I'd like to find out what the reference to "Santa Barbara" is, though I don't think that not knowing spoils the poem for me in any way. Understanding the references does, however, deepen the associations and let me deeper into Marilyn Chin's imagery.
I think she's talking about that soap opera (sort of an early Melrose Place type soap) that was popular in the late 80s. Everyone was rather beautiful (and blonde) from what I recall.
