How did you end up working at Santa Fe’s diviest bar?
When I first moved back here, I didn’t know anyone. I hadn’t kept connections with any of my friends from high school. I had one friend’s number and I called him and said please take me to a dive bar. Just the diveiest dive bar. He brought me to the Matador and I was like, I’m home – I felt immediately at ease. I came up to the bartender and I slammed my hand down on the bar and said, give me a job, I want to work here. He replied no. I told him that we’ll see about that. It took three years.
I’ve seen a lot, I’ve done a lot, I’ve been through it all. I have stories for days and days and days. But the thing that sticks out to me isn’t the bad customers or terrible stories. It’s the great customers and good people. I’ve been thinking a lot about how we impact each other’s lives. Sometimes it’s in a meaningful, substantial way.
Last year, my favorite cat passed away. I found him when he was a blind kitten and I had him his whole life. I was showing one of my customers his photo and she asked, do you mind if I do a pet portrait of him? She brought it back the next week. It was the sweetest thing. Here’s Scooter! I was blown away by the gesture. The kindness, it made an impact.
This is what happens in bars. It can be such a beautiful thing.
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Photo SFM
