74
ADIOS THEZA KA
Epitaph and photographs
by Andy Harris
HIGH
NOEN
Clockwise from top
The niños sing a
mournful dirge, lament-
ing the demise of the
dearly departed.
An unknown mortal carves the Tijuana
skatepark on Christmas day. 1995, shortly
before its visit from the Angel of Death.
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Now all that
remains of the Tijuana skatepark is a park-
ing lot. Rest in peace.
Steve Bailey flees the cold shadows of this
mortal coil and frontsides towards the
beckoning light.
"¿Que pasa. Amigo? Why you so
sad? Why you crying?
This barrage of one directed
Towards memrom the bartender in a
littleena on Revolucion Avenue in
Tima I was fitting on a barstool drowning
sorrows in 75 cent cervezas and 1 dollar
tequila shots when the little guy threw them
at me. I lifted my tear-soaked eyes. looked
at his round, smiling face, and said. "They
killed my baby, the only true love I've ever
had. They destroyed her curvy and beautiful
body that had always welcomed me and
given me a rush that only one who has been
there can explain. They hurled her under a
of gravel and rok and, as a final insult.
her gravestonek gonna be a parking lot for
a goddamn frozen yogurt store!"
The bartender gave me a weird look and
backing off. said. "You're loco, Señor Who
would have done this to your woman?"
I replied. "You misunderstand me. Señor
My true love was not a mere woman made
out of flesh and blood. No. Sefior, the only
flesh and blood she possessed was that
which came from my own body and from the
bodies of those who came before me. She
was the Tijuana Skatepark, lover of many
men, one of which was L"
"Wait a minute." he said. "you crying over
that old place? You no need to cry anymore.
Señor You go upstairs with Carmella over
there, and she make you forget about that
rollerskater park
At that. I drank up my last Tecate, tipped my
hat to the pretty señorita at the end of the
bar, and said, "No thanks. Señor. I don't think
anyone could ever take the place of my
cement mamacita The only hope I have is in
the rumors I've heard about similar broads
up in California Del Norte, and I'm headin' up
there now to see if they really exist."
With that. I bid him adios and set out on my
quest for a new concrete chica to ease my
troubled mind. God only knows if I'll find her