Hot Desert Men

So, jumping from my fantasy of Justin to reality.

Leonard has been building Salvation Mountain, near the Salton Sea in California for many years. This picture was actually taken last year. I'll talk about him in a later post.

I just want you to see Naked Paul is not the only man in my desert life.

This second picture is me standing with the legendary, boogie woogie blues/adult comedy show star Paul Winer. In his own words he is "the original male pioneer exotic entertainer." Years ago he had a very unique bulesque act as naked 'Sweet Pie' while he fought for over 8 years in Federal Court for that right. 

He is now the owner of The Reader's Oasis, a used bookstore in Quartzsite and the background for

this picture.

I didn't like this picture so I walked all the way back to the bookstore today to get a different picture.  But, alas, Paul was out riding around on his bike. I did see him later in another part of town and he graciously stopped his shopping to pose with me. Not much better of me, and clearly not as good of him, but here it is.  (Of course, the camera adds 10 pounds.) 

His store is great with a huge selection, including a section of Westerns that he says are his best sellers. He also sells rare and antique books, cooking and craft books. Also many CD's, DVD's, VHS and cassette tapes. He has a huge section of children's books although he says he does not get many children visitors.

In the store is a small memorial to Celia. 

Who was Celia? In her mother, Joanne's (Paul's wife) words:

"Celia was a miracle baby. Having tried to have a child for many years and being told it would never happen, I had given up trying and made peace with it. Then, out of the clear blue, I found myself pregnant at 37 years old. It was quite a shock for both of us. I found out I was pregnant on Christmas Eve 1985, and before I had even had a chance to get into maternity clothes, Celia decided to make her entry on Good Friday, March 28, 1986.1 was only 23¼ weeks pregnant, so when she was born, the doctors said she would not make it. She came into this world weighing only 670 grams or 1 ¼ pounds, and was Canada’s smallest surviving baby in both weight and gestation at that time.Celia was 8 l/2 years old when she got a viral infection that hit her heart, and she died in my arms. It was a devastating time for us, and the support we got from the community was overwhelming. Over 200 people attended her memorial service, and some people took up a collection to help us with expenses. No wonder she loved it here. We just didn’t see Quartzsite through her eyes until then.

After her death on October 25, 1995, we needed to find a way to give back to the community some of the love they had shown us. We got permission from the town council to plant a botanical garden in her memory in the town park in October of 1996, a year after her death. What started out as a small nature trail has grown over the past 6 years into a mosaic of beauty, like a patchwork quilt made by many loving hands and hearts.

There is so much to see in the Gardens that it has amazed some people who have never seen it before. Those who have been there notice the changes every time they come back. It has become a labor of love for those of us who work there, and a tribute to everyone who is remembered. There is much more work to be done, and volunteers are always needed. When finished, this will be the largest, if not only, free botanical gardens in the state. It is one of the biggest volunteer projects in the area, and we love and appreciate everyone who has taken this project to their hearts."

Northeast of town on an 80 acre plot of land donated by the BLM is a 20 acre plot which is home to Celia's Rainbow Garden. It is a work in progress made possible by hours of volunteer work.

I will visit Celia's Garden tomorrow.