2013-20 Santa Fe.

A vexing conundrum that has baffled the scientific community for decades focuses on the fact that a win secured by one’s preferred sports team can evoke mild elation and a restful night whereas a loss can spiral into clinical depression.

Last evening outside of Washington, DC my team, thought by talking heads to have a chance for the best season in years, fumbled (literally) and bumbled (literally) to humiliating defeat at the hands of a neighbor to the north.

Though gone from the nation’s capital, my heart rests at the old RFK stadium, and I cannot hear the team fight song without evoking stirring memories of Joe Gibbs, Doug Williams (the quarterback who led the team to Super Bowl victory yet no one remembers) and even Joe Theisman before his aging prostate started giving him fits.

Hail to the Redskins indigenous people

Hail victory

Braves Native American males on the warpath acting aggressively

Fight for old DC.

Some day before it’s all over I hope to get to FedEx Alternative to the US Postal Service Field and see them play, hopefully to vanquish the dreaded Dallas Cowboyspersons or the Philadelphia Eagles National Symbols.

Note: to my international readership confused by the above, don’t even bother!

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I’ve tried to stay away from the current political fray, but can’t resist passing the thought from a faithful reader that perhaps this means Putin will be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Don’t see why not. It was once awarded on the basis of a dazzling smile and a host of promises (largely unfulfilled). But if so, would that mean he must relinquish his KGB credentials?

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Last week was Fiesta in Santa Fe. A brief history lesson is in order. In 1680 indigenous people from northern New Mexico pueblos got fed up with Spanish colonists and laid waste to Santa Fe. The conquistadors, realizing they were no match for natives scorned, fled to El Paso and spent the next 12 years drinking margaritas and complaining about the bad accents of the Mexican people.

In 1692 Don Diego de Vargas was appointed Governor of New Mexico by the Spanish throne, and returning to Santa Fe he discovered the locals had mellowed somewhat. He bravely declared victory and restored Spanish authority to the city.

Every year since then the return of de Vargas is celebrated at Fiesta in Santa Fe Plaza. Somehow the indigenous people selling trinkets throughout the area do not appear caught up in the excitement.

 

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