Baja Bernie - 6-2-2006 at 07:40 AM
Baja Dreamin?
Recently several things have occurred in my life that have caused me to tuck my tail between my legs, a thing that has rarely happened to me, and
slink back to Baja to hide from my fears.
As I wandered the beaches of La Salina and stuck my toes into the sand I realized that I had lead one hell of a great life with most of my happiest
days tied to the surf and the sand right here where I watched my footprints being washed away by the pounding waves. It was as if all of the pains,
and there have been more than a few, in my life were somehow being removed and washed out to sea.
I sat and thought of my wife, my kids and my grandkids and how they all still loved Baja. The jobs that I have held. My parents and my folks
fluttered through my head and I closed my eyes and let the rays beat warmly upon my tightly closed eyes.
It was like I had returned to the womb and no one could touch me or hurt me. I thought of my friends and the fun that we had making this beach into a
small campo nestled ever so close the Pacific. The drinking, the parties, friendships made for a lifetime and sure a few fights where bare knuckle
did reach an extended jaw. Fiesta time and ever more friends made. Kio, Paul, Bill, Raul, Chuck, Art, Dick, Tequila Pancho, Heime, Gustavo and ?oh
hell just an alphabet of names. Mexicans and Americans with a few Englishmen, a Frenchman, an Australian or two, and a German. Surfers, clammers,
nudists, sailors, doctors, a couple of cops, a Five Star Chef, a couple of lawyers, an aborgado , a contractor, a priest, a crook or two and you name
it they were here. Oh! Yes, a few guys hiding out after the Viet Nam War. Safe here from the hell they had been through and from the kind people who
would spit upon them.
It was a wonderful to be strong and stand on your own two feet and face whatever came your way with a smile in your eyes. A time to build, and grow.
A time to come to understand a whole new culture and to blend it into the one you brought with you. A time to dance and prance and be a king among
kings. A time to reach out to others and mostly a time to learn to really enjoy life and the folks it brings you.
Smiling faces, crying, laughing, the faces of friends still here and some gone from us. A memory sprang up and caused a smile with each passing.
Wandering down the beach a bit farther I turned to see the ?A? Frame house that had brought so many of us here to help build it. Then I looked over
to see the home I had built with my own two hands. And behind that I visualized the house that I had built as a rental. Helping many others to work
on their homes and even teaching Chicho how to hang doors. Wonderful guy?we shared a bean burrito as we sat in the shade, smiling at out handiwork.
Yes, I thought I had really placed my mark for all to see.
These thoughts caused me to remember playing darts in the Cantina with Eddie, the bartender, until my arm almost fell off and never beating him.
The guys and gals who had slept on the cantina floor because the lagoon between here and Angel?s Camp was flooded and the tide wouldn?t go out until
the next morning. Playing Caballos with 15 to 20 Mexicans and gringo?s lined up from one end of the bar to the other.
Singing ?Danny Boy? until 4 o?clock in the morning. Discussing all of the ills in the world with McLaren as the last bottle of Pernod was emptied and
the sun came up.
All of these thoughts and so many more rattled around in my head as I wandered back in time. Fiesta?s in La Mision to help raise money for the school,
scholarships etc.
Being the host to a fading body and looking directly at 70 is a daunting thing. I still have my memories and a brain that allows me to think and a
few challenges yet to be overcome in this life and more friends to meet.
That was the last thing I thought about as I awoke and took my wife?s small hand in mine. A squeeze from her and a drifting smile? my lady opened
her eyes and mumbled, ?sleep tight and don?t let the bedbugs bite.?
Content and at peace with the world I drifted off to sleep.
Wrote this a while back and thought I would share a few of my feelings about Baja with you.t
Bruce R Leech - 6-2-2006 at 07:47 AM
wow that is a nice story. I'm sure many others here in Baja can relate to your memories. I sure do . thanks
Thanks for sharing "your Baja"---
beercan - 6-2-2006 at 08:06 AM
People ask me what or why I am here in Puertecitos ???
It's hard to tell them all the reasons or to sometimes try and make them understand ---it's in the blood !!!
Sallysouth - 6-2-2006 at 10:04 AM
Very beautifully said Bernie.Brought a little tear or two ....thanks, Sally
Thank God for Baja
Sharksbaja - 6-2-2006 at 11:51 AM
A man can measure his life of hills and valleys with profound memories that will never fade, but only brighten. You sound human to me. Thanks Bern
Eli - 6-2-2006 at 12:21 PM
Thanks for the good read Bernie.
Mexitron - 6-2-2006 at 02:54 PM
Beautiful, Bernie, you've got a good perspective on your life there....
I went to a few parties in the "A-frame" in the late 90's thru 2003...a friend's boss owned it and let her use it on some weekends. Interesting to
know you were involved in it--only story we were told about it was that it was built by some fireman in the sixties, but I'm sure you might have a
longer story than that!
Frank - 6-2-2006 at 05:15 PM
Ahh Bernie, you should be a writer and a poet.....
When i drive past your Baja
on the way to mine, I'll think of you buddy.
Skeet/Loreto - 6-3-2006 at 03:49 AM
Oh! so good Bernie!!
Adventures of the Soul, Adventures of the Mind, Will they ever Stop?I hope not!
The Sea, The Land, The People, so happy with their meger belongings,Cardboard Shacks,shoeless, yet taking each day as it comes< "Not to worry".
Bernie it will never end in our minds and hearts.
Adventuers All!
Skeet
Diver - 6-4-2006 at 09:14 AM
Thanks for sharing, Bernie.
Baja is my re-birth, every time I go.
Mexitron
Baja Bernie - 6-4-2006 at 08:09 PM
The "A" Frame was always a party house but it was cops who built it, The beams came all the way from Julian--torn, for free, from an old barn. It
is just one of the stories in my first book--Mi Baja No Hurry No Worry.
Just got the sad word that a newby bought it and is planning on tearing it down. Like so many people say that 'is' progress. This is happening all
up and down the Gold Coast. I see the whole camp at La Salina becoming high rise condo's in the very near future. When the marina went in us old
timers knew that the condo's would soon follow.
Who knows the newby might even get his house built before they raise it to make way for the condo's.
Bernie-
Mexitron - 6-5-2006 at 01:24 AM
Thanks for the tip--I'll check out the book sometime. Yah, progress...too bad...I guess nothing lasts forever. Just out of curiosity, did you know a
former SD detective named Jack Mullin? He's written a couple books too and is my neighbor in Bandon, Oregon.
[Edited on 6-5-2006 by Mexitron]
Mexitron
Baja Bernie - 6-5-2006 at 06:37 AM
Only for about 45 years--Sad eyes of an old homicide cop. Jowls to go with the eyes unless he has gotten skinny. Bought both of his books--but I
just hate cop stories, movies, or TV shows.
Reality is just far to different and mostly boring with a few scary moments flashing rapidly at you with no warning. Lots and lots of funny stuff
that only ER nurses agree are funny.
The really scary stuff happens when you have to convience the folks at a scene that you are totally confident and are completely in control when, in
fact, you have not the slightest idea of what is going down---That really does not matter--if you are calm then the folks will cool down. If not
then you are in deep du du.
Tell Jack Bernie Swaim said hi. Jack may even have been invited down to the A Frame--only the good cops were.---Okay, I got invited because I built
over half of the damn thing and the guy who owned it, Art McLaren was my adopted father and the guy who introduced me to this crazy place called
"Baja."