New Mexico Days

God I love New Mexico! In high school I tutored little Mexican kids after school and went to Indian dances at the Pueblos, had Chicano girl friends; Marcia Fernandez was my first true woman friend; older, sexy and full of joy and laughter. She was like a sister to me, taking care of me when I mixed vodka and a joint at her boyfriend's party. We could talk about anything, and I loved and respected her. I fell in love with another girl, Rosy, and did the Juliette and Romeo thing under her bedroom at night. But her parents were strict. The last time I saw her she was with a biker dude.

I had Indian friends because I tried out for the track and field team; I was always the last to finish. Until one day the Indians let me pass them, they thought I was hilarious.  

My mother studied programming at night school - Cobal and Fortran - while working on top secret bombs for Sandia laboratories. I studied art. I was a stupid teenager, trying to survive those years of upheaval. My choral teacher wanted me to be an opera singer, my art teachers wanted me to be their disciple. I just wanted to be free.