BajaNomad

San Francisquito #2 - What Happened to Savino?

Ken Bondy - 8-20-2008 at 08:22 PM

Savino spoke very little English, about the same as we spoke Spanish. In reality our Spanish was probably a little better than his English. But we clearly communicated. He would often join us in the late evenings when his work was done, in front of our cabana. With the fire almost out, after everybody had eaten and drank and most of the guests and staff were asleep, we would lie on the sand contemplating cosmic things, and finish off the beer or the tequila. We would look at the stars and babble away in some half-Spanish, half-English form of marginally spoken language. It didn’t matter too much what was said or understood, it was just fun to have him around.

One night he started telling me and Bailey about his greatest dream, to buy a panga of his own, take it to Bahia de Los Angeles, and be an independent fishing guide up there. But he lamented that he would probably never have enough money to buy a panga of his own. I remembered all this, and I remember wishing him well in his quest for a panga, just before I fell asleep. After I fell asleep Bailey continued wishing him well, and those wishes included asking him how much a panga might cost. About US $2,000, Savino replied. Bailey, kind, emotional, and generous soul that he is, told Savino that he and I (“I” being now sound asleep) would be glad to give him the money to buy the panga. Savino was overcome with gratitude; he just couldn’t believe our generosity.

Neither could I, when in the morning Bailey sheepishly informed me that I owed Savino $1,000. After hearing the whole story, how could I refuse? After all, Bailey told me that Savino offered us both free fishing for life. What a deal! It would probably save us thousands in the long run. So that morning we each wrote Savino a check for $1,000. Mine came back, cleared through an Ensenada bank, in my bank statement about 4 months later, covered with magnificent flowing endorsements, signed by at least 10 Mexican bank officials and with several American bank stamps.

It was not a good investment, and the story, so full of promise, has a sad ending. Savino did eventually go to Bahia de Los Angeles, but he never bought the panga. He used the money for something else. Others who knew him in Bahia told me he got involved with drugs. Eventually he got in trouble with the police (Doc told me he tried to burn down someone's house) and he ended up in jail, for a long time, in Ensenada. What a waste of a beautiful young life.

Been there, done that

thebajarunner - 8-20-2008 at 08:29 PM

Ken,
as we say out here in the hinterlands, "you done good, son"

but, the error was handing over a check,
I have made that same error,

you needed to go down to the panga shop, actually purchase the panga,
scratch his name prominently on the bow, the transom, and elsewhere,

and he probably still would have messed up,
but at least you would feel better about it.

but, you get high marks for trying,

Ken Bondy - 8-20-2008 at 08:31 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by thebajarunner
Ken,
as we say out here in the hinterlands, "you done good, son"

but, the error was handing over a check,
I have made that same error,

you needed to go down to the panga shop, actually purchase the panga,
scratch his name prominently on the bow, the transom, and elsewhere,

and he probably still would have messed up,
but at least you would feel better about it.

but, you get high marks for trying,


Right on bajarunner, ahhh hindsight - mine is better than ANYONE'S foresight.

++Ken++

Bob H - 8-20-2008 at 09:47 PM

Wow, Non-fiction at it's best! I wonder what steered him in the wrong direction in such a wonderful environment. Obviously the $2k was a windfall for him. Your hearts were in the right place, for sure.

Bob H

TMW - 8-21-2008 at 07:20 AM

["Your hearts were in the right place, for sure.

Bob H"]

I agree and two great stories.

David K - 8-21-2008 at 07:35 AM

Great story Ken!:light: