-Diane Ackerman
A NATURAL HISTORY OF THE SENSES
March 20, 1983 (continued)
Howard finally arrived at the airport. He was flying in from Mexico City. We had to stick around for his luggage to arrive.
I felt so tired by that time. I was looking forward to sleeping at the LA PLAZA DEL SOL Hotel. The name of the place sounded so relaxing. I did finally take a nap but it was a brief one.
Howard and I walked through the Shopping Center nearby. We ate at an open air restaurant. We took a very crowded bus to the Downtown Guadalajara area. Thanks to Howard’s effervescent personality we met Jose Luis and another guy named Fernando in the busy square. They didn’t impress me in the least. We walked through downtown with them. We saw some interesting sights but I didn’t care for Howard’s attitude. Why did he invite me here? I sometime fell alone here in Mexico. I especially feel that way while in the hotel. It’s as though I don’t even know this guy (Howard). Howard spoke his ‘gringo Spanish’ and arranged a lunch date with Jose Luis and Fernando for Monday.
March 21, 1983
Monday
We met Jose Luis at an open market house and ate lunch at his apartment in Mexico. It was a fairly nice place with a few contemporary furnishings. It was hardly my taste. I guess it wasn’t elegant enough. I did find it quaint and comfortable though. I loved listening to his radio. He played a lot of American music.
Howard and Jose Luis went into one of the bedrooms and were clearly doing ‘whatever one could imagine’ in there. I refused any part of Fernando. He didn’t impress me in the least. I think he wanted me to ‘make an intimate move’. I just couldn’t. I had no attraction for him.
One great moment was seeing MAD MAX, the Mel Gibson movie once again. Howard, the asshole, refused to give the movie a chance. This man is a stubborn son-of-a-bitch. I tell you! Most things must be his way or ‘no way’. Yes, the term son-of-a-bitch defines him.
Most of my relaxation has been lying out in front of the pool at the hotel while reading PASSIONS OF THE MIND.
Today, I did get some shopping done.
Howard said, “I’m invited to Jose Luis’ again tonight.”
Feeling bewildered, I simply said, “That’s fine. I’ll stay here.”
And so, here I am at the LA PLAZA DEL SOL. I’m about to shower, shampoo and shine. Once I get refreshed I’ll ‘play it by ear’. I may watch a little TV and go out for a quick meal somewhere.
March 23, 1983
Today is Barbara Reynolds’s birthday. I wonder how her thirty-eighth birthday went. I went shopping and read my book by the pool at LA PLAZA DEL SOL in Guadalajara.
I also went to a couple of disco clubs and met one gal named Maria De Lourdes. She wants to be a dentist. Who knows where I placed her address and telephone number? I will try to maintain contact with her. She was sweet. I liked her.
March 24, 1983
Howard and I went by bus to Tacquepacque where there are a bunch of tourist shops. Howard bought a lot of nothing. He purchased a silver parrot.
A beautiful Mexican girl sat next to me while we were on the bus. Howard sat elsewhere. He really wanted to be on his own. He was talking and joking with a couple of Mexican kids.
When we arrived back at the LA PLAZA DEL SOL Hotel I really felt awkwardness about Howard’s company. He gathered some things and ditched me. What an asshole!
And so…on this evening I went out on my own to the movies and watched THE EYES IN THE FOREST, starring Bette Davis (the American title is THE WATCHER IN THE WOODS). The story revolved around a family that moved in to a country home. The young girls experience strange happenings that have a line to an occult event from years ago. It was pretty good.
After the movie I went to LE CLUB and met this cool American guy named John ‘Otis’ Alioto (aka John Christopher Alioto Jr.). He was from the Bay Area. I accompanied him to another place called BAR SOL. We waited for his friend, Monica, and some other dude they had met from Colorado. I accepted John’s offer to smoke a joint or two while we went joy riding in his jeep. We ate at the HOLIDAY INN and had some delicious Roquefort dressing in our Caesar Salads. I ate ‘Medallions of Diana’. After the meal, we were able to get into another bar at the Fiesta Americana. ‘Otis’ was really a lot of fun. He made me laugh.
March 25, 1983
John Alioto asked if I wanted to join him for a road trip to Mazatlan last night. I decided to accept his invitation for the ‘Road Warrior’ excursion from Guadalajara to Mazatlan. What the hell? I owe Howard nothing. I decided to just ‘ditch’ Howard. I felt good about it.
While in Mazatlan we went to AHA TORO’s with some guy from New York who was with two girls from Colorado. We continued our cool, free, airy joy riding in the jeep. When I was dropped off at SENOR FROGS I went to the HOTEL San Diego, showered, washed my hair thoroughly and crashed early for much needed sleep.
March 26, 1983
I went to the beach and met John’s San Rafael friends named Amos (Kevin), Ernie and Phil. I found it funny how John had the nickname of ‘Otis’ and Kevin had the nickname of ‘Amos’.
I said, “My other name is Jake Jaguar.”
I also met Anna Marie and Tina from Phoenix, Arizona. We took a ride to Dane Restaurant and drank plenty of Pacifico Beer at SENOR FROGS. It was fun but I had to crash and sleep after that. I took pictures and cuddled around at the HOTEL FREEMAN. Old Sue from Mill Valley petted my ass, thinking I was asleep. It was too funny.
I ate breakfast with Otis. We all went to the beach and felt slightly sick. I was looking forward to flying home for some stable time. The flight was easy.
Dad picked me up but he parked about a mile away from the San Francisco International Airport. That was okay. I was just happy to see him. I was happy to be home. I relaxed and I watched Part I of THE THORN BIRDS and went to bed. I looked over some of my mail, too. The Mexico excursion is gone and as I look in the mirror I see the Mazatlan tan.
After re-reading the above entries I did an internet search to see if I could find my old, funny friend, Otis Alioto. I wanted to find out if he remembered our crazy road trip. Instead, I found his obituary. There were guest comments where he was referred to as ‘Otis’. It’s the same guy. How sad:
John Christopher Alioto, Jr., 07/21/1960 - 01/27/2005
John Christopher Alioto, Jr. passed away at his families' home in Novato. Funeral Mass will be at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 2nd, 2005 at St. Raphael's Church, San Rafael. Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 1st, 2005 at Keaton's Mortuary, 1022 E Street, San Rafael with Rosary beginning at 7:00 p.m. Burial will follow at Mt. Tamalpais Cemetery, San Rafael.
John was born on July 21st, 1960 in Greenbrae, CA to John C. Alioto, Sr., and Georgia M. (Mork) Alioto. He was an artifact collector for literature and enjoyed the outdoors, hiking, camping, music, Alaskan Huskies and history.
He was preceded in death by his sister, Alana Teresa Alioto in 1978, and his paternal and maternal grandparents.
John will be missed by his daughter, Brittany Blair Alioto, of Portland, Oregon, his parents, John and Georgia Alioto, of Novato, CA,, his two brothers, Darian Alioto, of Tiburon, CA and Kevin Alioto and his wife, Cheryl, of San Rafael, CA, his two sisters, Alisa Alioto, San Rafael, CA and Georgann Aliota-Reiss, of Auburn, CA, three nephews, Noah Alioto, Anthony Reiss and Andrew Reiss, a niece, Isabella Rose Alioto and many other family members and friends.
“And if you refuse my invitation you won’t get to know me. What a pity that would be. You’d regret it.”
“You’re not at all conceited, by any chance?”
“Not in the least. Just convinced of my inner worth, which generally reveals itself to good effect over lunch in charming company. So how about it?”
-Pierre Frei
BERLIN, a novel
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