Once Again, I Have Grown As A Human Being

Posted on October 24, 2019 by Baja Rock Pat

I am grateful for so many things, one of which was the recent privilege of experiencing an incredible opportunity that most will never know—a trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, where, once again, I have grown as a human being.

I’m grateful for getting to witness a severe rainstorm in Cabo; the loudest thunder and lightning I think I have ever heard; the force of the water creating raging rivers out of ordinary streets and washing away entire cars. I’m grateful for the humility this taught me.

I’m grateful for getting to witness the ocean—her majesty, her beauty and her insistence of respect for the sheer power and magnitude of the giant waves crashing on the beach like twenty locomotives roaring along on the tracks. This reinforced in me, my smallness, yet my attachment to something that is so much greater than I.

I’m grateful for bearing witness to the splendor of the rocks of Land’s End. After not having seen it for several years, I was awestruck all over again, at her magical and mystical beauty that seems surreal—like a human-made sculpture or a painting rising proudly out of the sea and overwhelming me, encouraging me like a loving mother, to pick up my pen and write again because that is respite and freedom for my soul.

I am grateful for our friends who invited us to spend an entire day at their home in Cabo—a home with an entire wall of windows that slid open across the whole room—to a patio with overstuffed outdoor furniture, a fire pit, hot tub, infinity pool with its own swim-up bar, and an outdoor gas grille, overlooking the turquoise waters of the Sea of Cortez. The interior of the house was like nothing I have ever seen—heavy wooden furniture, a large kitchen with an island made of more dark wood and granite countertops—three huge bedrooms, two of which had sliding doors to the backyard overlooking the ocean. And all of it in traditional Mexican style, summoning images in my mind of long-forgotten conquistadores and beautiful dark-skinned señoritas with flaming red lips and brightly-colored flowing skirts. I felt like a celebrity there.

Our friends’ house–like nothing I had ever seen before

I’m grateful for the chance to lounge in the hot, hot sun by the pool at our hotel, to float in “my” lagoon, to enjoy too many gloriously yummy chocolate pan dulces (sweet breads), too many plates of delicious thick tortilla chips and creamy guacamole, sweet Miami Vices (half strawberry daiquiri and half piña colada) and wonderful bananas, pineapples and grapefruits.

To have gotten what, to me, was one of the best rooms the small hotel has to offer—not because it really is the best room, but because, to me, it is—with a large patio for sunbathing each morning, my body soaking in the healing golden sun of Mexico, while enjoying an unobstructed view of Land’s End (if there are no cruise ships blocking the view).

I’m grateful for the friends I have, most of whom I was unable to hook up with or was only able to see for a few moments because I arrived there much later than most of them and they already had plans in place. Still—seeing their beautiful faces, looking into their beautiful eyes, and getting long-overdue hugs, meant everything to me. These are people for whom I would do anything and vice versa. And people I would never have met if it hadn’t been for Sammy Hagar.

I am grateful to Sammy and his music, and for the opportunity to attend one of his shows while I was there because he changed my life years ago; he encouraged me to pursue my dream of being a writer and to never give up.

I am grateful to those who purchased a copy of my book “Dance of the Electric Hummingbird” because it has been a labor of love, one that Sammy once called, “your baby,” because he gets it. The book is now out of print, except for a few remaining copies,* so the ones I have in boxes in my basement, are all that I have left of the dream that I wanted so badly to share with others. There is a piece of one’s soul that goes into creating art—all the time, energy, personal pain and joy, money, etc. Most artists don’t make enough money to support themselves on the sale of their art—we do it because we must; there is no conscious choice in the matter, so when someone purchases your art, it connects creator and observer together on a soul level, and that has value far beyond monetary.

My visit to Cabo went by much too fast, just as my life is going by much too fast. But the older I get, the more I appreciate all that I have and know–and each day, I strive even harder, to be at least a tiny speck of love and light to others.

As I returned home the other day, I attended a memorial service for a friend who was killed in a motorcycle accident a month ago. She was much too young—had everything to live for, and was one of the kindest, gentlest, most loving and giving people I have ever known.

And I realize that what I am most grateful for, is to have awoken this morning so that I may live another day, to hopefully get to experience another Thanksgiving and another Christmas with my family and friends, or even just to hang out on ordinary days, simply being with them and taking in all the beauty that surrounds me, in the small things, in places I’ve been and in the people I love because one thing I know for sure–love is all that matters.

For these and for each new day, I am most grateful.

*ebook version still available here: Dance of the Electric Hummingbird

or signed by the author copies here: Author Signed Copy DEH

NCW Event This Tuesday: Patricia Walker’s Book Sales to Benefit Cabo Hurricane Victims

Posted on September 29, 2014 by Baja Rock Pat

Please join author Patricia Walker as she, along with other members of Northern Colorado Writers, will be reading excerpts from their work from 7:00-9:00 p.m. this Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2014 at Bas Bleu Theater in Fort Collins.

Following the reading, authors will be selling and signing copies of their books.

Walker is donating 100% of her share from sales of Dance of the Electric Hummingbird at the event to benefit the people of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, who recently suffered severe damage as a result of Hurricane Odile. NBC News reported that Odile was the worst hurricane in history to ever hit the Baja peninsula. No deaths have been reported but the majority of residents have very little to begin with and many lost everything.

Says Walker:

There really hasn’t been much in the news about what happened down in Cabo recently. In fact, most people I talk to haven’t even heard about it. But if it weren’t for Cabo, and the wonderful people who live there, my book would never have happened. DANCE OF THE ELECTRIC HUMMINGBIRD is the true story of mystical events that changed my life and it all started in Cabo. I feel that the least I can do is to give something back to these people. Hurricane Odile made a devastatingly direct hit in Cabo San Lucas, San Jose del Cabo, Todos Santos, La Paz and neighboring towns on September 14, 2014, two weeks ago, and as of today, many residents still do not have electricity or water, nor can they return to their homes to determine if their homes are still standing. The airport was severely damaged.

They’re making progress down there, but it’s still very bad. I can’t just sit back and not do something to help.

Evacuation at San Jose del Cabo International Airport. Photo by Suset Esquivel Flores. Used by permission.

When most people think of Cabo San Lucas, it brings to mind the world-renowned arch or El Arco, extraordinary fishing, fancy hotels, vacations, beaches, sun and margaritas. And while those images do describe Cabo, it’s also true that there are some very poor people who live there. It’s a stark and shocking contrast.

Cabo pretty much has no middle class. With a few exceptions, people who live there are either dirt poor or movie-star wealthy. I have personally witnessed people living in cardboard shacks without plumbing. The lucky ones are those who work at your fancy hotels–who tirelessly serve your margaritas and guacamole and chips, but they certainly don’t live in mansions, nor do they live in middle-class-type houses.

Then there are those who spend all day every day tramping up and down the burning sand on the beach and hawking trinkets in the scorching sun–even the elderly who can barely walk and children who can’t be more than 3 years old.

Photo by Lynne Pierce. Used by permission.

We take so much for granted in the United States. We have no clue how good we have it compared to most of those people. And now, many of them lost everything they had.

Land’s End photo by Patricia Walker

Some may question why I’m asking for donations for the people of Mexico when there are so many in our own country who are in need. My response to that would be: donate to whomever you like; just do SOMETHING. People are people wherever they live. Do what you can. It all helps.

We can also help by booking our vacations to the Los Cabos area in the near future. Our dollars will help these people get back on their feet.

El Arco photo by Patricia Walker

Donations from purchases of my book will only come from those that I bought personally from my publisher, not from the sale of books from Amazon.com or other outlets. This is coming straight out of my pocket. I’m hoping to keep contributing to various charities in Cabo as long as I am able, but obviously I can’t afford to do it indefinitely. If you buy a book from my website, you’ll have to pay for shipping, but 100% of what you pay for the book will go to the people of Cabo. And I will post which charity it’s going to so you’ll know exactly where your donations are going.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!

Because I personally know most of the people involved, current donations are being made to: Wicked Pizza Employees/Family at http://www.gofundme.com/envqes

So please, if you can, come support Northern Colorado Writers this Tuesday, and buy a book for yourself or for a friend. Or just come and hear some great stories. For more information on the event:

Enjoy an evening of readings by local writers on September 30 at 7:00pm at Bas Bleu Theater. There will be poetry, excerpts from novels and essays. Written and read by members of Northern Colorado Writers: Josh Lehman, Lynn Kincanon, Mary Roberts, Diana Balogh, Pat Walker, Kerrie Flanagan, Eleanore D. Trupkiewicz and Donna Nitz Muller. Doors open at 6:30pm and admission is $5.

Refreshments will be served following the readings. Books by NCW members will be available for sale in the theater lobby.

Please be aware that this is a PG-13 event if you are thinking about bringing children.

*This is not a Bas Bleu Theater Company event.

Tickets available at the door or for online tickets, please click here: http://northerncoloradowriters.com/upcoming-events-mainmenu-133/upcoming-classes-and-events/special-event/readings-by-writers

**All photos used by permission. Please do not copy without permission.

Cabo’s Mystical Beauty

Posted on October 30, 2011 by Baja Rock Pat

Oct. 16, 2009

My husband and I returned home last night after 12 days in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. I’m sitting here at my kitchen table, which is loaded with the Halloween motif our son put up while we were gone, an empty bottle of tequila given to me by Sammy Hagar at one of his concerts (it was half full when he gave it to me), my digital camera and camera cards, a bottle of cipro antibiotic (a must for a trip to Mexico), a colorful, hand-painted fish mobile I’d purchased at one of the shops in Cabo and a pile of junk mail and bills that’s still too intimidating to tackle. Oh, and the decorative candle in the centerpiece of my table has been replaced with one that looks like a bleeding skull.

I’m still trying to process everything that took place over the past few weeks. It rained most of the time we were in Mexico—rained in Cabo!So I didn’t get much of a tan. But when the sun came out, it was marvelous. On our last day, yesterday, I got up early to watch the sun rise over the Sea of Cortez and the rocks of Land’s End. My photos don’t do it justice.

The sun was hot pink as it lifted out of the water and the higher it rose, the hotter it got until it drew beads of sweat from my skin. There were two cruise ships in the bay and hundreds of fishing boats heading out to sea, something that hadn’t taken place for several days due to Tropical Storm Patricia—how ironic is that name?

But yesterday morning Cabo was back to her normal, splendid self—hot, humid and sunny. It seems so dark here in Colorado, but at least it’s not snowing.

As I get back into the swing of my old life, I will tackle the task of finishing revisions of my book and keep you posted on its progress. I’m almost finished. I will also write more about Cabo and Sammy Hagar’s concerts while we were down there (my husband and I were fortunate to be able to acquire tickets to all five shows), and I’ll post a few pics.

Besides Cabo’s alluring beauty, I did have several moments during this trip that I consider somewhat mystical—interesting at least. One of those moments was when a woman sat next to me on the plane from Phoenix to Denver and the two of us hit it off as if we’d known each other before. Maybe we have—she told me that she owns a metaphysical bookstore in California. It never ceases to amaze me where the writing of my book “Wings of Rock” seems to be taking me.

For right now though, I have about 50 loads of laundry to catch up on. Stay tuned…

Sammy Hagar’s Birthday Bash 2009

Posted on October 29, 2011 by Baja Rock Pat

Oct. 22, 2009

Sammy Hagar recently celebrated his birthday at his Cabo Wabo Cantina in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico with five days of rock ‘n’ roll, commencing on October 7 and culminating with his birthday “party” on October 13. You’d never guess by looking at him that he’s 62; he looks at least 20 years younger and has more energy than most 30-year olds—still touring around the world with his latest band, Chickenfoot.

The final concert of the birthday bash was almost cancelled due to the rain, which fell nearly every day and flooded the streets. Luckily it held off long enough for the show to take place, resuming its incessant misting (it doesn’t really rain down there, it mists heavily) by the time all was said and done.

I was fortunate to be able to acquire tickets to each show, a feat that’s becoming increasingly difficult to do. This is because the requirement for getting tickets is having to wait in line all night on the cobblestones of Mexico’s cockroach-ridden, dusty sidewalks, and this time there was an added bonus—it was raining.

Each year my body convinces me that I won’t do it again next year. And yet I do. Why?

Because there is something magical about Cabo. And because in Cabo Sammy lets his hair down a little more than he does while on tour. And also because you never know who might show up to jump onstage and join the party. In the past, there have been such music legends as Ted Nugent, Jerry Cantrell, Billy Duffy, Toby Keith, Kenny Chesney, Chad Kroeger, and many others. This year the bash was in full swing as Sammy and Michael Anthony (former bass player of Van Halen) repeatedly snagged other people’s drinks off the trays of passing waitresses and helped themselves to a swig. They then replaced the drinks, but not before refilling them with tequila from the bottles chilling in the buckets onstage.

The first two concerts were laced with some of Sammy’s older songs: “Plain Jane,” “Your Love is Driving Me Crazy,” and “Turn Up the Music.”

There was also a nice mix of his more recent work, such as “Cosmic Universal Fashion,” and “Loud.” A real treat was Sammy’s performance of “High and Dry Again.” I had never seen this performed live and for me, it was one of those rare moments where I couldn’t help but let go and become completely lost in it.

They played a lot of Van Halen tunes during the last two shows: “Best of Both Worlds,” “Poundcake,” and “Dreams,” a few tributes to Led Zeppelin and a bit of Sammy’s more famous songs such as “Rock Candy,” “I Can’t Drive 55,” and “There’s Only One Way to Rock.” Of course no Hagar concert would be complete without the performance of “Mas Tequila” and “Cabo Wabo,” and this week’s bash was no exception.

Another highlight for me was “Let Sally Drive.” I guess this is why I also love the music of Janis Joplin—there is something so animal and soul-baring-raw about the screams.

During show #2 on Oct. 8, The Wabos, Sammy’s band consisting of Hagar on vocals, Vic Johnson on guitar, Mona on bass and David Lauser on drums, started out with an unusual version of “Rock and Roll Weekend,” with Dave and Sammy switching places: Dave sang lead and Sammy took up the drumsticks. It wasn’t long before Sammy announced, “I don’t know how you do it!” and Dave handed the mic to Sammy while asking the audience if they wanted to hear the song done right. The Wabos had been on “hiatus” while Sammy toured with his new supergroup, Chickenfoot this summer, so I’m sure it felt good for them to be onstage together again.

The most memorable show of all was when Chickenfoot took the stage on October 10, with Joe Satriani on lead guitar, Sammy on vocals, Michael Anthony on bass and Chad Smith (drummer for the Red Hot Chili Peppers) on drums. That afternoon, the gift shop suddenly had “Puttin’ the Foot Down at the Cabo Wabo” tee shirts for sale and the fans were asked to wear their Chickenfoot gear because the show was going to be recorded.

Chickenfoot’s performance seemed less passionate compared to the two previous shows I’d seen, (see my concert reviews dated May 20, 2009 and Sept. 15, 2009). Even so, I love the heaviness of their sound and the sheer power it puts forth to the audience. My favorite Hagar songs are like that too, the ones with a darker feel, like “Serious JuJu” and “Psycho Vertigo,” where there’s a deeper, cutting edge. It’s music that bites you in the ass—hard—and leaves its mark on your soul. Chickenfoot accomplishes this with every note.

Between songs, Satriani smiled and sipped his waborita while Anthony chugged tequila straight from the bottle. Chad Smith seemed a bit tired and he didn’t interact with the audience like I’d seen him do in the past, but he managed to pound the drums with the exuberance he’s famous for, and he tossed out a few drumsticks into the crowd.

“Get it Up” was by far the best performance of the night—the vocals and the relentless explosion of the music was a throbbing, intimidating force.

“Oh Yeah” also seemed to be a favorite, as the band had the entire audience singing along, cheering and raising their drinks above their heads.

Throughout the show, Joe just stood there so cool, so collected and cranked out a storm, like Tropical Storm Patricia that was wreaking havoc outside that night. At one point, he started to play Robin Trower’s “Bridge of Sighs.” Mikey and Chad joined in, with Mikey singing lead. They only played a teaser of this, but it sounded magnificent—psychedelic and rich, and I desperately wanted to hear more. I swear Satriani can play anything; and he makes it look as effortless as breathing.

During the show of the 12^th and 13^th, drummer Matt Sorum, from Guns ‘n’ Roses, The Cult and Velvet Revolver stepped in, joined the party onstage and played drums for a few songs. Way to go, Matt!

On the 12th, as Sammy consulted the six foot long setlist taped onto the stage speakers, Mikey quickly jumped in and began to play the opening bassline to “Runnin’ with the Devil” with his teeth. The Wabos soon joined in, but Sammy didn’t seem too pleased as he stood in the background with his arms folded across his chest, allowing Mikey to sing lead for the duration of the song.

“I think I pissed him off!” Mikey said afterward with a huge grin.

Chef Emeril Lagasse opened the show on October 13 and also played percussion for a song or two.

At the end, as everyone sang “Happy Birthday” and balloons floated down from the catwalk above the crowd, Sammy’s face was shoved into a chocolate cake, which he then proceeded to fling, whole, into the crowd. I was glad I wasn’t within firing distance.

Vinnie Paul, drummer for Pantera was there one night, but he didn’t perform, also magician Criss Angel.

I would like to have been able to provide you with a more comprehensive concert review, but I didn’t take notes during the shows. As it was, Sammy already scolded me for taking pictures while everyone else was clapping to the beat, saying “Put your f—ing camera down and clap your hands, dammit!” with a big smile on his face. So I guess taking notes would have been out of the question. I know, I know, I know, who takes notes during a rock concert? Um, writers…

Great music, great party, as always.

The madness… the magic… the music…

Posted on October 20, 2011 by Baja Rock Pat

March 29, 2009

From the perspective of someone who has seen Sammy Hagar in concert more times than I can count, I can tell you his appeal is something that can only be appreciated by watching him perform live. His recordings are great; there are some I like more than others, but they don’t come close to the fever he generates between himself and his fans while he’s onstage.

Sammy tours all over the world, but he also does an annual week-long series of concerts in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico to celebrate his birthday in October.

No matter where he performs, Sammy includes the audience as part of every show. From the front row to the back, he’s in your face. He sweats on you, throws tequila on you, shares his drinks with you. Sometimes he pulls you onstage with him or holds the mic for you to sing a few words. (Which isn’t always a good thing in my case.) You never know what to expect.

He signs everything the fans offer—from bare body parts to album covers, posters and tee shirts.

His concerts are not just concerts; they’re wild, explosive parties, sometimes complete with confetti and balloons. Always with tequila.

Considering all the concerts by various big name rock or blues bands I’ve attended in my life, I have never seen anything like Sammy’s shows. At 61, Sammy has the energy of a 20-year-old. And when I’m in the audience, he makes me feel 20 again too.

During every show, between songs, Sammy talks to the crowd as if they are his best friends.

He has said more than once, “I know most of you on a first-name basis!”

It’s true.

He tells the audience things about his personal life in graphic detail.

The first time I heard this, I was shocked, but at the same time, I liked it. He was so bad… he was so good. He was genuine and didn’t care who didn’t like it.

Even now, he never fails to surprise me.

In interview after interview, Sammy reiterates how much his fans mean to him. In song after song, he sings about pursuing happiness and treating others the way you want to be treated. He strives to make people happy and show them a good time. And he succeeds.

Why else would middle-aged men and women—doctors, truck drivers, homemakers and insurance salesmen use their hard-earned money to fly to Mexico, spend entire nights sleeping on the cobblestone sidewalk merely for the chance to get tickets to see Sammy perform? It’s insane!

You have to see Sammy in concert to understand.