3 minute read
Remembering Martha Stephanie Munzinger
Remembering Martha
I‘I’d like to take you to lunch” was my introduction to an approximately eleven-year friendship with Martha Zollinger.
On the day she made the offer to me, I had been perusing a fabulous case of Native American jewelry at Perry Null’s Trading Post for at least an hour. Flying into Albuquerque from California, this may have been my second visit to Gallup, which if I timed my flight correctly, and there was a reasonable amount of traffic west on 40, I would hit Perry’s store by noon.
I remember looking at her, quite surprised by her generous offer to a complete stranger. I also remember thinking that as I was female and traveling solo, she appeared trustworthy, perhaps somewhat grandmotherly, so why not?
With my purchase taken care of, we walked toward the store door and her car. She was driving a fairly new model: Ford Mustang, color red. Her license place had a single letter Z on it. Keep reading! This gets better!
We were going for sandwiches. First, we stopped at her nearby home and I was invited inside. Martha loved art and had painted fun sayings inside on the walls, as well as a mural on the outside of her house. Next we continued on, looping around various points of interest in Gallup. She pointed out a bush she had planted years back in a ditch near the local hospital, the library that was named after her husband, and a few other areas she wanted me to see. By this point, I knew I had met someone special and unique, who was proudly showing her community to me.
Eventually we made it to Camille’s for lunch. Upon entering the eatery, Martha greeted and introduced me as her “new California friend” to several acquaintances inside.
Over the next decade, I made yearly trips to Gallup and would always reach out to her for a lunch date. Lunch dates as I quickly discovered had to be worked around her morning newspaper route and her mahjong schedule. Often we would meet at Perry Null’s after I satisfied my jewelry shopping compulsion.
Martha would arrive wearing the most festive outfits accessorized with fabulous vintage Navajo or Zuni jewelry. The initial red Ford Mustang became an
Martha’s Quotes of Wisdom
“Flirting is attention without intension”
updated, black Mustang. She even had her own parking space painted with Zollinger in front of the store.
Over the years, she shared stories of her family and travels. One particular visit, she was concerned about my status as a laid off elementary school teacher. She was all set to call in favors to get me hired in the McKinley County school system.
Every new visit out, I always looked forward to hearing about her latest local escapades. She was always on the go and sassy! One of my favorite Martha stories had to do with her driving down Coal Avenue, in her Mustang of course, drinking water out of a medicine bottle. Per Martha, another driver sees her, and is appalled that an elderly lady is drinking while driving! This motorist then proceeds to call the Gallup Police Department. The police ask for a description of the car and driver. See where this is headed? She thought it was hysterical but miffed that she was described as an “old lady”! Of course, the police department figured out that it was her. Everyone in Gallup knew Martha! Upon contacting her, they realized she was only drinking water, albeit out of a medicine bottle, simply because she didn’t like drinking out of plastic water bottles!
Sadly, due to all the recent travel restrictions, I didn’t get to see my friend, Martha this summer.
I will miss her adventurous spirit, wicked sense of humor, stubborn streak, creativity, and most of all her joy of life.
Martha, my friend, thank you for the original lunch invite and warm welcome to the wonderful community of Gallup you called home for so long. I no longer feel like a stranger when I visit, but a returning out of state friend.
