Darlings,

Change! That's what each of this year's presidential hopefuls is calling for and promising. Creampuffs, it sounds great to me, until I come to my senses and realize that every single candidate in every presidential election as far back as I can remember has tried to get me fired up with the promise of change. Honestly, Kittens, it's easier for me to think about small changes occurring locally rather than fret over the possible changes that might occur with a new president. (Or that might not!!)

One blip on the Santa Fe landscape is the appearance of two familiar faces in new places. Laurie Farber Condon and Zoe Eisenstein (brokers formerly with the Las Campanas sales office) have moved into town and are now calling Santa Fe Properties home (the office at 320 Paseo de Peralta). Laurie's been a Realtor in Santa Fe since 1986, but her Las Campanas sales career started in 1996. (Back then her daughter, Aviva, was in sixth grade and only dreaming of going to Hollywood, and her 6-year-old daughter, Bridget, was simply dreaming.)

Zoe's Las Campanas sales career started in 2000, after she'd moved here in 1997, bought a Las Campanas lot through her then-Realtor-now-friend-and-colleague, Laurie Farber Condon, and built a comfortable home in which to daydream about a new career. (She'd previously spent 18 years as a real-estate broker specializing in home sales in Philadelphia's upscale Main Line district.)

Well, what's the point? you're asking me. (I'm really not sure, Cupcakes, but I'll draw some sort of conclusion any minute now.) Yes, here it is: What an exciting new life lies ahead for them. For years their working hours were spent within the confines of Las Campanas. Now, today, all of Santa Fe is their oyster. New subdivisions/developments to sell, new restaurants to try, avant-garde films to critique in the middle of any weekday afternoon. It all spells freedom (just another word for nothin' left to lose).

What spells consolidation? 1123B Paseo de Peralta. That's the address of the newly shared office spaces of Nancy Avedisian (Plaza Realty de Santa Fe) and Susan Harris (Susan Harris Realty). Two very independent women sharing a common space with the common philosophy that the purchase and/or sale of real estate in Santa Fe should be a gratifying experience on a human scale. This warm and intimate space is the ideal spot for sharing a cup of tea (they're tea addicts, so they don't have a coffee pot, but if you have to have an espresso to kickstart your brain, Downtown Subscription is only a block and a half away), and making your wildest real-estate dreams come true. Now, more than ever, Darling Readers, it also takes some earnest money and the ability to actually qualify for a loan — if you've decided that you don't want to pay cash, of course. But, please, don't let these minor details get in the way of your dreams, so that you can call Susan or Nancy today and start the dialogue. (By the way, the names of their companies will remain the same - only their locations changed.)

Here's a brain tickler for you. What used to be at 1121 Paseo de Peralta (next door to Nancy and Susan's new office space)? Are you ready to say "uncle"? Well, Pumpkins, let me tell you: that rather modest space with the very modest parking used to house the Santa Fe Association of Realtors. Listing agreements were hand-carried to the board, keys had to be picked up at individual offices in order to show properties, fax machines had just come into being — I mean life was really hard back in the early '80s.

What spells happiness? Seeing Drew Scott (former Division President of First American Title) on the streets of Santa Fe once again. (Remember, Puppies, he returned to his roots in Texas a few years ago, but he left his heart in Santa Fe and, thank god, he came back to retrieve it.) Now a "consultant in residence" to First American's current division president, Brad Straub, Drew divides his time between consulting and taking road trips in his tricked-out motor home with his wife, Jane, and their dogs, Babaloo & Lola. He says he's never been happier, but then Drew's never been less than happy, so I'm not sure what he's talking about.

What spells commitment? Witnessing Meagan Moriarty (personal assistant to Jane & Dwight Hume of Santa Fe Properties) exchange wedding vows with Bart Walker (no relation to Jim Walker, one of Meagan's best friends and a Realtor with Karen Walker Real Estate) at 6 p.m. New Year's Eve, 2007. Wow. Even though statistics show that over 50 percent of all marriages end in divorce, I still hold out the hope that the last couple who says "I do" will beat the odds.

What spells memorable (notable enough to last a lifetime)? Being fortunate enough to witness the birth of a beautiful baby girl and then watch her blossom over the years into a beautiful young woman. This is one of the unforgettable gifts of being a Realtor. About 22 years ago I was holding an open house on Calle Ramon, and a striking couple walked in. She was stunning in some sort of coat of many colors, and he captivated me with his quick wit and English accent. They were moving to Santa Fe from New York because he had been hired as the manager of the brand-new Eldorado Hotel.

Through this chance meeting at an open house, a lifelong friendship developed. When she became pregnant with their third child, they chose to have the baby at home, and because of my previous career as a registered nurse, we agreed for me to be present during the delivery. It was very late at night on that October evening when they called me, and it was early in the morning on Oct. 22, 1987, that Allison Margetson was born.

Today, Allison is a sophomore at Loyola University in Los Angeles. Her mother, Ashley Margetson (Sotheby's) went into real estate (after I sold them a house, thank heavens), and has been a successful Realtor for many years. Allison's father, Paul Margetson, after paving the way in an uphill battle for the success of the Eldorado Hotel, has gone on to become managing partner for the Hotel Santa Fe (as well as managing partner for the Inn on the Paseo plus a few other business ventures) and a most sought-after auctioneer at every Santa Fe benefit. Ashley and Paul are now an integral part of the fabric of Santa Fe, and my opportunity to know them came through real estate. Just another reason why I love this business.

So long, Sweetpeas. Until next time... Oakley

(Editor's note: Oakley Talbott moonlights as Realtor Merrily Pierson.)