A raw boned Texan home from the wars
Happy to be home but needing something more
A crop duster he became
A raw boned Texan
Looking around, smelling the earth
A smile on his face
To school in New Mexico he went
Looking to develop a trade
A young lady he met
A child conceived
I got a duty he said
And the wedding went ahead
No love there
So Jimmy gave his name
And parted
To Hollywood he went
Seeking his fortune
A silly man
Knowing nothing
But expecting everything
A dream in the making
Forward he went
The stars loved him
A stuntman he became
Loved by all
He knew how to smile
And lay on a line
His desire was to become a cop
And that he did
And a motorcycle cop at that
Roaring up and down the highway
Talking to himself
What better job could he find
He happened upon
A bright new Cadillac
the grille met him face to face
To the hospital he went with
A grimace at the pain
Months he spent
Leg suspended
Way up high
Nurses smiling and more
Home from the hospital
He limped about
One leg shorter
Sporting a crutch
A banty rooster
So ready to fight
Booze and broads
Were his excuse
His escape from pain
A friend woke him
Months later
From a drunken stupor
Suggested that he head south
Down Baja way
Where the women were—well women
Gawd Damn
I’m off to that land
Leg in a cast on his motor he went
No food or water
Only Tequila
To ease the pain
Over and around
Rocks and boulders
He went
After a difficult time
A husband he became
Her name we all know
Why Hell he was a gringo
And a Texican
To boot
He learned the language
Loved the kids
And a loving papa he became
So deeply into the culture
He went
That he developed a name
A Historian
And to many
A slinger of ink
A teller of yarns
And stories
Untold
He drove an airplane
To deliver milk
To rescue people, a daily chore
He drove the
Baja 500
Made friends for life
Our friend
A guy who cared
We miss him dearly
Don Jimmy
A friend
Gone!
By Bernie Swaim
2004DENNIS - 4-30-2010 at 10:41 AM
Thanks, Bernie. Catch you on the rebound, amigo.bajalorena - 4-30-2010 at 07:33 PM
What a man he was..........
Thanks for helping us remember. He is gone from our sight, but will remain forever in our hearts.David K - 5-1-2010 at 08:34 AM
It is great to have a dose of Jimmy Smith every once in a while! I highly recommend having his book...
Thanks Bernie!
Bernie
bajadave1 - 5-1-2010 at 08:55 AM
Thanks Amigo. A couple of days ago I drove by his resting place. Thought about the stories he loved to tell. Miss him still.
Dave Skipjack Joe - 5-1-2010 at 09:39 AM
Thank you. I enjoyed that.
But better yet, I'm glad to hear you're up and about again.David K - 5-1-2010 at 10:28 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by bajadave1
Thanks Amigo. A couple of days ago I drove by his resting place. Thought about the stories he loved to tell. Miss him still.
Dave
Miss his visits up here over at Dave Deal's place... now Dave is with Jimmy telling Baja race stories... "and other yarns of Baja California"!
akbear - 5-1-2010 at 11:35 AM
Thanks Bernie,
I also think & miss him when I pass the resting & the living place (tienda).
Eli - 5-4-2010 at 06:32 PM
Thanks for the memories Bernie, and thanks Charlie for the hard copy that you dropped off at the gallery, I got it.
