Collectors Corner! Ed Sandoval's Newsletter (Taos, NM)

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Collectors Corner!

Ed Sandoval Gallery's Newsletter

119 Quesnel Street, Taos, NM 87571

www.edsandovalgallery.com

edsandovalart@gmail.com

(575) 770-6360

Who Wore It Better?

Remember going to a doctor’s or dentist’s office, and you sat in the waiting room forever with nothing to do but look at magazines like People? They had a section called “Who Wore It Better?” – Two celebrities made the "faux pas" of buying and wearing the same exact outfit, and people voted on who looked the best in it.

Okay, stay with me as I meander around aimlessly for a while. This story doesn't have to do with clothing but with physical appearances. In the past, I was always told that I looked exactly like Jim Croce, so much so that I decided to find photos of him online. Can you tell who is who without looking at the captions? My doppelgänger!

Me...

Jim Croce (Source)

Me & My Daughter Tammy

I thought it would be fun to create a version of that magazine feature so you can decide for yourself. Look at the lineup of pictures and choose – who wore their thick, curly, black hair and bushy mustache better? Me or Jim? But if you say Jim looks better, here's a friendly reminder: "You don't tug on Superman's cape, You don't spit into the wind, You don't pull the mask off that old Lone Ranger " and you certainly don't prefer the style of Jim. Ha ha!

Me & My Horses

Jim Croce (Source)

Me & My Groovy Shades (Ha!)

Oh these old photos of my hair… so 1970’s! But this brings me to another random point. I hear through the grapevine that some people in Taos think I dye my hair. I admit I’m pretty darn old to still have black hair with few if any greys, so I can see why they suspect that, but I categorically deny all allegations of secret coloring sessions. My hairdresser and Gwen can also testify to the authenticity and non-altered state of my hair. LOL.

You're in luck because I'm going to reveal my secret that began more than seven decades ago. I've shared many times that I always wanted to be with my grandma. We had such a strong bond, and we couldn't be separated without me pitching a fit. I don't remember my siblings being there, so I assume my mom must have given up and let me spend all of my time at grandma's house. When she washed my hair, she ALWAYS added vinegar.

She put some hand-made soap in her soft hands, sprinkled vinegar into it and mixed it up before rubbing it into my hair. As a tiny boy, it smelled funny and I fussed. But she would talk softly in my ear (in Spanish – grandma never knew any English), "Eduardo.... this is good for your hair. It cleans the roots and will give it long-lasting life. Trust in me, niño."

She was a curandera (healer), so the ritual stayed with me and is a daily habit even today. There's apple cider vinegar in a baby bottle in my shower, and use I it every time I wash my hair. It's good for the follicles! However, when someone comes to the house, I hide it away because it looks creepy. The color of apple cider vinegar ... well ... you get the point.

So you see, there's no need to buy expensive Just For Men coloring products when a few cents of a cooking product will do just as nicely. But you have to start young.

Fish Tales

Those of you who follow my gallery Facebook page know that I just got back from a week-long trip to Padre Island. The last time we went down there (2018), we took a boat out on the bay and caught a ton (and I do mean a TON) of fish – mostly Gafftopsail catfish. Oh they are bizarre, slimy, unpleasant fish.

BUT, the six of us had so much fun catching them. When hooking one (about every three minutes) the boat guys took them off our lines and put them in our assigned coolers, so we really lost track of how many we actually had. We were more fascinated by mucus that wound up and dangled off the fishing line. Ewww... a disturbing fishy goo they secrete and for which they are somewhat famous.

Here's the "catch" so to speak... When you get off the boat and are handed your basket of weighed fish, you have two options: 1) take home 45 pounds of smelly, uncleaned fish in your car, or 2) pay a fee to have them filleted and packaged at $2.00 a pound (not sure exactly how much, but that's in the ballpark). We gladly paid the fee. NONE of us wanted to clean that much gooey fish and deal with the ghastly, smelly aftermath. Talk about a profit machine!

This time, we all agreed no more fishing! We'd get our fish and seafood at restaurants or fresh fish markets. It made me think of how my fishing experiences have changed.

Sailfish: Mexico 1980

Deep Sea Fishing in Mazatlán, Mexico in 1980: Me, Alejandro, Peter & Emilio (Sheriff of Española)

Red Snapper at Fish Market (2023)

The black and white photos are of an April 1980 fishing trip in Mazatlán, Mexico. I know the date because they superimposed it (and the fish weight) on the photo (look at the fish). The last one is of me picking out a nice red snapper for dinner at a fish market. Maybe not as exciting as a man-versus-fish battle on the ocean waves, but it's cheaper, and, at this stage of my life, more convenient. BUT, in the future I might go deep sea fishing again.

Cajun Boil w/ Crab, Shrimp, Corn, Potatoes & Red Snapper

Brook & Theresa's House

Checking Out the Ocean

Although there are stories in the news about American tourists in Mexico being kidnapped and murdered, we went anyway. Our destination was very safe, and we only walked three blocks from the border. Believe me, that was enough. Overwhelming! I've never seen so many bars, street vendors, pharmacies, dental services, cosmetic places and restaurants concentrated in such a condensed space EVER. So excited, we shopped like drunken raccoons hoarding supplies for the next 10 winters. The five of us also had a delicious seafood lunch with cocktails, appetizers and main courses for about $60. Can't beat that!

U.S. - Mexico Border

Crossing the Rio Grande w/ Janell, Brook, Me & Theresa (Gwen Took Photo)

Nuevo Progreso, Mexico