Osprey - 5-11-2007 at 02:13 PM
this windmill jousting is tiresome so I herewith reprise a little piece of levity.
Just Kidding
Newcomers I have met recently, here in this little corner of Mexico, have all had one thing in common. They have a deep-seated and abiding need to
enjoy a bargain in every product and service they buy. Their joy or discontent seems to hinge on whether they got the very best "bang for the buck"
(in this case peso) on cement work, gardening, the purchase of a product, comestible; ownership, right to quietly enjoy every conceivable kind of
house, boat, car, trailer, fishing rod, etc., etc. Not just a fair price but a price much lower than any paid by their neighbors or contemporaries.
Their compulsion is never more visible than when they hire things done, at their homes, by Mexicans. The women actually have ad hoc meetings about
what they should pay young Ramons or Javiers to weed and water. If Maria cleans the houses of adjacent neighbors, it is of utmost importance that she
be paid the same by each homeowner.
The idea is to pay not one puny centavo more than is absolutely necessary to satisfy (and keep employed) the young and able who are willing to clean,
rake, paint, water, plaster, without interruption; those who will take the money in a calloused, sweaty palm with a smile and a kind of bowing of the
head, walk into the sunset. In this environment it is dangerous to overpay. Anyone caught overpaying will not be seen at future meetings; their
names might be mentioned in statements made by those who use rough language.
God has dropped me into this garden to play. What a chance for a little good-natured fun. I am patient. I wait until they are gathered; dinners,
c-cktail parties, birthdays. It starts slowly:
I open with "We just hired a new gardener. His name is Manuel, Cristo's son. He's about 17 or 18. Still in school. So we just have him working
weekends."
Then I wait for THE QUESTION.
"Is he any good? What are you paying him?"
My remarks are not meant to scold, hurt. They might be said to be "little left jabs of satire", not harmful roundhouse blows. I guess I am trying
to be "mirror man" -- show them how they really look (full length, front).
"Well, he seems to do a good job. He works two hours Saturday and two Sunday. I hope I'm not overpaying him, spoiling him, but he is good...and
he's a nice kid. I give him a hundred bucks a month." I talk right over the gasps. "I got a new truck this summer so I gave him my old Ford. He
loves the 4 wheel drive. It's an 89, in pretty good shape.”
“Also I set aside some money each month for a scholarship. If his grades are good next year maybe we could sneak him into Stanford. Lynda says we
are doing too much. I think she's right. I've decided to cut back on his seafood buffets at the hotel and I’ll cut his masseuse visits way back to
once a month. When I tell him, he's not going to be happy.”
“I can handle that. I'll get him a helper."
aquaholic - 5-11-2007 at 02:24 PM
Osprey...I love it!!! I've been seeing it for many years, and this IS funny...
Minnow - 5-11-2007 at 02:30 PM
I love your writing style Osprey, but I have read this one before. Maybe, you could write a new one.
I have an idea. You had a meeting once with my dear departed friend JR. If I am not too bold. Maybe you could write a story about that.
DianaT - 5-11-2007 at 02:32 PM
Love it Osprey, just love it. 
Thanks
Diane
sylens - 5-11-2007 at 04:08 PM
i am one of those, i hate to admit it. 
and thank you for the mirror. 
don't know if it will cause drastic immediate change, but there is no doubt it is having an impact.
would it not be enlightened if we began bragging (as in your story) about how much we were paying and giving
again, thanks, osprey.
Some here fit this description -- gotta be a NOMAD!
Lee - 5-11-2007 at 04:43 PM
The generosity written about here sounds familiar. Seems like I've read a thread or two about stuff like this and, I might be wrong, but it seemed
like Bernie, and Mr.BillM, were generous in similar ways. Have I read that right? That's how I remember it.
Anyway, reminds me of a story I once heard about Frank Sinatra tipping doormen $100.00, and do you think he cared that some people might think he was
spoiling them, or paying them too much? What a guy!
Thanks for posting the above.
[Edited on 5-11-2007 by Lee]
Bedman - 5-11-2007 at 05:45 PM
As usual, you hit the nail square, again!
Thank you for the time you take to write the things you do!!
Bedman
Bruce R Leech - 5-11-2007 at 06:02 PM
Osprey you have an eye for what is going on around you and a talent to put it to words. if these peple could only here what the Mexican peple say
about them
Paula - 5-11-2007 at 09:00 PM
Bruce, do they tap their elbows with the fingers of the opposite hand?
Phil C - 5-12-2007 at 12:33 PM
Yeah, that elbow thing is kinda under the radar....
Sharksbaja - 5-12-2007 at 12:43 PM
Osprey, you are cruel and unusual in the punishment dept. Love it!
DENNIS - 5-12-2007 at 01:03 PM
Well, how much are people paying these days? In my area, the tradesmen that I know wont work for an American for less than 50 dollars per day. I
know the Mexicans wont pay that much. What are they getting down south?
Sharksbaja - 5-12-2007 at 01:12 PM
I was paying almost US fed min wage last November after the flood for unskilled work. Skilled workers may be a real bargain now, comparitively. Basic
wages paid by Americanos is growing rapidly. Hey, if they(Gringos) are willing to pay that much...so be it. The workers will adjust their fees
accordingly.
jerry - 5-12-2007 at 10:57 PM
no difference then in the ststes if a guy that really worth $5.00 a hour gets a job for$10.00 an hour even if he cant handel it and gets fired in his
mind he will allways be worth $10.00 a hour or more from then on
people have pride
