, the whole thing. Jo Ann ended up poltically active and spent the majority of her life in DC, and has recently returned to Santa Fe to be near family. She's quite a Grande Dame. She makes quite the entrance and has a movie star quality. Dad seems quite fond of her.

Here is Tony (more on him in a sec) my Father, Joanne, and her son Mark dining in the Hilary Clinton room (never did find out why it was called that) at Tomasito's (The first place that everyone agreed was the best, had a 45 minute wait. This was 2nd choice for all you Santa Fe fans)

As soon as we sat down, it became apparent Tony is in DIRE need of a hearing aid. I held my menu in front of me and said to Mark: I'm buying the man a hearing aid tomorrow. Seriously.

The restaurant is packed, and the decibel level of the crowd is LOUD. Yet, Tony was able to project across a dining room with not so much as an added breath. Tony would have been great on stage with that kind of projection.

Tony was part of The "Mad Men" scene in 1969 on Madison Avenue. He was an editor of commercials, back in the hey day. Later in the 80's he moved to Hollywood and landed on Whitley north of Franklin. He said he hated Hollywood and how the people spoke to you looked at how much money they could make off of you, but at the same time looking past you to see what else was on the horizon. He left after 8 years. The man survived Madison Avenue, but couldn't hack Hollywood. See?

Here is Tony ranting about Willie Mays at some game: And, btw, Tony ALWAYS speaks this way. He could be talking about the weather, or to a baby - no diff. Tony bellows.




Guess what? Dad and I didn't have to talk. Tony is THE ultimate buffer. I highly recommend him for any dinner where interference is needed.