Mike Humfreville
Super Nomad
Posts: 1148
Registered: 8-26-2003
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Hearty Guitar
Mary Ann and the boys and I have spent many nights over the past three months sitting around campfires at Camp Gecko in Bahia de Los Angeles. There
are many memorable evenings there where we have shared time and space with other friends, new and old. They?re all special, the campfires, and as
they die down in the late evening we can see the dynamic activities of the heavens.
We take away from each campfire some sensitivity we never expected. Some are more memorable than others. On our last trip several of us were sitting
around the ring at night and making small conversation when two younger men and a woman their age came across the boat ramp to our fire. One of the
men, Jeff Java, was carrying a guitar. They joined into our conversation and we shared small stories for a time and there was a lull in the talk and
Jeff strummed his guitar. A moment later he was singing.
All my life one of the most moving creative forms in my world has been music. When I was a boy I actually studied the guitar, only for a few weeks,
before I realized that it was actually not just something I could pick up and play. It required discipline and lots of it. So I quit the lessons,
taught myself a few chords and that was the end of it, except for my dreaming about what I could have been if I?d been stronger.
Jeff Java?s songs entwined with the small smoke from our fire. We restocked the pit with fresh mesquite for several hours, frequently listening to,
enjoying, Jeff?s songs. It was just the guitar and him and the night was calm and there was nothing to distract us from him and his talent and his
spun stories. It all seemed to call me into thought. Jeff?s songs I could tell were from his previous life, one that he had changed, somehow, into
something more powerful than he had had previously. I don?t mean there was sadness in his songs, rather warmth and a recognition of the fact that he
was pleased with the present and that it may not have always been that way. Sometimes a person expresses him/herself to us and you just grab onto the
inner strength they are willing to share. That was Jeff.
The evening ended late. Jeff and his wife and friend were leaving the next morning. It would be a long drive. I don?t remember where they are from,
even the state. I don?t remember the car they were driving, or the year. I don?t remember Jeff?s wife and friends names; I wouldn?t even remember
his if I hadn?t written it down.
But I remember the emotion conveyed by every strum of a chord on Jeff?s guitar. I remember his husky vibrato voice. I remember the sadness there
too. His music all worked together in every aspect in a way that was totally encompassing.
I sent Jeff an e-mail a couple of days ago. He responded, telling me he would send a CD he had recorded. And he said ?No, thank you. You can?t pay
me for it.? I?d be happy to play it for other friends at Gecko who happen to be there when we?re in the neighborhood. I know you?ll enjoy it. I
hope he?s successful in getting his work professionally recorded and distributed. Honesty and sincerity, coupled with an unfailing if emotional
memory of one?s past are hard to find in one individual. Jeff?s musical creations have those characteristics.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64479
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Any relation to Alki Jeff? I heard travelpearl say he played guitar for you guys at Santispac...or?
Maybe 'Jeffs' are good guitarists?
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Eli
Super Nomad
Posts: 1471
Registered: 8-26-2003
Location: L.B. Baja Sur
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Mood: Some times Observing, sometimes Oblivious.
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Again thanks Mike. I guess today is a day for tredging up old memories. My daughters father was a guitar player, (and a poet, oh dear, ni modo).
Listening to him was how I fell in love, uhummmmmmmmm, oh well.
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Bruce R Leech
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6796
Registered: 9-20-2004
Location: Ensenada formerly Mulege
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Mood: A lot cooler than Mulege
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I really enjoyed that story Mike thank you .
Bruce R Leech
Ensenada
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PacO
Nomad
Posts: 173
Registered: 1-19-2005
Location: waiting for the sun
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You'll have to have Scott play a bit for you when he's down w/his family during the summer..... nothing better.
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Mike Humfreville
Super Nomad
Posts: 1148
Registered: 8-26-2003
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Looking forward to the opportunity!
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