While in Santa Fe New Mexico several years ago, my husband Alex and I went into a cocktail lounge to have a drink. There was a group of Native Americans at the next table. We were enjoying a cocktail and listening to a country western band. The Indians sitting next to us stole curious glances at me and Alex because they don’t often see blond women with Native American men. (Conversely, in the San Francisco Bay Area, you see every imaginable combination of couples. Nobody looks twice unless one member of the couple has four legs or more and is in a dress. Even then, many people might glance, but not slow down or break their stride or comment on it.)
We finally struck up a conversation with people at the table next to ours and they asked us where we were from and what we were doing in Santa Fe. We explained that we were on our way to Gallup and the Navajo Reservation, but wanted to take a look around Santa Fe first. I asked them the same question and they told us that they were teachers and in town for an educational conference. When I asked them what tribe they were from, they seemed slightly amused and said “Navajo.” I looked at them strangely and said, “Oh my goodness, then you must be Tuba City Navajo’s.”
The shocked look on their faces was hilarious! How did I know about Tuba City? How did I know they were from Tuba City? Very simple. Navajos are short people with the exception of Tuba City Navajos and they are tall. This was a table full of tall people, therefore they must be from Tuba City. (Of course, I was right on the money!)
We finished our drinks and bid our new friends a nice evening. I know when we left they talked about the short Navajo guy and his blond wife, the woman who knew they came from Tuba City!
