(2008), A BIG SMOOCHIE FROM MY SON ANDREW AT MOM'S 78th BIRTHDAY PARTY, (LENNY'S CLAM BAR IN HOWARD BEACH, QUEENS).Now that we have taken pause to reflect on my mom, I think it would be her wish to not be in the spotlight so often. So in keeping with the mom-theme, I'd like to tell a story about my mother-in-law, Lenore "Lee" Baron.
Grandma Lee as Andrew refers to her, lived her whole life in New York City. Aside from Miami-area getaways, she rarely left the Big Apple. So in April 1982, while my wife Sue and I were living in Las Vegas, it was a monumental moment in her life to venture so far to visit us.
When Easterners go west for the first time, specifically to Las Vegas, they are usually awed by the sight of the barren, moon-like mountains that surround, "Sin City." In my short story, "AMOS AND ARCHIE," I addressed that idea with a character saying, "Only a New Yorker could look at those big, dull rocks and call them beautiful."
I don't recall Grandma Lee fixating on them but I remember that she appreciated the wide open spaces. The casinos were unimportant to her so on most days, before I went to work, we went on local day trips to: Red Rock Canyon, Bonney Springs Ranch, Hoover Dam and Mount Charleston.
On my day off, we set out on a major search for Americana by taking her to Death Valley National Park. It was 3+ hours through Nevada's back roads and into the California desert.
On this starkly hot spring day, Grandma Lee was fascinated by the rugged terrain and enchanted by the contrast of snow covered peaks. About fifteen minutes after we zoomed past Pahrump, Nevada, she asked for a lady's room. I reminded her that in the wilderness, civilization even in the form of the tiniest town, are well-spaced. For the next twenty minutes, she was patient. But with no trace of porcelain in the foreseeable future, she proved her pioneer spirit and voluntarily requested to do her business on the side of the usually empty road. She must have had to really go because I tried to talk her out of it by mentioning the real possibility of rattlesnakes, scorpions and who knows what.
She gained a lot more respect from me when she strode behind a Joshua Tree. Then like it was no big deal, she did what she had to do. My admiration for her was compounded when she didn't complain even after her darling daughter snapped a picture during her awkward moment.
90-MINUTES INTO OUR TRIP, GRANDMA LEE'S PRICELESS EXPRESSION OF RELIEF AFTER "WATERING" THAT VERY JOSHUA TREE.
GRANDMA TOASTED THE OCCASION BY SAYING, "HERE'S TO MANY MORE DAYS SPENT LIKE THIS."
She was right, it was only the beginning of a wonderful day.
IN MY OPINION, THE SERIES OF PICTURES DURING THAT PICNIC CAPTURED GRANDMA LEE AT HER HAPPIEST.
We visited many points of interest and left at sunset. On the way back home, our spirits were high as we recalled the beauty of our adventure, the history of the area and the miracle of creation itself. Our euphoria was broken by the announcement that Grandma Lee needed another potty stop. Unencumbered by traffic on one-lane, Route-190, in the absolute blackness, it took ten minutes before we passed a mileage sign: DEATH VALLEY JUNCTION 19 MILES.
I said, "Can you make it fifteen minutes?" She said, "Yes." I was relieved because with coyotes, snakes, Gila monsters and other things that go bump in the night, the Mohave Desert was no place to tempt fate by getting out of the car.
Five minutes later while I was going over 80 MPH, Grandma Lee announced, "While gambling on games of chance isn't part of my nature...risking my life to avoid one of life's greatest embarrassments...is."
On this starkly hot spring day, Grandma Lee was fascinated by the rugged terrain and enchanted by the contrast of snow covered peaks. About fifteen minutes after we zoomed past Pahrump, Nevada, she asked for a lady's room. I reminded her that in the wilderness, civilization even in the form of the tiniest town, are well-spaced. For the next twenty minutes, she was patient. But with no trace of porcelain in the foreseeable future, she proved her pioneer spirit and voluntarily requested to do her business on the side of the usually empty road. She must have had to really go because I tried to talk her out of it by mentioning the real possibility of rattlesnakes, scorpions and who knows what.
She gained a lot more respect from me when she strode behind a Joshua Tree. Then like it was no big deal, she did what she had to do. My admiration for her was compounded when she didn't complain even after her darling daughter snapped a picture during her awkward moment.
90-MINUTES INTO OUR TRIP, GRANDMA LEE'S PRICELESS EXPRESSION OF RELIEF AFTER "WATERING" THAT VERY JOSHUA TREE. It is said of the earliest California-bound settlers who made it that far west; after leaving the last comfort zone, (St Louis), they entered the vast unknown. They were bombarded by the prairie's extreme weather, food and water scarceities, the threat of disease, subjected to the fear and reality of Indian attacks and needed all their faith to navigate through and over the Rocky Mountains. And the great prize for the small, hearty percentage who persevered through that gauntlet and actually set foot in the vaunted "land of milk and honey," was, to be greeted with the greatest ten-mile wide slap in the face...Death Valley.
BEFORE GOING TO THE VISITOR CENTER, WE PULLED OVER FOR A PHOTO-OP. THE PICTURE ABOVE DEMONSTRATES HOW HARSH, UGLY AND FORMIDABLE THE LAND IS. STILL, WHATEVER GRANDMA LEE MIGHT'VE BEEN HOLDING BACK AFTER SEEING THE LAS VEGAS MOUNTAINS, EXPLODED INTO TEARS OF JOY AND HER SIGNATURE STATEMENT, "THIS IS GOD'S COUNTRY!" IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE HER INCREDIBLE SINCERITY AND PROFOUND MOTIVATION OF THAT MOMENT, PLEASE NOTICE THE MARKINGS ON THE GROUND TO HER RIGHT. THAT'S WHERE SHE CLAWED UP THE CONCRETE-LIKE DESERT FLOOR AND IS HOLDING THOSE SCRATCHINGS IN HER HANDS.
The Visitor Center had a gift shop, a modest eatery, museum, theater etc. Guided tours were available too but we got maps and scouted out the top spots on our own. Before taking in all the grandeur of Death Valley's 108 degrees, we went behind the building to an oasis-like copse of trees and had lunch.
GRANDMA TOASTED THE OCCASION BY SAYING, "HERE'S TO MANY MORE DAYS SPENT LIKE THIS."She was right, it was only the beginning of a wonderful day.
IN MY OPINION, THE SERIES OF PICTURES DURING THAT PICNIC CAPTURED GRANDMA LEE AT HER HAPPIEST.We visited many points of interest and left at sunset. On the way back home, our spirits were high as we recalled the beauty of our adventure, the history of the area and the miracle of creation itself. Our euphoria was broken by the announcement that Grandma Lee needed another potty stop. Unencumbered by traffic on one-lane, Route-190, in the absolute blackness, it took ten minutes before we passed a mileage sign: DEATH VALLEY JUNCTION 19 MILES.
I said, "Can you make it fifteen minutes?" She said, "Yes." I was relieved because with coyotes, snakes, Gila monsters and other things that go bump in the night, the Mohave Desert was no place to tempt fate by getting out of the car.
Five minutes later while I was going over 80 MPH, Grandma Lee announced, "While gambling on games of chance isn't part of my nature...risking my life to avoid one of life's greatest embarrassments...is."
I stopped the car. I can't speak for my wife but as we stood guard on her flanks, I was shivering in my boots. The two minutes that it took her to water the crops felt like an eternity. I was never so happy to get back into my car.
I was thinking how brave Grandma Lee was as we pulled into Death Valley Junction. We had no need to stop as we slowly cruised through the seemingly unpopulated outskirts of this former borax mining boom-town, (Borax is a compound of boron, best know as an ingredient in detergent).
THE TWENTY-MULE TEAM WAS AN ICONIC IMAGE FOR A HOUSEHOLD CLEANSER CALLED BORAX. IT WAS THE PRINCIPLE SPONSOR FOR THE TV SHOW, "DEATH VALLEY DAYS." RONALD REAGAN HOSTED THE PROGRAM FOR TWO OF ITS 18 SEASONS, (558-EPISODES), WHICH SPANNED THE 1950's AND 1970's.
In the heart of desolate Death Valley Junction was the only paved crossroad in town, complete with its singular flashing yellow traffic light. On three of those corners were a general store, a post office/bus depot and a gas station.
I was thinking how brave Grandma Lee was as we pulled into Death Valley Junction. We had no need to stop as we slowly cruised through the seemingly unpopulated outskirts of this former borax mining boom-town, (Borax is a compound of boron, best know as an ingredient in detergent).
THE TWENTY-MULE TEAM WAS AN ICONIC IMAGE FOR A HOUSEHOLD CLEANSER CALLED BORAX. IT WAS THE PRINCIPLE SPONSOR FOR THE TV SHOW, "DEATH VALLEY DAYS." RONALD REAGAN HOSTED THE PROGRAM FOR TWO OF ITS 18 SEASONS, (558-EPISODES), WHICH SPANNED THE 1950's AND 1970's.In the heart of desolate Death Valley Junction was the only paved crossroad in town, complete with its singular flashing yellow traffic light. On three of those corners were a general store, a post office/bus depot and a gas station.
On the fourth corner was the darnedest thing, a large, two-level Spanish-styled building. What was more amazing was that in this tiny, god-forsaken outpost, tons of people were flooding out of it as we rolled by. This incongruous sight would lay dorment in my mind until 1984, when Sue and I visited Grandma Lee, in Rockaway Beach, New York.
Grandma Lee's TV had, "RIPLEY'S BELIEVE IT OR NOT," on. At first, I had no idea that my two-year mystery was about to be solved.
I LIKED THE SHOW'S CONCEPT AND ITS HOST JACK PALANCE BUT I HAD NEVER SEEN THE SHOW.
I wasn't watching until I over heard Palance introduce the story of Marta Becket. He said, "She was born on August 9, 1924 and now lives in Death Valley Junction, California." The show had my full attention. My memory connected to our desert hijinks with Sue's mom when he added, "Marta started in show business as a ballerina."
DURING WORLD WAR II, THE CONCEPT OF "ROSIE THE RIVETER" SYMBOLIZED THE UNTAPPED ABILITIES AND WILLINGNESS OF WOMEN TO STEP INTO NEW ROLES. SINCE THEN, THIS MOVEMENT HAS CONTINUALLY GAINED MOMENTUM AND HAS BRANCHED OUT TO INCLUDE EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES AND A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD WITH MEN. LET'S TAKE TIME TO RECOGNIZE AND APPRECIATE THE STRONG WOMEN IN OUR LIVES.
Grandma Lee's TV had, "RIPLEY'S BELIEVE IT OR NOT," on. At first, I had no idea that my two-year mystery was about to be solved.
I LIKED THE SHOW'S CONCEPT AND ITS HOST JACK PALANCE BUT I HAD NEVER SEEN THE SHOW.I wasn't watching until I over heard Palance introduce the story of Marta Becket. He said, "She was born on August 9, 1924 and now lives in Death Valley Junction, California." The show had my full attention. My memory connected to our desert hijinks with Sue's mom when he added, "Marta started in show business as a ballerina."
She got a big break when she became a Rockette in Radio City Music Hall. He also mentioned that she appeared on Broadway in such shows as; "SHOW BOAT," "A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN," and "WONDERFUL TOWN."
Later in Becket's long career, she toured the country doing a one-woman show. In 1967, she had car trouble near Death Valley Junction. While waiting for it to be repaired, she fell in love with the little hamlet and decided to stay. She rented Corkhill Hall and used it as a theater. She began performing her show daily, (everyday of every year). She soon bought the building, did renovations and renamed it, the Amargosa Opera House. Marta even painted the interior walls with a mural of faces so she'd feel like it was a full house, even when there was a sparse audience or nobody there at all.
THE BUILDING WAS ORIGINALLY USED BY THE PACIFIC BORAX MINING COMPANY AS A MEETING CENTER.
She received a lot of recognition when a "NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC," camera crew stumbled into town. Later an article in "LIFE," magazine boosted her into national awareness.
In recent years, she cut down to one performance a week. After the 2009 season, she stopped performing. Believe it or not, as incredible as this coincidence might be, it is all true and I witnessed it.
Later in Becket's long career, she toured the country doing a one-woman show. In 1967, she had car trouble near Death Valley Junction. While waiting for it to be repaired, she fell in love with the little hamlet and decided to stay. She rented Corkhill Hall and used it as a theater. She began performing her show daily, (everyday of every year). She soon bought the building, did renovations and renamed it, the Amargosa Opera House. Marta even painted the interior walls with a mural of faces so she'd feel like it was a full house, even when there was a sparse audience or nobody there at all.
THE BUILDING WAS ORIGINALLY USED BY THE PACIFIC BORAX MINING COMPANY AS A MEETING CENTER.She received a lot of recognition when a "NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC," camera crew stumbled into town. Later an article in "LIFE," magazine boosted her into national awareness.
In recent years, she cut down to one performance a week. After the 2009 season, she stopped performing. Believe it or not, as incredible as this coincidence might be, it is all true and I witnessed it.
Marta Becket (85) is still alive in Death Valley Junction. Unfortunately Grandma Lee, the ultimate trooper, passed-away twelve years ago come October.
And my mom who would have had the big eight-oh yesterday, left us eight months ago.
3 comments:
I have been forwarding your blogs to my friends. Most love it! Keep it up or use LAVITRA...
- TICKLEMEERIC
Sweet site ! Keep up the great work. - Karen in Orlando, Florida
I enjoyed your tribute to you Mother-In-Law, Grandma Lee. --- SLW
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