Shimmer - 11-26-2007 at 07:31 PM
We have seen, over the last few weeks, many many disturbing Baja stories. They have truly shaken my sense of why I am here. Some up north, some
here in Todos Santos. I have a story I need to share to bring to light the other side of humanity.
Three weeks ago my partner was coming home, flying into San Jose..... I drove from Todos Santos to pick her up. Prior to going to the airport I went
to Cabo's Home Depot to pick up some things I needed. I found most of them, bought them, got my factura from the front desk as I left, walked to my
car and left. I drove to Costco.... 3 minutes away, got out of my car and realized......chit! I didn't have my wallet. I freaked..... I was
carrying a lot of money... clients money to buy several high ticket items later in the day. I raced back to Home Depot..... talked to several
employees and managers... scoured the parking lot and all the garbage cans...... no luck. I was left with no ID and 28 pesos....very, very upset. I
thought I had been pick pocketed. After picking up my partner we went back to the store and searched even more... no luck.
Late that night, at home, my partner received a call on her cell phone from 2 brothers... Mexican, from San Jose. They had my wallet..... and set
up meeting the next day back at Home Depot. The next day we met them at the prescribed time and I felt so blessed. They we truly 2 honest and
beautiful humans. They had tried to call all that day ... the day I had searched all over... but the phone number on my mexican drivers license had
one digit off and I never got the calls...... just a day of total madness. My partners phone number was on apiece of paper in the wallet, as was her
bank card.
I had over $750 USD in the wallet..... as well as all my ID and a couple credit cards. It was all there..... I had to beg them to take $100. USD.
I don't want to discount anyone's misfortune, terror and sense of violation... but somewhere..... there are balancing forces. In these times of
terror and senseless violence, I feel I need to hold the line and somehow, keep from falling into that terror.......so I shared my story... of life in
Mexico. Just one day..... in the Baja.
I came here for a simpler life... the world didn't go away, I never thought it would..... I would like to think my life and exchanges with others
here, tips the scales and actually helps the balance. I feel we all have that responsibility... so when reading the stories we all do, remember
where you wish to place your self in the balance.
S
[Edited on 11-27-2007 by Shimmer]
[Edited on 11-27-2007 by Shimmer]
jeans - 11-26-2007 at 07:42 PM
Very beautifully written...thank you for sharing it with us...it was needed.
DENNIS - 11-26-2007 at 07:51 PM
Thanks for that. I can start unpacking my bags now.
Sallysouth - 11-26-2007 at 08:09 PM
Tip the scales it did! You are one lucky person.And go figure, after all the bashing Cabo and other closely related areas get, you had an experience
of "other side".Yes, there are good people everywhere, but you were the lucky one that day! Thanks for the good vibes, Shimmer, and keep on enjoying
your good life.
That is what ALL of Baja is about IMHO
ELINVESTIG8R - 11-26-2007 at 08:14 PM
Shimmer that was truly a wonderful story. Just goes to show there are good people still populating this world. Thank you for sharing.
dccf - 11-26-2007 at 08:24 PM
Helps restore your faith!!
Leo - 11-26-2007 at 09:37 PM
Amazing story Shimmer.
btw where are you in TS?
Maybe your luck will rub off on some of your neighbours. Is Las Tunas close enough?
GOOD !!!!!!!!!!
Norm - 11-28-2007 at 07:02 PM
It is about time we told of good coming for baja !!!!!!
805gregg - 11-28-2007 at 08:06 PM
Great story, you got back $750, Rod Hall lost a $ 150,000 race car and a truck.There are good and bad everywhere.
Al G - 11-28-2007 at 08:43 PM
It is very important to remember the good people of Baja...we need remember the vast majority of Baja people are good , kind, and respectful of
gringos. It is also important to remember the unfortunate and horrible crimes of this past 2 weeks is not about the good people of Baja...nobody has
ever said it was. Every country has it's good...bad, ugly. If a cop had found it in Baja...it would be gone forever.
Shimmer
Loretana - 11-28-2007 at 09:12 PM
Amen. 
Al G - 11-28-2007 at 09:17 PM
I should not have just said cops...not all are corrupt...sorry
bajaandy - 11-28-2007 at 09:19 PM
Not only is it imprtant to remember the good people of Baja, but the fact that MOST people, no matter who or where, are good at heart. I truly
believe that. And as we have seen lately, it's the 'bad apple' that spoils the bunch. Thanks for the reminder, Shimmer, that there is indeed a lot
of good that simply goes un-noticed.
Sallysouth - 11-28-2007 at 09:43 PM
hmmm, right on Andy!
Paula - 11-28-2007 at 09:46 PM
ditto, Sally, and Andy.
greybaby - 11-28-2007 at 10:17 PM
What a beautiful story. There are wonderful people in Baja. We are miles away with our house empty in Cantu and we hear from our neighbor, Moises,
who watches it diligently and another neighbor, Carlos, who shoos people away who don't belong there. Why? Not because we're anything special. They
simply have integrity and show it by their honesty. I still remember the day we told Moises we had to leave our home there and return to Idaho. He
wept because he didn't want to lose us as neighbors. It was humbling and a reminder to us as to why we love these dear people and the true Mexican
culture they represent. In the midst of the corruption and violence we cannot forget those who have touched our lives in a special way.
Sallysouth - 11-28-2007 at 10:25 PM
greybaby, you have what it takes to be a true Baja loving person.I don't think there is anymore to be said .Abrazos...
vivaloha - 11-28-2007 at 11:04 PM
Yeah Shimmer! Nice one!
Shimmer - 11-29-2007 at 08:13 AM
I just had another thought as I read the responses to my original post and think about the energy of fear we see spreading in the Baja.
If we were to take a 1000 miles of the California coast; write and comment about all the assaults, thefts and another assorted crimes violent and non
violent... and all the coorporate crimes against the earth and humanity... how would it relate to what we seem to focus on and breed here in Baja?
The question to me still sits..... where to I want to place my energy and am I willing to take a part in the balance/solution....with the simplest
act of Kindness
S
[Edited on 11-29-2007 by Shimmer]
TMW - 11-29-2007 at 08:29 AM
When you listen or watch a newscast how many stories are good verus those that had something bad happen. The only good thing about a bad story is
maybe the bad guy got caught. But that is the way news is reported. If it bleeds it leads. Perhaps it's that we expect good and hear the bad because
it's the unusal. Take your daily life. How often does something bad happen verus something good or maybe it's not good but the normal which isn't bad.
Paul Harvey is pretty good at telling a good story during his comments.
I'm glad you shared your good story with us to put a little balance in our lifes.
Marie-Rose - 11-29-2007 at 08:38 AM
Thanks for sharing that great story Steve. I so agree with you. It is so easy to dwell on all the bad no matter where you are. The Law of
Attraction is working for you...
bearbait1 - 11-29-2007 at 10:59 AM
It has to be scarry to lose your wallet, I've been lucky enough that it has never happened to me. A few months ago I was on a ferry leaving Juneau
and found a wallet under a seat, it had a large amount of cash, credit cards, all the usual stuff. I took it to the purser and several attempts were
made to page the guy but he evidently had already left the ferry. The guy was from England, I can't imagine how frustrating it would be to loose a
wallet in another country.
Sallysouth - 11-30-2007 at 12:36 AM
Whoa , TW, you got my mind racing on this one.I like it!!!
bajaboolie - 11-30-2007 at 12:22 PM
Thanks for sharing, Shimmer. Great story.
TW...that's the reason I don't watch the news on a regular basis. Bad things happen all the time, and I don't need all the gory details in my face
every day. I think there should be a news channel that reports only the good deeds and heartwarming stories like Shimmer's. But people on the whole
seem to want to know about that bad stuff. It seems that our society is built on fear and anxiety, unfortunately. I wonder how our society would be
altered with such positive vibes put "out there" as much as the negative ones are now?