BajaNomad

Lest we forget.....

Santiago - 10-30-2009 at 06:15 AM

Each year, about his time, I try to pick a story of Mike's to post and one generally will jump out at me but this year was hard - they all jumped out. I've posted "Brendan's Song", "Brisa's Moon" and my favorite, "Little Mouse". Even though I only met Mike a few times in his later life, it seems to me he had a particular interest in the intersection of cultures and thought deeply about these things. I think the following story reflects this well.

A Life for a Life by Mike Humfreville

There are many places we have gone clamming along Baja, but there is one beach we frequent in Bahia de Los Angeles that is my favorite. Our little patch of sand and stone is near a place we have lived across summers and the clams there are tiny and tasty. I'm told they're called butter clams. They're about an inch across or a little bigger. Our niche is so filled with clams that you need no scoop of other tools, just a small bucket. We sift with our naked hands through the shore at the appropriate level and they pop up, brown and tan and glistening in the shallow water and we are careful to take them conservatively.

On this morning our son Kevin and his friend Carly are with us. We mine clams for 20 minutes and have almost enough. Mary Ann and Deb and Brendan continue their search. Kevin and Carly are looking through the shallows of a small lagoon. The tide is going out, draining the tiny basin.

"Octopus!" Kevin calls. We all go over to investigate. He's just a baby, maybe 12 inches long and, worried about all the legs he sees gathering around him, he cowers on the tiny stones, blending in. There were two large rocks a few feet away that he could see but not reach for cover. He was afraid, I'm sure. But all we wanted was his picture and Carly maneuvered her camera to avoid the midday light reflecting off the shallows. This took her several minutes.

There was a family nearby, locals from the nearby village, and they saw us gathered there, a hundred yards away, could hear our commotion. Several young children came running to see what we were doing. I told them we were observing a young pulpo in the shallow water.

"Look," he said in Spanish, holding open a thick burlap sack for us to peer into. "Otro pulpo." Inside was another octopus, the same size as ours, dead. He indicates that he wants ours, now hiding under the rock of his attention.

I tell the boy that this is our octopus, but he and the other children are persistent and soon are calling to their father and mother to come and get the beast. We gringos are confused by this brash confrontation. We don't want the octopus to die, we just wanted to observe and let go.

It was a tense moment. The children wanted him for dinner, I suppose. For us he was entertainment. The boy's father was hanging back but working in our direction. I didn't know what to do but the situation needed managing somehow, before things got confrontational. The children were not buying into my story that this was OUR animal as we had found it.

I ran to the car and grabbed the net we used to bring in larger fish on our boat. We had brought it in case the tide permitted crabbing. We swept up the small octopus in the net and ran out of the lagoon mouth, across a small gravel rise and into the open gulf. The octopus, not having a clue, was slinking out of the net. We slowed several times to get him back inside. We reached the open water and lowered the net below the surface. The children were right behind us. I just wanted the poor baby beast to let go the net and make for deeper water.

Finally, we got him out; he settled, confused, on the stones in about three feet of water. But he was afraid and wasn't moving. Soon the children are upon us and circling, a circle within our circle. I knew they wanted to kill him. I told them that they already had an octopus. This one was ours.

"What will you do with him?" They asked.

"We just want to watch him." I said, realizing how silly that sounded to someone who had lived here their short lives and needed, only knew the octopus as food. All the while the father of the children was hovering nearby.

We all just looked at each other. The dialog stopped and we simply made eye contact. The children had this quizzical, mystified look. The rest of us didn't know how to resolve the conflict. Was it reasonable to protect the beast when a family was hungry? We were in their land, not our own. We wanted to let the baby go. They wanted to eat it.

In the end we left the children and the octopus and walked away, back to the truck and left. I don't know that they captured the octopus, but I can't imagine that they didn't. On the way back to camp we were quiet for a time in the truck.

It did occur to me that the local family was going to have octopus for dinner over the next day or two. Two lives, perhaps, lost from this Earth. We, on the other hand, would be dining on clams, a much smaller animal. Our meal would require the taking of many more lives then theirs. At twenty years I would never have thought like that. But at sixty, your thinking gets re-wired and you know that everything is expendable and when one life is gone the world is changed forever and it really does matter. Bummer.


For those who are interested, his other stories are on Fred's board at http://math.ucr.edu/ftm//bajaPages/Correspondents/BajaWithMi...

bajajudy - 10-30-2009 at 07:06 AM

Thanks!
Another great story from Mike

Martyman - 10-30-2009 at 08:16 AM

Thanks for the story Santiago;
I traded a fish for an octopus with some dude at the boat ramp and had it for five minutes before I took my eye off of it...and a seagull grabbed it!

[Edited on 10-30-2009 by Martyman]

Mike Humfreville

David K - 10-30-2009 at 08:49 AM



(Sept. 2002, BBBB-4, Cielito Lindo, Bedman photo)




(July. 2001, Lost Mission Search, Las Flores, David K photo)

Thanks Santiago!

Pre-publication photo of his book (available from Sunbelt, Discover Baja, etc.)... The published version has Michael instead of Mike on the cover...

humfreville.JPG - 50kB

Pescador - 10-30-2009 at 09:20 AM

My favorite quote from Mike came from a discussion he was having with his sons about interacting with some of the local people and he said: "I sincerely hope that I never treat a person in a different manner based only on his socioeconomic status".
Not to get political but wouldn't that theory go a long way in Washington?

bajajudy - 10-30-2009 at 09:39 AM

BTW
We still have a couple of copies of "In the Shadow of the Volcano" left here in the store.

Sharksbaja - 10-30-2009 at 11:10 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Pescador
My favorite quote from Mike came from a discussion he was having with his sons about interacting with some of the local people and he said: "I sincerely hope that I never treat a person in a different manner based only on his socioeconomic status".
Not to get political but wouldn't that theory go a long way in Washington?


No amigo we call that being human. Something politicians have forgotten. Thanks Mike for showing that for us.

DanO - 10-30-2009 at 11:36 AM

Thank you Santiago. I do miss Mike's stories.

ALL OF MIKE'S STORY LINKS....

David K - 10-30-2009 at 04:21 PM

(This is on Fred Metcalf's web site... with each story linked to the list, below is the list... go here for the links: http://math.ucr.edu/ftm/bajaPages/Correspondents/BajaWithMik... )

These stories were contributed by Mike Humfreville over a four-year period preceding Mike's death in November of 2006. As you can tell from the stories, Mike had a special love of Baja California and its people, with a particular focus on LA Bay.

While, sadly, Mike is gone, I'll leave his stories here indefinitely - the qualities of the stories will not be affected by time.

Fred Metcalf ( ftm @ math.ucr.edu )


Baja California Information Pages
Baja With Mike

Baja Stories by Mike Humfreville










"The Storm" ( Posted: October 30, 2006 )


"Singing" ( Posted: September 16, 2006 )


"Turbulence" ( Posted: August 15, 2006 )


"Punta Eugenia" ( Posted: July 27-31, 2006 )


"Brisa's Moon" ( Posted: July 7, 2006 )


"Ballons" ( Posted: June 15, 2006 )


"Family Photographs" ( Posted: June 4, 2006 )


"Lessons Learned" ( Posted: May 18-22, 2006 )


"Buzzards and Moss Balls" ( Posted: April 29, 2006 )


"Adios o A Dios?" ( Posted: April 28, 2006 )


"A Mexican Form of Honor" ( Posted: April 26, 2006 )


"Shells" ( Posted: April 12, 2006 )


"A Personal Library" ( Posted: April 1, 2006 )


"Options" ( Posted: February 3, 2006 )


"Winds" ( Posted: January 19, 2006 )


"Comfort" ( Posted: January 16, 2006 )


"Thatch" ( Posted: December 1, 2005 )


"Rains" ( Posted: November 25, 2005 )


"Cycles" ( Posted: November 22, 2005 )


"Save Me, Baja" ( Posted: November 20, 2005 )


"Alluvial Fan" ( Posted: November 14, 2005 )


"Peace" ( Posted: November 12, 2005 )


"Cattle Tracks" ( Posted: November 9, 2005 )


"The Gecko Road" ( Posted: November 7, 2005 )


"Día de Los Muertos" ( Posted: November 6, 2005 )


"Birds and Bees" ( Posted: October 31, 2005 )


"Guerrero Negro" ( Posted: October 27, 2005 )


"Sea Scenes" ( Posted: October 19, 2005 )


"Burritos" ( Posted: October 13, 2005 )


"External Relations" ( Posted: August 16, 2005 )


"Bad Habits" ( Posted: July 11 - August 7, 2005 )


"Hearty Guitar" ( Posted: June 17, 2005 )


"Ricardo" ( Posted: June 1, 2005 )


"Family Matters" ( Posted: May 4, 2005 )


"Dolphins Dancing" ( Posted: April 25, 2005 )


"Trust" ( Posted: April 19, 2005 )


"Cups" ( Posted: April 6, 2005 )


"Adriana's Tacos" ( Posted: March 10, 2005 )


"The Bucket" ( Posted: February 20, 2005 )


"Sycamores" ( Posted: February 11, 2005 )


"Sea Lion Pup" ( Posted: January 23, 2005 )


"Cabin Fever" ( Posted: January 13, 2005 )


"Baja Heart" ( Posted: December 22, 2004 )


"Langosta - Bahía Tortugas and Punta Engenia, 1969" ( Posted: December 16, 2004 )


"Fireman's Summer" ( Posted: November 18, 2004 )


"A Queen" ( Posted: October 20, 2004 )


"The Tempests of Summer - Bahía de Los Angeles 1985, Part 28: Photos" ( Posted: September 2, 2004 )


"The Tempests of Summer - Bahía de Los Angeles 1985, Part 27: Epilogue" ( Posted: August 30, 2004 )


"The Tempests of Summer - Bahía de Los Angeles 1985, Part 26: Final Days in Camp" ( Posted: August 25, 2004 )


"The Tempests of Summer - Bahía de Los Angeles 1985, Part 25: Billy's and Burlap's Unexpected Trek" ( Posted: August 17, 2004 )


"The Tempests of Summer - Bahía de Los Angeles 1985, Part 24: Billy's Defining Moment" ( Posted: August 10, 2004 )


"The Tempests of Summer - Bahía de Los Angeles 1985, Part 23: Continuing Days" ( Posted: August 2, 2004 )


"The Tempests of Summer - Bahía de Los Angeles 1985, Part 22: Fishing Pals" ( Posted: July 26, 2004 )


"The Tempests of Summer - Bahía de Los Angeles 1985, Part 21: Friends" ( Posted: July 20, 2004 )


"The Tempests of Summer - Bahía de Los Angeles 1985, Part 20: Solitude and Storms" ( Posted: July 12, 2004 )


"The Tempests of Summer - Bahía de Los Angeles 1985, Part 19: Black Warrior" ( Posted: July 7, 2004 )


"The Tempests of Summer - Bahía de Los Angeles 1985, Part 18: Barsam's Corner" ( Posted: June 30, 2004 )


"The Tempests of Summer - Bahía de Los Angeles 1985, Part 17: Desert Educations" ( Posted: June 21, 2004 )


"The Tempests of Summer - Bahía de Los Angeles 1985, Part 16: Coyotes!" ( Posted: June 15, 2004 )


"The Tempests of Summer - Bahía de Los Angeles 1985, Part 15: Don the Geologist" ( Posted: June 9, 2004 )


"The Tempests of Summer - Bahía de Los Angeles 1985, Part 14: The Village" ( Posted: June 3, 2004 )


"The Tempests of Summer - Bahía de Los Angeles 1985, Part 13: Evenings" ( Posted: June 1, 2004 )


"The Tempests of Summer - Bahía de Los Angeles 1985, Part 12: Perspectives" ( Posted: May 27, 2004 )


"The Tempests of Summer - La Gringa 1985, Part 11: By Sea" ( Posted: May 25, 2004 )


"The Tempests of Summer - La Gringa 1985, Part 10: Idle Days" ( Posted: May 21, 2004 )


"The Tempests of Summer - La Gringa 1985, Part 9: Billy and Burlap" ( Posted: May 19, 2004 )


"The Tempests of Summer - La Gringa 1985, Part 8: Black Warrior Chickens" ( Posted: May 14, 2004 )


"The Tempests of Summer - La Gringa 1985, Part 7: Snake!" ( Posted: May 12, 2004 )


"The Tempests of Summer - La Gringa 1985, Part 6: Slowing the Pace" ( Posted: May 9, 2004 )


"The Tempests of Summer - La Gringa 1985, Part 5: The Hut" ( Posted: May 5, 2004 )


"The Tempests of Summer - La Gringa 1985, Part 4: Las Cuevitas Again" ( Posted: May 2, 2004 )


"The Tempests of Summer - La Gringa 1985, Part 3: The Trek South" ( Posted: April 28, 2004 )


"The Tempests of Summer - La Gringa 1985, Part 2: Finding Las Cuevitas" ( Posted: April 26, 2004 )


"The Tempests of Summer - La Gringa 1985, Part 1: Plans" ( Posted: April 21, 2004 )


"La Gringa - 2006" ( Posted: March 16, 2004 )


"La Gringa - 1974" ( Posted: March 16, 2004 )


"Rocks and Roses on the Road to Matomi - A Previous Trip" ( Posted: February 6, 2004 )


"Depth of Heart" ( Posted: January 13, 2004 )


"Saving Baja" ( Posted: January 6, 2004 )


"Pelican Migrations at Gecko" ( Posted: December 28, 2003 )


"Friendships" ( Posted: December 18, 2003 )


"Regarding Military Checkpoints" ( Posted: December 10, 2003 )


"Family Storms" ( Posted: December 9, 2003 )


"Tiny Mouse" ( Posted: December 2, 2003 )


"Dark Days Following Escalera Nautica" ( Posted: November 14, 2003 )


"Recovery" ( Posted: November 4, 2003 )


"Mars Chasing Moon" ( Posted: October 19, 2003 )


"Santiago's Los Cascades" ( Posted: September 22, 2003 )


"A Mexican Moment" ( Posted: September 16, 2003 )


"Reflections on Mama and Papa Diaz and Bahia de Los Angeles" ( Posted: September 4, 2003 )


"Old Dirt Roads" ( Posted: August 30, 2003 )


"Monsters from the Deep - Another John Story" ( Posted: August 23, 2003 )


"The Magic Rod" ( Posted: August 18, 2003 )


"The Hut" ( Posted: July 29, 2003 )


"Life for a Life" ( Posted: July 21, 2003 )


"Malarrimo!" ( Posted: May 16 - June 8, 2003 )


"Volcano" ( Posted: April 8, 2003 )


"The Eclipse Trip - Conclusion" ( Posted: March 3, 2003 )


"The Eclipse Trip - Part II" ( Posted: February 19, 2003 )


"The Eclipse Trip - Part I" ( Posted: February 16, 2003 )


"hoar Town" ( Posted: February 12, 2003 )


"Brendan's Song" ( Posted: February 6, 2003 )


"Steel on Cobbles" ( Posted: January 27, 2003 )


"Los Tres Migueles - Part 1" ( Posted: January 22, 2003 )


"Heavy Weather" ( Posted: January 9, 2003 )


"Integrity" ( Posted: January 4, 2003 )


"The Box" ( Posted: December 26, 2002 )


"The Mine" ( Posted: December 17, 2002 )


"John's Crabs" ( Posted: December 16, 2002 )


"Down Time Up" ( Posted: December 5, 2002 )


"A Guy Named Raphael" ( Posted: December 2, 2002 )


"Bullet Trips" ( Posted: November 25, 2002 )


"Mosquito Mulegé" ( Posted: November 20, 2002 )


"Early Seaside Mornings" ( Posted: November 17, 2002 )


"Phosphorescence" ( Posted: November 14, 2002 )


"Rincon at Bahia de Los Angeles" ( Posted: November 7, 2002 )


"La Bocana, Mr. Gomez and Jack Smith" ( Posted: November 5, 2002 )