Tracey Garcia is a mom, entrepreneur, and a make-up artist. Growing up in a military family, Tracey's life has been filled with travel and remarkable encounters with individuals from all walks of life. She has worked behind the scenes in the television industry, providing hair and makeup services for various shows. Additionally, Tracey has had the opportunity to work with influential figures in the political arena, contributing her craft as a make-up artist.

In this episode, Tracey shares anecdotes from her time working on television sets and emphasizes the importance of remaining neutral as an artist, regardless of the political affiliations of her clients. She highlights the ordinary nature of these public figures, revealing that they have lives outside the media spotlight.

The conversation then shifts to Tracey's current work in Jackson Hole, where she has found success in focusing on weddings and photo shoots. She discusses the importance of self-promotion and reinvention in her industry, highlighting the abundance of opportunities available in the area. 

The conversation then takes a more personal turn as Tracey opens up about the loss of her husband. She reveals that her decision to move to Jackson Hole was influenced by his love for the area. Despite the pain of her loss, Tracey finds solace in feeling his presence and honoring his memory wherever she goes.

Listen to this episode to discover the behind-the-scenes world of styling and makeup, and gain insights into Tracey's passion for her craft and her ability to find strength in the face of adversity.

Follow Tracey on Instagram @traceygarciamua

This week's episode is supported in part by Teton County Solid Waste and Recycling, reminding residents and commercial businesses of Teton County’s food waste programs; the next frontier material in the quest to achieve the County’s goal to reduce, aiming for zero waste. More at TetonCountyWY.gov or at @RoadToZeroWaste.JH on Instagram.

Support also comes from The Jackson Hole Marketplace. The Deli at Jackson Hole Marketplace offers ready-made soups, sandwiches, breakfast burritos, and hot lunch specials. More at JHMarketplace.com

Want to be a guest on The Jackson Hole Connection? Email us at connect@thejacksonholeconnection.com. Marketing and editing support by Michael Moeri (michaelmoeri.com)

You are tuned into the Jackson hole, connection, sharing, fascinating stories

of people connected to Jackson Hole.

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I begin today's episode with a little quote from Jose in Harris.

Tears shed for another person are not a sign of weakness.

They are sign of pure heart.

and welcome to episode number 245.

My guest today is Tracy Garcia.

Tracy's an artist in an industry which might not be on the forefront of

people's minds, which Tracy is going to share and discuss with you today.

And growing up in a military family, Tracy was familiar with Travel and she

found herself in an industry which has taken her to many places around the

world and has met just a wide range of remarkably interesting people.

And recently Traci lost the love of her life and today she's sharing the message

of compassion, kindness, and giving back.

Tracy, thank you for joining me here today at the Jackson Hole Connection.

It's delightful to have some time to sit down and talk to you.

Thank you very much for having me.

I'm excited.

You are welcome.

we were just chatting a little bit about, um, how long you've

been here in the valley.

I do want you to share that with people, and I love people

sharing where they were born and.

raised and just get a little bit of background of who you

are and, where you're from.

So, Tracy, where were you born and got to grow up as a kid?

I am a military baby, so I was actually born in North Carolina.

Can.

AM La June.

but once, gosh, I was probably not even one years old and took

off to California with the family.

I was raised in, um, Dana Point, California up until about 10 years old.

We went overseas to Okinawa with my dad.

and when we went, you know, left there, we went straight to Virginia.

So I went to, middle school and high school in Virginia.

and, uh, started my career there.

Flew out to loved California, obviously, went back to California,

and then I went to the fashion Institute, designer merchandising

in, uh, Cali, and then went back to Virginia to get my license to do hair.

then I became, pardon me,

did you say Kenya?

Virginia, I'm sorry.

Virginia.

Yeah, so I did a lot of back and forth, but went back to Virginia to get my

license to do hair and then, um, started really the makeup industry, loving

the hair industry, but not so much the coloring and cutting side of the industry.

I was really more into the styling, doing editorial, and that kind of stuff.

So I always tell everybody I'm not a hair.

Quote unquote dresser.

you will not see me in a salon cutting hair.

I'm always behind the scenes, doing, I did television.

I always worked for Fox News in Washington, DC for 14 years doing

hair and makeup for all the talent.

So, um, I'm usually the behind the scenes girl.

What an interesting career path.

Yeah, it really has been.

It, it's so much fun.

dad would always say College, college, college, college.

And I did go to the Fashion Institute and have an as you know, associate's

degree in fashion merchandising.

But he was always like telling me that I needed to go to all these universities

and I was always telling him, no, always knew what I wanted to do and

I always knew that I wanted to be in.

A creative field and, and I didn't wanna go to college, so, you know, four year

college, so obviously I didn't, but, um, really happy with my career choice

cuz I'm not that person that has to, if I had to sit at a desk with and, and

or in a cubicle, I'd probably, nuts.

So I'm, I've,

Mm

be creating.

hmm.

And share with us with what you are I, you're behind the scenes.

I am.

and, and like you said with Fox News, has this career you to some travels

that you never expected that you would ever have the opportunity to do?

When I first started at Fox, I started out doing the evening

show, uh, with Greta Ancestor.

and it was perfect for me cuz I was able to be with my daughter all day long and

pick up from school and do all that.

And then the first travel wild because I went with her to California all the time.

I don't know, gosh, this is taking everybody way back, but this was way back

when I first started Scott Peterson trial.

And we would fly to Modesto.

And I, I, I, it was just a horrific, horrific story.

But that's when my travel started.

it was a fun experience.

Not to, obviously the trial was horrific, but, just being able to travel

with her and be behind the scenes and kind of learning what that aspect was

with, you know, behind the scenes with the television and all that stuff.

And, I remember Mark Geus was his attorney, and he and Greta were really

good friends and on his private plane back to Burbank Airport, which I.

Was on pins and needles cuz I'm not a private per, you know, private jet person.

I was scared to death.

and then, you know, traveling quite a bit with Fox News.

and then that's when I met the Cheneys when they were in office and

started doing some stuff for them.

And that, that was the first time when came out to Jackson for the Cheneys.

I think it was Sean Hannity that was doing a interview with, uh, the VP and

then, I started doing, you know, Liz and.

The family and, and, uh, so it's a pretty cool story.

My, my, my niece graduated from Virginia Tech and with an amazing

political science degree, she started working for the Cheneys.

She now lives here.

she met her husband here and never left.

It's kind of like the story, have you noticed people come to Jackson

and they're like, never go back to where they, uh, they were from.

But, um, I, I came here with them and I'll never forget landing

and just looking around and.

Just mesmerized by the absolute beauty and, and peacefulness and

bliss and here I am this much later.

That's cool.

Yeah,

ref refresh people's memory of the Scott Peterson trial.

that was a rough one for me cuz I, you know, I was a mom of a young

child, but Scott Peterson was accused of, murdering his pregnant

wife, all because he was having an affair with some Instead of leaving

this poor girl, he had to kill her.

he's now in prison, I think, for life.

And, uh, I'll never forget, I was, I was like, please, let me get in the courtroom.

Please, let me get in the courtroom.

I gotta see this guy.

Geus was like, okay, fine.

I'll let you in.

And he walked in and he was so arrogant and so pompous.

And that night, later on, you know, after.

Greta's shown stuff.

People always get together after shows and kind of just chit-chatting.

He was like, is he guilty?

And I'm like, he's so freaking guilty.

And he tried to give me all these excuses of why he wasn't guilty.

But anyways, he was proven guilty, um, and now he's in prison for life.

And it was just really a sad, sad story.

The poor girl was pregnant and he did some really bad things and they found, you

know, just horrific, horrific, horrific.

So, There's also good things to, to see as well.

But that was like my first travel experience and that was just super sad.

But that was a way back when, do you even remember that?

I honestly don't remember the Scott Peterson trial and, but

I'm glad you shared with us

Yep.

Little, little Modesto town.

And I just was like, but with her, you know, she did even, I remember

her traveling to, Oh my gosh.

Where did they go?

I didn't go, but uh, she also followed that poor girl that was missing.

She was in a teenager.

She was, uh, Aruba.

that poor girl found, was, found missing, and I forget that guy's name, a

German name or something, but ended up.

Being guilty too.

This poor, I mean, she, she did follow some horrific stories.

I didn't get, I didn't go on that one.

I was kind of glad because not all news is horrific, you know?

That is very true.

Not all, uh, news is horrific and I'm really curious to know.

I mean, I get the part about Jackson being absolutely breathtaking.

Where are some other places that you went?

That were just a remarkable experience to, to be able to see.

I did see a lot of the United States.

I was the women for Trump hair and makeup artists during the, uh, campaign.

Um, and I was on the tour bus with them from, oh my goodness, gosh, August,

all the way through the election.

It was pretty cool.

Um, I tell people, I don't wanna talk politics about, you know, the

red, the blue, it doesn't matter.

I'm a hair and makeup art, you know, I'm an artist and no, cuz I either, I either

had like, oh my God, that's so cool.

Or how could you do that?

And you know, it's, I always tell people, I kind of take it to this,

guys, if I were a doctor and I had a Democrat or Republican on my table

I didn't like one or the other, I'd still, I would hopefully save you.

You know what I mean?

Come on.

This is my

people.

met everyone.

I don't care.

It, that doesn't matter to me.

And I've met a lot of beautiful people along the way.

And on that bus I may, I met amazing people and I, adore them.

Laura Trump.

Um, I met, Marla Maples through Laura Trump and I did Marla Maples and

Tiffany, for Tiffany's bridal shower.

And then for Tiffany's wedding, Ivanka had gifted her with her makeup artist.

So I didn't do Tiffany for the actual wedding, but I did Tiffany for her bridal

shower and Marla for the bridal shower.

And then I did Marla for the actual wedding and it was just extraordinary and

beautiful and you know, they were lovely.

They've always been lovely.

And I always get people that are like, what's this person like?

Or what's that person like?

And sometimes I, I, I feel like they're waiting for some spectacular

gossip thing for me to say, and I don't have anything to say.

First of all, if I did, I wouldn't say anything.

I think that's also why I get hired people, trust me.

all have good days.

We all have bad days.

I just used to laugh all the time cause they were like, so

what's Dick Cheney really like?

And I was like, kind of quiet.

lovely.

Always been kind man of very, you know, very few little words, but when he has

something to say, um, you better listen.

back then the kids were little and I was like, you know, one's crying

because they can't find a cowboy boot.

The other one's crying cause they didn't get an Oreo.

It's not that big of a deal guys.

They're just normal people.

but I do remember when, um, Maya, Olivia was little.

My daughter, and my niece who now lives here, Alexandria, we were

actually at the, uh, observatory where, uh, they lived in DC then,

um, vice president in, um, Cheney.

And it was just so funny because I had to go.

Do their, uh, Mrs.

Cheney's makeup for something.

And my little one was little and I had to take the girls with me because after

that we were heading to the beach.

And it was just so funny cuz the VP was sitting on the veranda, like reading a

newspaper or something and my child and my niece were just running back and forth.

They had

clue.

then fast forward, you know, my niece, uh Goes on to be working for them and

so on, and she doesn't do that anymore.

She works here in Jackson for someone else, but it is just a

pretty cool, full circle, you know?

Everybody's a person in their own way and they, they live li their

lives outside of what we might see TV or, or Rita in the me in the media.

Yeah, you're right.

for being a, a makeup artist.

And said earlier that you do a lot of photo shoots here in, in Jackson, but

you also do a lot of weddings as well.

I do, I love doing weddings.

I just got here in November and I'm pretty darn proud of myself cuz I

started marketing myself on my own and it's what only May and I have thus far.

17 weddings booked on my own.

and I then met, uh, Jill with the Scout guide and I absolutely, um,

thought it was absolutely necessary.

That's why today I came running in cuz I did my photo shoot for the scout guide.

But, definitely promoting myself, I'm a huge for promoting and not just.

Here and there to get noticed.

But you should always be reinventing yourself.

Uh, in my opinion.

Sometimes people do advertising or, you know, a big shout out for

some, you know, to get hyped and promoted, but, For me, I think you're

continuously always should be evolving.

So I'm doing this big shoot, with the Scout guide.

Um, my Instagram page has a good following.

Um, but I, you know, here for, for just getting here, I'm doing pretty good.

I'm doing some, I'm starting to get, uh, work.

there's a lot of work here.

I was surprised because when I came here I knew there would be work, but I thought

it would take me at least a good year.

And, here I am.

and as you can see, my hair is pretty simple.

Just, just a tad.

just a tad.

What does it take to be, you know, the artist for why somebody's gonna bring you

in versus them just doing it before they leave the house and just getting ready.

you mean like an every day or a shoot?

Because I mean, today when we're finished, I have to go do a shoot, and a lot of

people have this vision in their head that they're gonna look so made up.

Mm-hmm.

that's so wrong to think because everybody here.

Oh, I just wear a little mascara and I like my hair natural and blah, blah, blah.

I get that.

however, even if I was doing your makeup for an ad right now, or you're

going on tv, if you don't have makeup on, the lighting's gonna wash you out.

You're gonna look, you're almost gonna look like you have the flu.

You know what I mean?

The lighting is so intense that you do need makeup and.

no matter how natural I make you, you still need to have makeup on For editorial

television, it's so completely different.

Like right now, I did my shoot today and I do feel made up, but in

the pictures I saw, you know, the takebacks, it doesn't look that way.

so again, a lot of brides are like, oh, I want, everybody says they want natural.

Mm-hmm.

And what I find so amusing is they, they show me a picture.

like that isn't natural.

You know, they have, everybody's got this vision.

That's why I love to talk to all my clients, whether it's an editorial shoot

or television, whether it's a bride.

my brides and I talk lot.

Um, I wanna see inspiration pictures.

I want to really get to know them because their vision is, I understand their

vision, but a lot of times, Once we meet and we do a trial run or we talk about

that vision, that vision is very different because people don't really understand

natural, you know, I've had, I've had brides go, look, I wanna look like this.

And although it's gorgeous, it's not natural.

It's very Kardashian.

It's, you know, the hoop law, the lashes, the a lot.

So regardless of it being dramatic and or natural, takes as the same amount of time.

Hmm.

you know, natural is just as hard because it's a lot of blending and softening.

It's all about your brushes and the lighting and, that's why I love

it though, because there's, that's where my creative side goes in.

So the combination between the lights for photography or or

filming and then somebody's natural.

Skin versus having something, applied to their skin to where

you said doesn't get washed out.

is that relationship that that really causes the need

for, for having the makeup?

Well, makeup, I mean, my gosh, we're, we can add.

Color to the skin.

Not everybody's flawless.

I mean, I'd like to say that everybody's flawless, but you know,

we all have discoloration somewhere.

And it could be, you know, a little bit underneath the eyes.

It could be a blemish, it could be that.

And you know, sometimes you just wanna look you, you sun kiss.

I always call it the sun kiss look.

Like sometimes you just wanna look like you might have gotten a little vitamin D.

you'd be surprised just like.

a gentleman that's balding, how shiny the top of his head can get,

No, I, I know that's pretty, pretty shiny on top of the balding head.

I

balding adds character.

I love that.

Um, but you know what I mean, like, people just think, and I've seen people,

especially during, COVID where a lot of the podcast, a lot of the zooms were going

on, and I, I would have to tell them.

gotta fix your face and the lighting it, I know how great you look,

but your lighting is horrific.

You look so washed out you know your background's horrific.

And you know, there's so many tricks to the trade.

But even on television, there's this thing called an uplight.

I don't know if you've heard of an uplight, but a light.

let's say, uh, I mean, and you can use it even in a photo shoot just

sitting there, but it's a light that kinds comes up and shines upon you.

So, a lot of uplighting is on newscasts, um, anchors.

it's a light that comes up and it just lights up the entire, like chin and face.

And that's why they call it the uplighting.

But it, it, it's key.

Lighting is key.

And if you don't have good lighting, you know, it's hard because a makeup

artist, we have lights that we bring in, and natural light to me is like the most

perfect light period, but, you can be the best makeup artist if your photographer

or if your lighting isn't good, you know, I've worked with so many people

and it's actually a nice thing that, uh, a lot of people are like, we didn't

even have to Photoshop anything you did.

You know what I mean?

that's

pretty cool.

That's a nice compliment.

I had a photo shoot few years ago where I had, head shots done and I have this

one spot on my head that is blank.

It looks like somebody peeled a, a tire and it wore it away the

photographer had to fill it in.

But I, I'm curious to know, you mentioned it's all about brushes and other,

you know, materials that you have.

What does your toolkit look like that you take for photo shoot to prepare somebody?

Wow.

I have a very large rolling kit.

I have a hair kit, um, and my kit.

As far as makeup goes, has so many different products, so many different,

brushes, you know, everybody's like, I don't just use one particular

product or one particular brand.

I have so many different products, so many different brands.

when I was a trainer for Mac back in the day, and down the East Coast.

I love to this day, I do like certain Mac products just cuz I know

exactly how it's gonna look and read.

as far as like their lip liners and their lip glosses, of their blushes.

But my, my brushes are Mac, you know, other makeup

artists, uh, you know, I have.

everybody.

I think a true makeup artist has an, as, an assortment of so many

different, you know, Tom Ford?

I love that.

Tom Ford's Foundation.

I love, um, pat McGrath.

Uh, it's just the, the, the list goes on and on.

Charlotte Tilbury, I mean, I have a little bit of everything.

Same with my brushes.

There's a makeup artist, um, makeup art, his name is Ariel.

He does, um, Kylie all the time.

Like that's her, that's her go-to.

He's got beautiful brushes.

My daughter gifted those to me.

So if you opened, if you saw my kit, you would probably just be almost overwhelmed.

You know?

It's like a kid in a candy shop, like where, what do you do?

Where do you go to?

I mean is, does this look like, you know, the Craftsman toolkit

that stands five feet tall?

It's pretty tall because well, my hair kit actually fits on top of it,

so if I'm traveling I can disconnect the hair kit and put it above.

there just packages or packets inside my kit that are like

one, one hole if you will.

It's, it's actually like a little zuka bag.

It's a brand, but um, has nothing but lip stuff.

And the next bag has nothing but foundations and concealers for light skin.

The next has founda foundations and colors for dark skin.

I have.

all my brushes are kind of categorized, you know, with powder and, and,

and concealer or what have you.

Then I have another bag with mascara, wands and lip.

I, I mean, you, think you'd probably look at it and go, okay, wow.

It, it looks,

Hi.

it's, it's, and, and it takes years to, get all this stuff, you know?

It just doesn't happen overnight.

you start slowly and, and that, that's, and you build your kit.

That's how you build your career too.

You build your kit,

it's.

how do you think people feel when you're having the consultation and

then they tell you what they, what they're looking for, and then.

come the day of, of your artistry.

How do you think people feel when, when you're done?

I think they feel fabulous because I want them to feel like just an

enhanced version of themselves,

Mm-hmm.

you know?

That's one thing that I love about this job is, you know, everybody's

got beauty and we're all, you know, we're all unique, we're all different.

But for me, I just wanna enhance, know, we, I, especially my brides, I

always say, you know, you don't wanna walk down the aisle and have people

turn and, you know, see you coming down the aisle and go, who is that?

and you want your groom to look at you and just be like, wow.

You know, that's why the groom, you know, you wanna see those tears.

You wanna see the joy and you want somebody to feel

absolutely good about themselves.

and that's a lot of times why, uh, you know, whether it's photo

shoots not so much, but a bride, we do talk about her look that day

it's really important we nail it.

and I've been pretty, pretty darn lucky thus far.

I've probably done over a thousand weddings in my life.

know, I do have a page on the Knot right now, and I have over a hundred pictures of

my brides and the most beautiful reviews.

And the coolest thing about my brides or a lot of my clients is then we've become

friends and now they're all having babies.

And it's just pretty cool because not only are they my brides or

my clients, we become friends.

And um, that's, that's a really, really neat thing.

That is, um, really cool to have.

. Those clients become friends over times and you get to how their life is

progressing and growing and changing.

Yeah.

beautiful.

And that's how I do get a lot of my brides, obviously I've just

moved here, so, that, that's gonna have to come with time.

But, back in DC and Miami and all these places, a lot of my brides were referrals.

just, you know, oh my God, you did my girlfriend and I love, oh

my God, can you do my wedding?

That kind of thing.

And

Mm-hmm.

think that's such a cool thing because they noticed

well, apparently so.

I mean, the best compliment anybody can give you is a referral, isn't it?

absolutely.

Yeah.

Well, Tracy, we're gonna take a quick break to get a word from one of our

sponsors and then we will be right back.

Tracy, welcome back to the Jackson Hole Connection.

I'm enjoying this time to get to speak with you.

You're the first professional, actually the first makeup artist that I've had on

the show, and you're certainly the first makeup artist that I've ever spoken to.

And it's a business and a world that for me, being a guy I'm just not in.

You do stuff for?

For TV and, and for filming.

I'm not on tv.

I have the face for radio, which is why I do a podcast and not a video cast.

with the people that you're working with or what you're trying to get

accomplished, how do you stay current and relevant with how, Fashion changes.

Fashion is always changing.

And you know what I like is, um, a lot of times, I can't remember

who said it, it was a designer.

There's really no such thing as what's trending right now

Hmm.

if you, especially here in Jackson.

Jackson there, there's a particular look.

You don't really see people walking around like they're in New York City.

So to me, like.

I don't really, uh, I, I'm not so sure I'm really into that whole trending thing.

I think evolving, of knowing what's going on with the times.

I, I, I like this town too because, you know, you've got your hippie

dippies, you've got, you know, some fancy people that like to like, Be

dolled up and you got your skiers, you got your, you know what I mean?

That's one thing.

But even like back in DC you do have a lot of political types.

So they have a particular look.

Then you, you know, you think about like Nashville, there's musicians everywhere.

It's the new, it's the new Hollywood.

Then you go to Miami, it's a totally different look.

So, um, hopefully I'm making sense to you right now, but when people say trend,

I, I don't know about the trend so much.

It's just evolving, kind of knowing, knowing your audience, knowing

your canvas, knowing that person.

I, I like it when people have their own style, their own vibe.

That to me is fashion.

That to me is that to me is style.

You know, we can all go to a certain store and go to Isle,

blah, blah, blah, and buy the same sweater by the same, what have you.

But when people have their own and their own vibe, roll with it.

And that's another reason why I get to know my clients.

It's cool to understand who they are, their personality, and then we click and

we come together with a really cool look.

I've never been to Miami.

What?

What is that like in the world of what you would see somebody

moving around every day.

Miami's a whole different vibe and I always tell people like literally

like Fort Lauderdale and Miami.

30 minutes apart.

Okay.

different scene.

Miami, I.

Loud music, the clubs physical.

I mean, not that everybody, I mean, even here in Jackson, I, my eyes

usually bulge outta my head because everybody here is just so physically fit.

Too different kind of fit.

Like you got your skiers and your yogas and your, all that Miami I'll

never forget when I went to Miami and I just threw on my workout clothes

and I went to the grocery store and I'm looking around going, where am I?

They are dulled up, hair done, makeup on, nails done.

I mean, it's, it's wild.

You know?

And they, and, and they go out at.

11 o'clock at night and they're like, oh, good God, I've been in bed for hours.

Um, it's just a different scene.

most people are, when they leave Miami, they're like, Ooh,

it was fun, but I'm exhausted.

you got your clubs, you got your amazing restaurants, you've got

your beautiful ocean skyline.

It's very beautiful, but it's just totally different.

Totally different.

And you better speak Spanish if you wanna do like the career I had, I

remember, um, uh, vin, it's, it's a television station and Vela is their

soap operas all of them do full coverage.

You're not even allowed to see a freckle on air.

And so I did a lesson for their makeup artists There.

I had to have a person translating cuz uh, I mean I have little people are

like, Garcia, you should speak Spanish.

But my beautiful husband who I just lost in August, um, was Cuban.

I'm sorry to hear of, of your loss.

Thank you.

He was my angel.

And there was another reason why I'm here.

This is one of his favorite places.

So the two of you had time to travel here together.

Yes.

he came here.

Um, my niece Alexander was married here on New Year's Eve,

and he absolutely loved it.

What's funny is being Cuban, you'd think he was just an ocean, ocean man.

But, his boys were little, he always took them to, uh, Tennessee,

which I thought was so cool and they'd go camping and so on.

But, he came out here and he fell in love with it and uh, I promised him that

I would honor him and I am starting all over and it's pretty darn and scary.

But it's okay cuz he's right here with me.

I feel his presence.

That's beautiful that, you, you made the move to bring his soul a along with you.

Wherever I go.

Yeah.

So was he born in Cuba and, and immigrated here to the us?

Yes.

He was actually born in Cuba and went, came to the United

States when he was three.

literally with.

What they had the shirts on their back.

it's a pretty cool story.

His, uh, his mother's brother was one of the first that came over

on a raft from Cuba and was one of the very first ones to make it.

And I don't know, a lot of people don't know this, but if you do, excuse me.

Um, but his uncle was, 10 feet from reaching the sand some people started

running towards him to get him.

And that's a big no-no.

He actually had to be the first person to be put his foot on soil and he did.

Um, and his raft is actually in a museum in Miami.

It's a pretty cool story, but yeah, they, yeah,

So the people running towards him could have disrupted him being able to, um,

ask for asylum.

Yeah, he, he had to get out of that raft and touch soil and, you know,

people were so excited they were trying to help him, but it was like,

you know, you need to be off that raft and have your foot on the ground.

Foot on the ground.

Yeah.

Wild.

It was, it's an amazing story.

Is.

And did you go to Cuba with him?

Did you guys ever go back to Cuba?

no

No.

nom.

We, um, we would've loved to.

it's funny cuz his name was, um, Jose Manuel Garcia and here I am, Tracy Garcia.

And uh, when I would travel with him it would just become hilarious

cuz I was like, obviously you've become TSA approved and stuff.

But I was like, oh my God, I'll see you on the airplane.

There must be a thousand Jose Garcias.

And it was always him, you know, getting checked and.

It was always an ongoing joke, but no, we didn't go back for

a, a lot of different reasons.

you know, safety and

it's, you know, people have gone and said it's beautiful.

It's still like back in what the fifties or what have you.

But I don't think it was a bright idea for us personally.

And at what point does somebody decide?

let's, that they would want a makeup artist outside of a wedding or, you

know, being on TV or being filmed.

gosh, sometimes people want makeup just to go out.

Feel good.

They don't know how to, a special birthday anniversary, you know, out on the town

doesn't always have to be, doesn't always have to be something or wedding,

some people wanna make up lesson.

Some people are stuck in a rut and wanna do something different

and they've been doing the same thing forever and they just wanna.

Have me, uh, come over and go through their stuff and tell 'em what they should

be using, what they shouldn't be using.

people have products in their drawers and it blows me away

that they've had for years.

And I'm thinking to myself, that's probably not so smart.

Hmm.

know, down to a mascara, you should not be using a mascara that's that

old, that's just so many things.

Or they don't have the right colors.

They don't have the right shades.

They just hadn't, didn't have the proper, informative, you know, help.

So would you say that you do coaching as well?

Yeah, I've given lessons.

lessons are fun though.

Be they, some people are like, oh, that's too scary.

But I'm like, I can't do your makeup.

And then say, okay, do it yourself.

So what I'll do is I'll go through all their stuff.

We'll talk about stuff.

We might have to order products, but I'll do one half of their

face and make them do the other.

Mm-hmm.

there's a guideline for them.

because if I just do it, how are they gonna, you know, there's trial and

error, you're gonna learn and, but I'm standing there literally watching them

and saying, look at the other eye.

Look at your eye.

You know, and I'm them how to use their brushes.

Some people just aren't even using their brushes properly.

again, a world that I not much, experience in.

So this is.

All really fascinating to me.

you learning stuff today?

I am,

All right, I love that.

I love that.

I, Tracy, I try to learn something every day.

ditto, ditto.

If, if I can learn something new each day, I've done myself a little

service because then I'm, I'm keeping my brain fresh and active

I agree.

agree.

I.

I think that's so important to do and with what you're doing.

I mean, some of it's for professional, but also it's to help people

have a, to feel a certain way, which sometimes people need that.

Oh man, I've donated my time, um, back in DC uh, make a Wish.

Wow.

You know, so.

a joy make a child's dream come true.

One little girl wanted to be a princess each news anchor.

were at different museums and in cool places in DC and at the end of

her special day, she was obviously a princess, uh, right there.

I believe it was right off Constitution or Pennsylvania Avenue.

They had a cute little pony, but they made the pony into a unicorn.

I mean, those are the things that bring such joy.

and you know, that little angel, all she wanted was to be a princess.

And those kinds of things really, truly gave me joy.

I love doing that.

I love giving back.

And hopefully as I learn more about being here in Jackson, um, I, I'd

love to do more of that as well.

oh, there's no shortage of organizations to work with to be able to give

back to the community in this town.

I, I, learning a lot of that and I'm meeting so many wonderful people.

it's, it's the perfect place for me.

That's one of the tenants that has allowed people to survive for so many

years here before Jackson has grown into what it is Now, if you didn't have

people to rely on and you weren't one of those people that helped other people,

This was a very, very, it was tough, even with that support, but without that

support and offering back to everybody, it was a tough, tough place to be.

may I ask how long you've been here?

I've been here for 25 years now.

go.

Mm-hmm.

I, uh, I wish the first time I stepped foot here in Jackson, I would've like

bought a little land or something, because now everybody's like, what

are you going to do out there?

How is gonna, is it sustainable?

All these things.

And you know, when I lost my husband, I always said by day, I think everybody,

obviously I don't think people should just live vicariously and just, you

know, wing it, but I certainly also think like, eat the piece of pizza.

Go on the vacation.

Tomorrow's not promised.

You know, he, the way he was, you know, and I don't wanna talk about

that so much, is just the way he was tragically, you know, suffered for

seven months for, on his, for his life.

Long story short, just so you kind of understand my background.

He didn't feel good.

Took him to the hospital.

They found a little mass.

They removed the mass they gave him Covid.

Yeah.

seven months later, was surrounded by his beautiful loved ones.

But when you love somebody that hard, you also have to

love 'em enough to let 'em go.

Mm-hmm.

And we.

we did everything we could to keep him here, but wasn't his time.

But uh, like I said, people are like, what?

Why Jackson?

I'm like, he's one of my why's.

Mm-hmm.

. Well, thank you for sharing that personal side and, and very personal story.

it, it takes a lot to open up.

It does, but you know what?

I just want people to know that when they see my Instagram page or see

me half the time, I'm in my workout clothes with my hair on top of my head.

You know, we're only human.

We're all, together.

We all have pain, we all have hurt.

I think a lot of times people see, um, Instagram page and it's glorified.

and,

know, I'm just living the real deal here.

Uh, every morning I get up and I, I look outside and I see snow king and I say my

little prayers and I'm thankful and I have beautiful kids and a beautiful, beautiful

angel granddaughter, and I choose to do it, and I chose to do it for him too.

Um, and I think we all have, we all have something.

None of us agree.

I, I always say, you know, none of us are getting outta here alive,

So true.

It's so true.

And my biggest thing I think I've learned from this is compassion,

love, kindness, giving back.

you know, sometimes we just forget that that person walking down the

street might be in pain or suffering.

So if I can do that, in, I'm good, I'm happy.

And if I live in a little apartment for the rest of my life, because I can't

fit can't afford my, you know, I, I am.

Sad that I never bought property here years and years ago, but you look

around and you're like, well, they're doing it so I'm gonna do it too.

You know?

No, everybody comes here and doesn't wanna leave.

There is a reason for that.

Right.

Mm-hmm.

. Now, since you have been here since and experience one of the, I'd say in the

past, my past 25 years, one of the longer winters and cooler springs for sure.

I do not ever recall the amount of snow that we still have on Snow King.

And today is May 15th when you and I are, are speaking, um, that there

is that amount of snow on there.

What are you looking forward to?

In the next few months between now and and winter.

Oh my God.

I have said I am going to, I mean, yesterday after Mother's

Day brunch, we went on a four mile walk and it was just amazing.

And, you know, just, just seeing the animals too, like just

obviously in my car, but I.

That to me is so cool.

But I wanna hike.

I wanna learn how to fly fish.

it's funny cuz there we have this on ongoing joke.

Like, I wanna do this, I wanna do that.

I wanna, um, I wanna, I wanna kayak, I wanna do every, I wanna cycle.

I just wanna get out there and do it.

And I mean, when pe, if people haven't been here and then,

then they come, they get why.

I've had family visit and they just like their jaws drop.

I wanna get out there.

I wanna, you know, breathe this beautiful, fresh air.

There's a reason why we're all here and, I mean, all you have to do is look outside.

It's.

the outside and, and then it's the people

the giving heart like you have

You know,

that, um, make it a great community.

I appreciate that.

I, I, I really, I.

Really do love it here.

I love the people.

I love the small town vibe.

funny story, I had to go to Idaho Falls to take my dog ticket groomed because

no one had an opening here for months.

And I was like, well, she's gonna look like a bear.

So we, we went and I could you not, was in Hobby Lobby for two and a half hours.

I have, I just stumbled in there and I thought to myself, back east, I would've

been able to like go inside a Michael's or a Hobby Lobby and grabbed what I needed.

I was just like, it was like so cool to me that I was so

into Hobby Lobby and then they

me and they're like, your dog's ready?

I'm like, oh my God, I haven't gone to Costco.

Or all those things that we just take for granted somewhere else, know?

it's there, it's smack there, and that's not here.

You know, we have the target here and we have, but it's,

it's such a different vibe here.

That you really, you really learn to appreciate and, I just, everybody

that hears that story thinks it's so funny cuz it's only Hobby Lobby.

And you would've thought that I was like at, you know, Nordstrom's for

or something.

But it was just really cool.

Yeah, I, I think when you're here, you don't realize what you don't

need, but then when you go into a place where, There's everything in

community where there is all that stuff.

Then it's like, oh, look at what I can, what is here?

And, but you find a way to survive without it.

absolutely

Yeah.

So Tracy, a a few departing words of wisdom from you.

What would you like to share with people to think about?

As they move on continue living their daily life, that somebody can think about

Oh wow.

you're putting me on the spot here, aren't you?

You know, I, I, I feel like I'm just putting myself on that preach thing again,

but I, I'm really a place in my life now.

when you, when you go through such hard times, it's, it's like sometimes

people complain about the dumbest stuff, and I say this to my daughter now.

We always talk about this.

If somebody's having a bad day or somebody's complaining or something didn't

go right, I'm like, it have a heartbeat?

Is it that big of a deal?

Mm-hmm.

Did it have a heartbeat?

You know, it's just that simple to me.

You, you, you know, uh, just be kind.

that person a smile.

I find that a lot here in Jackson, not so much back on the dc uh, you know,

DC uh, scene and stuff like that.

But hopefully more and more people will just be coming together

more and, um, share what we have.

And it's, we're all really here and sharing what we have in the same

boat, you know, no one's better.

I, I, I love people here that are living in a tiny little shack to a.

8 million home.

Don't care.

Really don't care.

I don't care what you came from.

I don't care what you have.

I, I care about your heart.

That's a beautiful statement and a, and a lovely way to end,

Oh,

today,

I so appreciate it.

Tracy,

I appreciate you having me.

It was really fun.

Thank you.

I enjoyed talking to you today.

Thank you.

you.

To learn more about Tracy Garcia and her work, visit the Jackson

Hole connection, episode number 245.

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