So a lot have people have asked, Why Carmel? Why on earth would you have a show up there? Well, turns out I have a little history with the place.
This lovely Polaroid was taken in probably 1978. I worked in a teeny tiny camera shop on Ocean Avenue. Janelle Gistelli (far right) worked up the block at Dansk. We, um, did lunch together every day. We had just had lunch when Leon Panetta came by to introduce himself. He was running for some kinda office. He went on to do some big fancy job or two like White House Chief of Staff and Director of the CIA, but more importantly, Janelle Gistelli went on to become Mrs. Johnny Apodaca and co-owner of Gallery Apodaca in Carmel. http://johnnyapodaca.com/johnnyapodaca.com/Welcome.html
See? All makes sense now, right?
P.S. I sure wish I’d kept those rad glasses!
Look at those youngsters (Leon included)!
Janelle looks much the same, don’t you think?
I always got a kick out of the “Big Bargain” sign behind Leon…and he got my vote many times after this shot was taken. Shows how easily I’m shmoozed! (were we ever babies….)
Would the Leon of today (CIALeon) even recognize the youthful Leon of Yesteryear. I think not.