Baja (For Joanna)

At the top of this watercolor Westermann has written "With all my love to ‘the little flower,’" his pet name for Joanna. It is also the English translation of his mother’s name, Florita. "Baja" refers to a particularly memorable boat trip Cliff and Joanna took in 1973. He was inspired by the trip to write a poem about his "little flower," which he sent to his friend Ed Janss in December of that year:

To
The Little Flower
Something rotten psyched
her out a thousand years ago
forever, I guess―you understand.
Well she retained all of
her fine qualities, intact &
made her peace with the
world & thats the way it is.
Now she pedals awhile &
coasts & pedals & coasts, a
beautiful rhythm & she’ll go
on as long as the stars
I think! Kinda like those
pelicans Ed.
With Love, / Cliff