I moved from the great State of New Mexico about ten years ago. This Memorial Day, in fact, marks ten years ago. Oh how far I've come in lo these ten years. The span between 28 and 38 sometimes feels like a lifetime.
I was a wide-eyed innocent back in the day. I've become more cynical, less career driven and much, much calmer in these ten years. Not to say that wouldn't have happened had I stayed in Albuquerque, but I think living in "the big city" has grown me up...a lot.
At first I wanted to throw off my New Mexico roots. I didn't tell many people I was from there thinking it foreign and backward. The people I did mention it to said "oh, like Taos?" Good lord, if they only knew there was SO much more to the state than Taos. Or Santa Fe.
A lot of people in San Francisco have asked me about Santa Fe. I think the Madison Avenue advertisers have done a good job of hyping "the mystique". I guess if you aren't from there it's all mysterious and stuff. For a local, it's a tourist place. Locals avoid tourist places.
In order to help my fellow San Franciscans understand, I began to liken Santa Fe to Pier 39. I'd get a startled "oh!", but they got it. I'd tell them there was much to see in a state that big that didn't include Santa Fe or Taos. Then I'd drop this tidbit on them: you can't fly into Santa Fe on any of the major airlines. That was usually enough to get them talking about something else.
But time has passed and I've gotten perspective on my state. Now I find I'm proud as hell of being from New Mexico, and I'll shout it from the rooftops. My boss at work wears a USC shirt on most Fridays because it's his alma mater and he's very proud. So I got online and ordered up a nice crimson NMSU shirt and began wearing it on every Friday, grinning at him in staff meetings. Sadly he didn't notice until I pointed it out.....
NMSU made it to the NCAA this year. Oh man, after years of looking at the Duke posters and brackets outside of my VP's office (and my executive VP and the VP of the group I worked in a few years back) I was so damn proud to post up the wall outside my office with NMSU schwag this year.
I had a laugh when a group stood outside my office looking at the stuff and laughing about how they hadn't heard of New Mexico State. I said, "hey, by the damn way, our Governor is running for President!" They looked at me with blank stares. I said "Bill Richardson" helpfully. The response was an appalling, "who?"
Bah!
But ok, I've gotten used to people thinking I'm from Arizona. I've gotten used to "oh Taos" being the answer to the statement "I'm originally from New Mexico" or jokes about a left turn at Albquerque. I've learned to deal.
What I'm still struggling with is the lack of good Mexican food around here. You'd think a state with a population of Latinos at or better than half would have some kicking Mexican food. You would be wrong. At least for the Northern part of the state. I lay no claims to the food down south not having spent enough time in research down there.
My loving partner thought he knew from good Mexican food until this past October when, on a road trip, I turned him on to the delights and joys of the fruits of Hatch, New Mexico.
But more than that...more than using tomatillos for the green in your salsa, more than finding *gasp* CARROTS in my fajitas, more than seeing low fat refrieds on my plate, the one thing I miss is a real good margarita.
It can't be that hard, right? And yet it is. It's all about the mix. Gardunos does it well, really well. My mouth is watering as I type.... Sadies also does a fine job. I think one of the best margs I ever had was in Juarez at Señor Frogs (I don't think it's still open at that location). It was great because it was fresh squeezed lime juice, a bit of sugar, and tequila. All nice and unmessed with. Fresh and oh so delicious.
You should taste the crap I have to put up with around here. It's unnatural! It makes a homesick girl want to cry.
Now there is a LOT of food that the Bay Area does REALLY well, (I'm talking to you Peter and Mark Sodini), but so far...Mexican food isn't one of them.
Don't EVEN get me started on guacamole. Avocado, lime juice, tiny bit of cilantro, tomatoes. THAT'S IT!
Why's it gotta be so hard?
Sigh, sometimes it doesn't pay to be an expatriate New Mexican.....
