Don Quixote de la Mancha: An Unconventional Review and Eulogy
By Armando Ortiz
What would Don Quixote have said and done while traveling through Southern California, imagine him coming into being in this land of eternal sun and long evenings, wandering the hidden canyons that dot the deserts and coast. Imagine him talking to the Chumash and Tongva people who described to him the world that existed prior to his arrival. Would he have been treated as a god, would he have seen them as a people that understood everything he expressed. He’d probably deny being a demigod on the grounds that a true knight only fought and battled for love.
What if he had wandered through these mild desert canyons that are like veins stretching from Baja California all the way north past the Bay Area. Traveling through the shade of the different varieties of oaks that call these oases home, coastal labyrinths to explore forever. The discussions and explanations between Quixote and Panza, as the audiences just listen intently and wonder why they are arguing over foreign topics. What wisdoms did people practice that sometimes we forget about that Panza would have gleaned from them. They might have shared their own tales of chivalry and knighthood honor, and emerged from their reed huts with mysterious totems and ancient tales.
On Rocinante’s back he would have led the way along the old camino that led to the Bay. Behind would have been Panza on donkey eating all the delights that people would have shared with him. Because everything was for everyone. Pinole with honey in the mornings, and maybe venison with oak nut gruel would have been dinner. Let’s not forget the bricks of cheese that they might have carried from somewhere along the Sea of Cortez, and dried bread that could have been brought to life with the waters of the arroyos. Possibly might have already been familiar with tamales and their different fillings, let's not forget being served corn bread with some wild broiled pig. Under the shade of an oak tree overlooking the rolling hills of El Monte or on the rock face looking at the Malibu coast and gazing at the blue sky and golden hills that created the first colors of UCLA. That’s where I would have sat if I were Don Q on a journey through the land of the Amazonian Queens. To the character who continues to live on in books I dedicate the following piece, enjoy:
Ode to Don Quixote
by Armando Ortiz
Give praise and honor to where honor is due, to the dreamer of kingdoms whose visions evaporated as a dew.
A knight of the past, living in the present, the magnus character who faced the lion and chased down the devil, only to be treated like a loon.
Standup and give praise to the man who traveled around the earth, up to the moon and even felt the sun reaching the heights of noon.
To the stars he aimed and with covered eyes was made a clown, a higher order of morals unknown to others, living for love and commitment was his tune.
Conquering giants, villains, and knights, freeing slaves, rescuing damsels and making others play with his illusions, what would we have done too.
In the end his books were burned, he was blinded by rags of kings, and pulled like a monkey in a cage on a cart, defeated and brought to his bed.
He dared to dream, he had the courage to cross the boundaries of fear, and died to emerge from the cave of slumber.
It was those who interdicted to show him his errors that needed punishment and made out as fools.
The ultimate dreamer pushed ahead only to be brought home defeated by those already dead.
Throughout all the trials and tribulation he had his friend and travel companion, Sancho Panza, to question his every move.
