Ahira's Hangar

I was working the polls today when this guy, who lives 8 blocks away from me, gave his name as Max Evans, I joked, "You're not the author of the Hi-Lo Country are you?" to which his wife quietly said, "Yes as a matter of fact he is." I let it slide thinking it was a joke, and then this 78ish guy came back and said "Yes, I really am Max Evans, you liked The-Hi-Lo Country, did you?" Then I sprang out of my chair, shook his hand and said, "The Hi-Lo Country is one of my favorite movies of all time!" to which he replied, "Thank you, I was extremely pleased with it's adaptation to the screen, that Woody Harrelson is something else, isn't he?...you know he's premiering a crazy movie this week?" and I said "Yes Zombie Apocalypse, or something like that. My wife and I were watching No Country for Old Men the other day and loved his role in it. When he's walking upstairs in the hotel and takes out his handkerchief, sweat beaming off his brow knowing he's already dead-priceless." Max beamed at that. Then I put my fist near my hip and said, "I'll slit ya like a lizard!" (totally impromptu, and freaked out my coworkers) but he understood it was one of the best line from his book and chuckled heartily.

I was fan boy flush again and I know not many of you have seen Hi-Lo-for some crazy reason it never went to DVD and I think Cail may be the one of the only ones beside me on the Watch and Hangar to have seen it. Fantastic 20th century " contemporary" western based in eastern New Mexico around WWII. Gritty stuff somewhat comparable to Cormac McCarthy. I just met the New Mexico master of the genre (Rudolfo Anaya and Tony Hillerman need to be mentioned too) along with being very spoiled in already having met New Mexico masters of Fantasy and Science Fiction such as: Stephen R. Donaldson, Roger Zelazny, George R. R. Martin, Walter Jon Williams and Jack Williamson, among others-guess I lead a charmed life.

What can I say? I've never met any author, so your knack for bumping into them amazes me. What is it about New Mexico? The air? The weather? Enlightened attitudes?

(Incidentally, I have not read The Hi-Lo country nor seen the movie.)

Never heard of either. But I'll keep an eye out for it, Used to read a lot of westerns in my youth.

--A

I think the radioactivity in New Mexico's drinking water leads to creative bursts in the human mind, so all sorts of artistic types flock there.

(In a more serious vein, it is a lovely place with a great climate, and not as expensive as other Southwest desert destinations such as Phoenix/Scottsdale or anywhere in California).