Every generation has its own discoveries, fads, and events – some of them are  spontaneous or even accidental.   I remember reading the ice cream cone was invented during the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair out of necessity.   A guy selling ice cream ran out of cups or bowls or whatever, and used waffles to wrap his product.   Pretty clever.  Whether you’re into ice cream or not, there are specific events which can impact people of certain generations.   Major concerts like Woodstock and Live Aid come to mind.  Or where were you when whatever happened: JFK/Ronald Reagan was shot, 9/11, etc.

The happening I want to first mention sprang from the sands of the Mojave Desert — well, sort of.     I’d never heard of this happening until I stumbled across the fantastic short film “Mojave Mirage” (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0838183/) .   It’s a half-hour documentary about a lone desert phone booth which became a pilgrimage site around 1997-2000. Call it an internet phenomenon. How it all started may be part of the mystery, but it’s a truly offbeat film worth seeking out.

I guess the mystery of calling a phone booth in the middle of the desert is part of the appeal.  Who would call there? What would they have to say? Who would answer the call?  If you think it sounds boring, you’re wrong.   If you think it sounds interesting, you are absolutely right.  I just love the offbeat nature of the whole thing.

For whatever reason, the desert captures a certain romance on film.  It’s desolate, isolated, and probably not like where you live at all.  There are so many movies or movie scenes which feature the open road and the desert.   One of my other favorite films in this category is “White Sands” (released in 1992, directed by Roger Donaldson).   The film takes place in New Mexico, with some scenes at White Sands National Monument.   It’s a murder mystery of sorts, but the film’s cast alone makes it worth checking out: Willem Dafoe, Mickey Rourke, Samuel L. Jackson,  and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, and Maura Tierney.  I think I still own a copy of this film on VHS.   It’s not exactly a mainstream pic, but that’s the beauty of it.   Experience the offbeat.   You’ll thank me for it.

Till next time, keep your Mojo on the Horizon!