Reading in the Desert

We knew we wouldn't have a big crowd in Palm Springs.  Even though it was the Dinah Shore week-end, where there are more lesbians there than at any other week-end, everyone was in party mood.  Walking down the street, one would see scores of lesbians, many very scantily clab, tits coming out of the skimpy bikini tops, unnoticed or uncared about by their usually tipsy owners.  These women did not want to hear about someone locked up in a nut house - they wanted to part-teeeee.  And they did, up and down the streets, in the bars, and god knows where else.

The reading was at Latina Y Mas bookstore, a beautiful shop combining amazing artwork, books in English and Spanish, a wonderful children's section, fabulous books of all sorts; the store was celebrating the grand opening and people were wandering in and out fairly steadily. But no lesbians.  They were off at the parties.  This reminded me of when I got rejected from so many medical schools before I finally got accepted - I always joked that I needed a lot of ego strength in those days.  Similarly here, I need a lot of ego strength to get ready to do a reading for four people - it didn't work out like that, we ended up with twelve, but still, not a huge number.  Nevertheless, I was truly pleased with the response, the questions, and the fact that most bought the book.  I consider Palm Springs a good reading in a beautiful surrounding.

The reading began; Luciano, the owner introduced me. I saw a beautiful woman sit down on a bench, exhausted, her husband and son in tow.  I believe she was just resting, but as soon as I started reading, she became perhaps the most attentive listeneer to whom I've ever read, and I read directly to her most of the time.  Another family was also in the bookstore, heard me begin, and immediately came over, sat down, and remained until the end.  Two young women heard me and sat down to listen.  All told, there were about twelve people, not counting Judi, me, the owner, etc.  After the readings, they asked intelligent questions, and bought books.  I was actually very pleased with how the reading went, even though there was not a crowd.  I was reading to people who were genuinely interested and I couldn't do better than that.

After the reading we decided to go for dinner.  My sister Judi loves Mexican food; I do not.  I love sashimi; she does not.  So we went to a restaurant called Marguerita's where they had a sushi bar, a pasta bar, and a full Mexican restaurant.  She happily ate her chile verde, while I chowed down on sashimi and oyster shooters.  Couldn't have been better.  And just as we were arguing who would pay the bill, the waitress informed us that it had already been taken care of by one of Judi's business associates who was friends with the owner, and was eating just downstream from us.  At any rate, we had a fabulous dinner, eating our ethnic food of choice, and had it all paid for.  All in all a successfull evening.

Today we visit with family (my step-mom lives here) and prepare to leave for Austin, Texas first thing in the morning, our next stop on the book tour.