Last year in August I lost my daddy. He was a terrific man very loving and with a gap tooth smile that everyone adored. I was daddy's girl of course so was my sister Felicia, and my sister Raquel, and my sister Kathy, and the granddaughter's but needless to say he loved each of us. And he related to each of us as individuals understanding and knowing all the little intricacies that made of each of us so different.

Today is my first father's day without him. So I met my mother, siblings, husband and daughter at his grave site. We all took him flowers from our gardens because he could not stand purchased flowers.

To all of you fathers out there - Happy Father's Day. To all of you who no longer have your fathers - Many happy memories to you.

Yesterday I read an ActiveRain blog titled A Little Ancedote About Strangulation and Baseball. The blog was very touching having been written by a husband whose wife has terminal breast cancer. He spoke of the negativitiy of people and their very hurtful comments when his wife lost her hair due to the chemo treatments. But most of all it was his relaying an experience at a baseball game they attended and her hair was beginning to grow back. The nasty comments finally got to him and he snapped. I couldn't blame him this was someone he loved and wanted to shelter. It is sometimes hard to turn that other cheek when a person has nothing pleasant and only hurtful things to say. It always amazes me how many cruel and negative people there are out there. Whether it be in a store, while driving around or in their blogs - they spew negativity and hatred. I guess I will attribute it to poor upbringing - I suppose their mothers never taught them the simple saying "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything".

I am sure many of you have pulled from your vast backgrounds to help in your business as a real estate agent. I can assure you I have. I have been fortunate to have roots in the Santa Fe area dating back to 1598, and very proud of the upcoming 400 anniversary of our beautiful city. My background has been quite vast having worked in the movies since the age of 13, modeled until I was into my 40's, and worked with our state and city tourism folks to promote Santa Fe. I was also fortunate enough to be employed by numerous companies to travel around the United States and Europe purchasing goods for stores scattered around the country but primarily based in Santa Fe. My political background has also come in handy working in conjunction with our local Chamber of Commerce, Home Builders Association and many elected officials to either defeat or promote legislation and ordinances which would affect our property owners.

This vast background has helped me with my clients, in building my business and most of all in promoting my city and my state in a postive manner. Santa Fe is considered to be a resort community with a heavy reliance on tourism. Often those weekend tourist fall in love with our city and make a committement to either purchase a second home here or make a more permanent move. It is this group I find so invigorating to work with - their stories are a pleasure to listen to as I drive them around while showing off and regaling them with bits of history of the area.

I truly believe it is my past that has helped me become a successful broker, and my love of my city and the positive energy that it has, and this energy will hopefully overflow to all who come to live here or just stop by for a visit.

Remember keep positive that smile is much easier on your face than that frown.

Santa Fe National Forest

Downtown Santa Fe has so much to offer - the Palace of the Governors (the oldest continuously used government building in the United States, the New Mexico Fine Arts Musuem, Fray Angelico History Library, New Mexico History Musuem and of course the often photographed Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi. But what many are unaware of is only a few blocks away is the road leading to the Santa Fe Ski Area nestled in the Santa Fe National Forest.

This pristine area is filled with walking, biking trails, fishing and camping in the Spring, Summer and Fall, and in the winter downhill, crosscountry and sledding.

One of the most spectacular sites is the turning of the Aspens in early fall. The mountainside facing Santa Fe becomes the most wonderful combination of golds, orange and reds as the aspens change.

Anytime of the of the year heading into the Santa Fe National Forest is a treat not to be missed.