The Picture Parade From Palm Springs, California!

The Original Article

It is amazing what one can learn--even if the timing is not on our ideal schedule. Such was the case yesterday with a relatively common task for most of you--uploading photos from my camera to my computer. Yes, I learned how!

Last week, I received an email asking why I didn't get around to posting photos I took from Thanksgiving Day. I visited Palm Springs to see some friends and probably brushed off my earnest photo upload intentions after looking over their limited content. In plain English, I laugh more at myself than I do anyone else. However, it was the late Leo Buscaglia who relentlessly encouraged his audiences to "keep the child within you alive"! After looking over these selections, I realized that these photos represent what I would have photographed if I were 10 years old! But since Photo Blogs are quite the rage, here is my installment. 

Above Photo: Here I am outside of the restaurant after an "appropriate portion"-sized dinner of Filet Mignon (On the advice from Wikipedia I should advise you that this references "a steak cut of beef taken from the smaller end of the tenderloin"), Asparagus, a small Caesars' salad, a half-dollar size portion of baked potato's and a slim slice of pumpkin pie.

My table where I sat with friends is behind

the second green panel from your right.

Just as a point of reference. 

Dedication: This is actually a photo taken with some unintended Defiance and before I explain, I'd like to dedicate it to the security guard on Highway 101 at  Thunderbird Heights (apparently a VIP subdivision) who yelled at me: "Who are you and what are doing here!"

Senator Howard Baker (TN)

Forgive me, but this is so reminiscent of Senator Howard Baker during the televised Watergate hearings who asked the famous question: "What did the president know and when did he know it?" Truth be told, when I spotted this gate and wreath, I made a U-Turn, intending to snap a photo for the blog post you are now reading. I was standing outside of my car with my camera so I answered the guard as honestly as I could: "I'm just a guy with a camera and I'm photographing this beautiful wreath". At that point he blew stack (I've never used that phrase here--a 'first'!) because I pulled into the designated (actually unmarked) exit lane on the other side of his guard shack. He told me that I could have had an accident.

For my part, I tried to imagine Andy Williams driving towards me after the exit gate opened, albeit, with great care. There was never a risk of an accident with an access controlled gate and little if any VIP traffic. I told the guard  to take it easy and obediently left the premises. He'll remember me. But I confess. I didn't feel very welcomed. Just the same, Merry Christmas to this man and no I'm not upset. "All's well, that ends well" as they say (and of course, we all know who 'they' are). Today, I can laugh. Moving on...

I do have a friend who knew President Gerald Ford. Of course, President Ford came to mind when I saw this sign. He loved to play golf in Palm Springs. I'm sure he would have defended me with tremendous charisma had he witnessed the scene at Thunderbird Heights.

Think about it. If you were developing an upscale subdivision, would you give it a name that sounds like a movie you might rent from a Safeway grocery store for Halloween? I'm not trying to be cruel or sarcastic. But a change of name might be in order. I just can't think of any now. More on that later... My friends had to suffer through the next stop below.    

As is common knowledge on this blog site, I love cars and have since I was 6 years-old. Here is a 1959 Mercury that reminded me of re-runs of the "Perry Mason" television series. Raymond Burr seemed to have a different Ford in every other episode!

(Courtesy of CBS Television)

Now this is automobile styling with imagination. The Continental kit. By the way, there was probably more thought put into how to design the rear tail lights on this car than designers spend on entire automobiles today. This may explain why it is at every stop light most cars look about as exciting as a "refrigerator on four wheels". I used to think it was me. But after a visit to downtown Palm Springs where we trooped through some vintage car dealerships, I suddenly feel vindicated. I even turned to look at my car parked along the curb with some vexing thoughts of regret. This feeling soon passed. By the way...

(Courtesy of CBS Television)

I swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing BUT the truth! This photo reveals a 1959 Mercury from an actual episode of "Perry Mason"! Serendipity? I don't think so. But I'm still rubbing my chin.  While I'm in a humorous mood: Remember how the guilty party would break down in tears on the witness stand and confess at the end of many episodes of "Perry Mason"? But I digress. Back to cars...

Short story: When I was a 10-year old back in Ohio, there was a 21-year old guy on the next block who owned a candy apple red and white 1960 Corvette exactly like this one. My apologies for trying to take this photo in downtown Palm Springs through a window. Yes, the car lot was closed.

A Blast from the Past: My Uncle Jimmy once took a 1953 Ford Crestline two door coupe and installed a Ford 289 V-8 that blew the doors off of Corvettes on Woodward Avenue in Detroit. My brothers (who are 20 years older than me) reeled off a story about sitting three abreast on the cars front bench seat with my Uncle at the wheel one night (do not try this at home) when he drag raced a Corvette at a stop light (and won). What I found hilarious was that the engine was missing (misfiring in need of a tune up). This Ford Falcon was a beauty and had the same V-8 power plant under the hood. And you thought this was a Holiday Blog Post!

In the event of food poisoning, I might have wound up here at Eisenhower Medical Center, named after another former U.S. President. I'm assuming President Eisenhower enjoyed golfing in Palm Springs along with Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope and Dinah Shore--each of whom have a boulevard named after them here! Let me see...

Yes! I suddenly feel like a contestant on "Jeopardy"!  For 200 points: "Who played golf in Palm Springs?" But again, I digress.

 

Hey, how many of you remember Emmylou Harris' backup band in the 1990's named after this car? Yes, The Nash Ramblers! This is either a 1950 or 1951. Just wait. Some good soul will email me with the correct year. Anyhow, the Nash Rambler is rare. But so is Emmylou Harris!

Well, we've arrived at my last photo of Palm Springs (I feel like Garrison Keillor writing this). I call it "A house on a hill". If it looks like Scottsdale, Arizona I can't help that. In fact, I really can't tell you why I photographed this. I do remember that I was running out of daylight. Thanks for coming along on my trip to Palm Springs. If you see that security guard at Thunderbird Heights, well, just wave and drive on by. No use looking for trouble.

(Courtesy of TIME magazine)

Or as Cesar Romero used to say to Batman on the old television series: "Wild, isn't it!", and then break off in that high pitched laughter after dropping a smoke bomb to escape. I would never do that. But Cesar was versatile in the many roles he played. 

Cesar Romero
(1907-1994)

Truly one of the great actors of all time!

All humor aside, this is how my mother remembers Cesar Romero--a great, great actor! So, in the event she is reading this half way across the country--A Toast to Each of You During the Holidays! Be well!

Michael