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Gypsy Jan
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4275
Registered: 1-27-2004
Member Is Offline
Mood: Depends on which way the wind is blowing
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Boy, do I miss JR
I miss his cultural and political opinions posted on a regular basis on this board.
He enlightened me about local attitudes and I have to admit that, as a guilty pleasure, I enjoyed how he infuriated many other posters who thought
they had the "truth" of Baja.
To Carol and the family, I just want you to know that he is fondly remembered.
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow mindedness.”
—Mark Twain
\"La vida es dura, el corazon es puro, y cantamos hasta la madrugada.” (Life is hard, the heart is pure and we sing until dawn.)
—Kirsty MacColl, Mambo de la Luna
\"Alea iacta est.\"
—Julius Caesar
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Diver
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4729
Registered: 11-15-2004
Member Is Offline
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You can almost hear JR's comments on some recent subjects...........
He was one of few dreamers I've known who lived his dreams.
Suprising how, even still, I miss the man, having never even met him.
I lost my younger sister a short time before JR passed.
It seems that losing family and friends has become a much more sensitive issue for me now. Life is so fragile and uncertain at times.
Live your dreams, love your life, be your best, Baja on my mind.......
.
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Gypsy Jan
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4275
Registered: 1-27-2004
Member Is Offline
Mood: Depends on which way the wind is blowing
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It's Time to Remember JR Again
This is for all Nomads, seasoned and new, it will serve your interests in Baja and its people to search the archives and read his posts.
His thoughts might take you aback, or make you angry, or they might make you thoughtful.
All people who love Baja suffered a great loss at his passing.
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow mindedness.”
—Mark Twain
\"La vida es dura, el corazon es puro, y cantamos hasta la madrugada.” (Life is hard, the heart is pure and we sing until dawn.)
—Kirsty MacColl, Mambo de la Luna
\"Alea iacta est.\"
—Julius Caesar
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Baja Bernie
`Normal` Nomad Correspondent
Posts: 2962
Registered: 8-31-2003
Location: Sunset Beach
Member Is Offline
Mood: Just dancing through life
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No kidding!
My smidgen of a claim to fame is that I have had so many really good friends. By Bernie Swaim December 2007
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JZ
Select Nomad
Posts: 10014
Registered: 10-3-2003
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He would have kicked the sh@t out of DK today for his foolish posts and Doug would have the balls to not delete his messages taking DK to task.
We have lost more then JR, with his passing we have lost balance on the board. That's the truth.
[Edited on 8-1-2007 by JZ]
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Dave
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6005
Registered: 11-5-2002
Member Is Offline
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The cult of JR
| Quote: | Originally posted by JZ
He would have kicked the sh@t out of DK today for his foolish posts and Doug would have the balls to not delete his messages taking DK to task.
We have lost more then JR, with his passing we have lost balance on the board. That's the truth.
[Edited on 8-1-2007 by JZ] |
I personally miss JR. I do not miss his attack of all things Gringo nor praise of all things Mexican.
Wouldn't call that balanced.
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Sharksbaja
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5814
Registered: 9-7-2004
Location: Newport, Mulege B.C.S.
Member Is Offline
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What a crock
you loved his pretense because it held water! He was his own advocate not Bajanomads. Gypsy knows what honest prowess he held as do I. The fact that
someone can step up to the plate with honest yet brutal testimony bothers those who think they reign here. With JR it wasn't a matter of control, it
was a matter of reality. Getalife. His was not one of an armchair genius, rather one of Bajas' familial representatives.
Prove him wrong. Prove me wrong.
DON\'T SQUINT! Give yer eyes a break!
Try holding down [control] key and toggle the [+ and -] keys
Viva Mulege!
Nomads\' Sunsets
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Baja Bernie
`Normal` Nomad Correspondent
Posts: 2962
Registered: 8-31-2003
Location: Sunset Beach
Member Is Offline
Mood: Just dancing through life
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| Quote: | | WHAT A CROCK. The fact that someone can step up to the plate with honest yet brutal testimony bothers those who think they reign here. Prove him
wrong. Prove me wrong. by Sharksbaja |
Who are "those who think they reign here?" This seems to be an oft repeated allusion by you.
To prove you wrong or otherwise is not any part of my goal. Just spit it out and be done with the indirect attacks on ---whomever!
JR was and still is a valued friend of mine who loved to joust with windmills..............I don't believe I ever heard him to utter any words that
were not 'open, honest, and direct' at least in his mind. In person he was always a true gentleman.
For the many of you who never had the pleasure of meeting JR I have attached the following in case you wish to understand a little of what us old
fools are yaking about.
(Long, but at least read the last line)
A Distant Drummer
JR Palmer
I have known a ton of people who have settled here in Baja. These folks are very different than those who come down to spend a few days or even a
few weeks at a time.
Some, mostly middle aged men, were pulled into Baja by the climate, the great fishing, cheap living, free flowing booze and other delights. Others
were pushed over the border by divorces, arrest warrants, failure to pay child support/alimony or other more anti-social behavior. Very few of them
were ever politically correct.
A lot of the guys came to hide from themselves. These are the unshaven, hollow cheeked guys, who—because of healthy retirement checks—ruined their
health by beginning to drink, and it ain’t orange juice, as soon as their feet hit the floor in the morning. These are the guys I call evaders;
basically good guys who were productive members of society who have just given up on life. Yes, there are a few women in this group.
Usually when you find a husband and wife team, those people who are chasing a dream and are both involved in a fairly small but successful business,
you will more often than not find that the woman is the stronger of the two and that the guy drinks far more than is good for the business.
Interestingly, I have only met one (1) man in Baja who has never touched an alcoholic drink in his life—and that over 40 years. I have had a lot of
acquaintances who frequented the “AA” meetings that can be found wherever a few gringos have set down roots.
Many young to middle aged guys and gals wandered down here and found that the local cops don’t bother gringos even if they are using drugs as long as
they basically stay in their ‘own’ areas. It became party time all of the time with these people. A few of these, usually the younger ones, would
really mess up and start dealing to the Mexicans to support their own habits. This was dumber than dumb and a quick way to never get older. If the
cops didn’t get them then the Mexican gangs would.
One thing always stood out—the women knew exactly what they wanted in Baja and were not shy about grabbing it. Some of the guys still knew what they
would like to have but many had lost the desire or drive to reach out for it.
I guess what I have been trying to say up to this point is that everyone who settles in Baja does in fact march to a different or distinctive drummer.
So in this round about way, we have come to our late friend JR Palmer—aka Ski Baja, JR Baja, or Jim or Jay. Many people never met the guy in real
life but suffered a real and painful loss when they heard of his passing. If you based your knowing of this man from his postings on the Nomad Forum
you just might guess that one of his gears was put in backwards. You would see a guy that was way larger than life. A guy who could, and did, stir
the pot and make it boil by breathing angry flames on it. A man who thrived on conflict.
You would see him slashing out at anyone and everyone who, in his mind, did not really understand or care about Baja or it’s people ‘according’ to JR.
Heck, he even nipped at me a few times when he felt that I needed a little re-direction. We shared many of the same thoughts and values about Baja,
it’s people and the crazy gringos who closed themselves off from the Mexicans by living behind walls and who couldn’t care less about the ‘humans’ or
their culture.
JR was always talking about the ‘humans’ and you could rest assured that he was not including most gringos in that grouping.
He held up a thousand mirrors that allowed (no—required) people to see themselves as they wished to be. The harsh and bitter person could peer into a
mirror and find a companion in JR, a guy who shared his bitterness towards life. Another who needed love, compassion and a soothing hand would easily
see these things reflected in JR. Others would be challenged and offended when he held up a mirror and they saw a person they really did not wish to
know. They would see JR peering out at them and it was obvious that he had very little use for them.
As with most people who believe that that they have been ‘called’—and he certainly did—there is seldom much if any middle ground. One person called
him a prophet. I would never go that far in describing my friend.
Those few of us who really had met JR were not surprised that he was not a giant of a man. In fact, he was rather on the frail or even on the
delicate side. His large mustache mostly hid the smile that came often to his face. If you watched closely you would notice that the smile often
failed to reach his eyes.
When I looked into his calm eyes I saw a man who had been deeply hurt in his life—and who had badly hurt others. A man who did not allow many people
to see who he really was or to get very close to him. Listening and watching closely I found a guy who had more than a passing knowledge of the drug
scene. I always had the sense that this was earlier in his life because one of his major missions in Baja Sur was to help and provide jobs in rural
areas so the kids wouldn’t get strung out on drugs. I saw a man who was a heavily conflicted ‘human.’ During his later years he constantly reached
out to help those ‘humans,’ usually poorer Mexicans. He tried valiantly to help them find a better life.
Here was a southern gentleman, who drew people into himself. He totally enjoyed a laid back discussion about almost anything—but mostly about ‘his’
Baja. His self deprecating little laugh was used in place of a period in his conversations. A real nice easy going ‘human.’
More than anything his pictures of Baja, which were always framed with much love and understanding, displayed a wonderful grasp of the land that he
loved. He did not focus in on the harsh and hot lands of Baja. No! They were normally filled with scenes of high and cool vistas or hidden oasis of
greens and blues with refreshing waters. One of his pictures says more than a book could about the man who shot it. It is taken from the inside a
cave looking out and down, dark to light, and focused on a beautiful green and fragrant little valley with a slowly flowing little stream meandering
at the bottom. These were the scenes that only JR seemed to be able to find and capture in ‘his’ Baja.
Let me stop here and insert a tribute by a man that JR named as his ‘friend’ with the full understanding of what that word really meant:
“A Nomad [Baja Nomad.com] for whom I have tremendous respect once gave me some of the most wise advice that I have ever received. He told me that he
did not place so much stock in what people wrote but was more concerned with face to face meetings with people so that you could actually look into
their eyes and see what makes them smile. That, he told me, would tell you what is REALLY important to a person and would speak volumes about that
individual’s character. He made an assessment of JR back then based on this model that, in my mind, was 100% accurate. In fact, he so eloquently put
into words what I had already learned about JR. His quote in a post once directed at JR:
“SOME ARE ALWAYS ASKING YOU TO LIGHTEN UP! But let me say that I believe that men and women of passion are somehow unable to ‘lighten up.’ They just
care too much and see far too much.
Stay as you are my friend!”
He had obviously looked into JR’s eyes and seen what made him smile. Bottom line is that I have never met a more caring and compassionate ‘human’ (to
coin his favorite term). He was so passionate and straightforward in his feelings and beliefs, however, that there was no room in his mindset for
being PC to spare anyone’s feelings. At the same time, though, this was the beauty of Mr. Palmer. He was a true WYSIWYG (what you see is what you
get) because he did not mince words even if he was not choosing the kindest of them. We all know, however, that actions speak louder than words. And
the overwhelming majority of his actions conveyed more kindness to those who knew him than most of us could ever imagine.
I met JR after the devastating hurricane season of 2003. I emailed him as a complete stranger, not even a registered Nomad at the time; merely a long
time lurker from there and Amigos [defunct website] before. I asked him for suggestions on where I could go and what I could do to help. He directed
me to some small mountain villages and communities where I have since made friends who are like family to me now. I thanked him for his help in
providing me with such a rewarding experience and he subsequently invited me to stop by and visit. I did so bearing, naturally, even more donations
for his next trip down south. We hit it off instantly. We shared many common passions and had a strikingly similar outlook on life in general.
We traveled together shortly thereafter and what a blast that was. He was an incredibly skilled (and crazy) off-road driver. We explored remote
nooks and cranny’s of the peninsula, shared a wild “confluence point” hiking adventure and met and spent time with many more wonderful people along
the way just by being ‘human.’ We have stayed in touch ever since and I visited him on a regular basis. He became a dear friend and was truly loved
by myself and my family.
It has been said, at times, that he was self-promoting. Ha! Nothing could be further from the truth. A self-promoting person would have been far
more concerned about his public image. He had a story, a message and a vision that he was determined to share with the world. He wanted to challenge
people to look at things differently and he didn’t give a damn what people thought about him as an individual as long as the message was heard. He
saw himself as merely the messenger. And, as we all know, a devoted one.
There were some who proclaimed pity for the man because he must have been miserable and lonely. Not so. Those who have had the pleasure of meeting
her know that his soul-mate Carol is one of life’s truly special people. They shared a wonderful kind of love with each other that most people never
find. She tolerated him, tamed him, encouraged him, nurtured him, reigned him in and at times just shook her head and let him run wild. He in turn
knew what he had and cherished her as only he could. She was right there by his side to the very end. He could not have been more loved. And he
deserved it. They were beautiful to watch together.
When I went to San Bartolo to visit him just before summer this year, I ended up having to bring him and his dogs back north as his health really
began to take a turn for the worse. I watched how he handled the onset of his impending physical demise with a grace that I could not even begin to
imagine. Always smiling when I saw him and leaning forward to embrace me with little more than his shoulders as his arms were increasingly unable to
move.
In the last message I received from him, he asked about making a “couple more trips down south while I still can.” Well it didn’t happen before your
death, my friend, but you still can. Because I will carry you with me in warm memories everywhere I go. Down south, up north and anywhere else on
the planet.”
I need to stop here and salute the ‘human’ that wrote this tribute to JR:
“You, sir, are a man who walks straight and tall and makes this world a far better place as you stride through with friends like Mr. Palmer in your
heart. Would that I had a friend such as you.”
Many people expressed condolences at JR’s passing and one of them stood as a reflection of just who JR really was.
JR my friend I salute you
“Like others of his friends I was aware of some of the problems that JR faced over the past year or more. Hell! I was called a hypocrite by more
that one member of this board when I disagreed, in a very forcible manner, with his attacks on some of the members of this board. I visited him a few
weeks before I posted this disagreement even knowing that he was very sick. Yes, he and I shared a lot! I must tell you that the absolutely the
worst thing that you could wish for this Baja warrior is that he rest in peace.
Hell, no! He could never deal with that. Lashing out right and left was his style and what made him a darling of this board."
"JR, know that you have not lost this old guy’s friendship and keep pulling the devil’s tail."
"I missed you even before your were gone.”
I guess you can now understand how a guy who would take the handle “Ski Baja” really did march to a totally different drummer.
JR was a friend. . . .a foe. . . .and fun to know!
By Bernie Swaim
My smidgen of a claim to fame is that I have had so many really good friends. By Bernie Swaim December 2007
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thebajarunner
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3710
Registered: 9-8-2003
Location: Arizona....."Free at last from crumbling Cali
Member Is Offline
Mood: muy amable
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Cheap shot!!
| Quote: | Originally posted by JZ
He would have kicked the sh@t out of DK today for his foolish posts and Doug would have the balls to not delete his messages taking DK to task.
We have lost more then JR, with his passing we have lost balance on the board. That's the truth.
[Edited on 8-1-2007 by JZ] |
I would rather read "foolish posts" than your cheap shots.
(and no, David, I don't think your posts are foolish, sometimes a little tedious, but never foolish.)
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64722
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Things are not always as they appear.
Too bad most of you didn't really know jrbaja off this web site... I did, we were friendly in person... and he was quite upfront with me that he did
his personal attacks and name calling just to get a rise out of everyone... create some drama. Facts or truth had little to do with any of them... It
is the Internet afterall...
JR would take me into his (& Carol's) home in La Barca and show me his latest Baja book addition, Baja maps, and other stuff. JR and Carol
attended the Baja Cutural Festival in Tijuana with us 'chicken coopers' in 2004, as well.
My problem with his diversions was I think Baja Nomad is a place where the Baja traveler should get information on places in Baja... which is what I
like to do here. jrbaja (aka Ski Baja) loved to stir up a hornets nest of debates, which is entertaining to many but distracted from info gathering.
His own photos and reports from the back country and bamboo farming was the highlight of his posts on Nomad, for me. I saw Carol at the book signing
after JR's passing, but not since... I hope she is doing well!
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MrBillM
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 21656
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Out and About
Member Is Offline
Mood: It's a Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah Day
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Absence makes the Heart Grow Fonder ?
Hm.
My wife once suffered from "Shingles". It's been a lot of years, but I haven't once heard her reminisce about those days.
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baitcast
Super Nomad
Posts: 1785
Registered: 8-31-2003
Location: kingman AZ.
Member Is Offline
Mood: good
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I am normaly a very peaceful person But for some reason DK just does not bring out the best in me.
I always found JR to be highly entertaining, and always looked forward to his next posting, his diversions were a nice change of pace after
a constant stream of road an rock pics from gods gift to the baja traveler
After over 40 years of doing baja I,ll never understand how we got by without DK,If I need info I will ask for it
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64722
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by baitcast
I am normaly a very peaceful person But for some reason DK just does not bring out the best in me.
I always found JR to be highly entertaining, and always looked forward to his next posting, his diversions were a nice change of pace after
a constant stream of road an rock pics from gods gift to the baja traveler
After over 40 years of doing baja I,ll never understand how we got by without DK,If I need info I will ask for it |
You see what is nice about Nomad is it has something for everyone... The reality is people come here (first) for Baja information... and stay (or
leave) because of the other stuff.
I enjoyed getting the latest road information from guidebooks and newletters like Mexico West and Discover Baja before the Internet.
Now, the Internet is a place where anyone can get Baja info FOR FREE and is up to date from Nomads who share their trip reports here. Will you be
complaining about edm1 as his report is far more detailed than mine... which I find vastly interesting to read?
Something for everyone who loves Baja can be found on Nomad... take what you want, but don't prevent others for getting what they seek by fouling up a
thread with hate.
[Edited on 8-1-2007 by David K]
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Minnow
Banned
Posts: 1110
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: Lost Wages
Member Is Offline
Mood: Embarrased Harry Reid is a Nevadan
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Thanks Judy, I too miss my good friend JR.
DK, you and JR fought like crazy. I think you must have had a little jealously for him because he was and even more polarizing figure here than
you.
You must get something out of all the attention though, or you would have stopped years ago. I know JR did, he was sick and dieing and knew it. He
had little else in his life, at the end, than to get a rise out of all the Chicken Coop Grouper, Gringo enclave living, tourists, he so loved to hate.
Come on, it wouldn't be a JR discussion if someone didn't say it.
Proud husband of a legal immigrant.
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bajalera
Super Nomad
Posts: 1875
Registered: 10-15-2003
Location: Santa Maria CA
Member Is Offline
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JR's cuddly appearance disguised his penchant for stirring things up on the Nomad board--and he can still do it from beyond the grave.
He would be pleased.
.
\"Very few things happen at the right time, and the rest never happen at all. The conscientious historian will correct these defects.\" -
Mark Twain
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MrBillM
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 21656
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Out and About
Member Is Offline
Mood: It's a Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah Day
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Jealousy
It is unlikely that David K has ever had any reason to have been jealous of JR. Disregarding any editorial differences David has demonstrated an
ability to share his comprehensive knowledge and experience in Baja via word portraits that are very well-written.
JRs portrayals of most subjects, on the other hand, were usually short bursts of moderate to poor legibility and disjointed thinking. He was the
Ralph Kramden of literary discourse.
Those who knew him personally seemed to like him a lot and have said he was far different in person than his online personna. Perhaps so.
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thebajarunner
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3710
Registered: 9-8-2003
Location: Arizona....."Free at last from crumbling Cali
Member Is Offline
Mood: muy amable
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Mr.Bill- well said!!
| Quote: | Originally posted by MrBillM
It is unlikely that David K has ever had any reason to have been jealous of JR. Disregarding any editorial differences David has demonstrated an
ability to share his comprehensive knowledge and experience in Baja via word portraits that are very well-written.
JRs portrayals of most subjects, on the other hand, were usually short bursts of moderate to poor legibility and disjointed thinking. He was the
Ralph Kramden of literary discourse.
Those who knew him personally seemed to like him a lot and have said he was far different in person than his online personna. Perhaps so.
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Truly, that is your finest post, sir!
You said it clearly, and well.
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Gypsy Jan
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4275
Registered: 1-27-2004
Member Is Offline
Mood: Depends on which way the wind is blowing
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Ahhh Haahh!
Isn't interesting that however much our esteemed board members desperage JR's logic and syntax, they are still willing to engage in discussions about
the issues that concerned him deeply... even a year plus after his passing?
He wasn't perfect, he wasn't politically correct...but he can still pee people off.
That's immortality.
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow mindedness.”
—Mark Twain
\"La vida es dura, el corazon es puro, y cantamos hasta la madrugada.” (Life is hard, the heart is pure and we sing until dawn.)
—Kirsty MacColl, Mambo de la Luna
\"Alea iacta est.\"
—Julius Caesar
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Debra
Super Nomad
Posts: 2101
Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: Port Orchard Wa./Bahia de Los Angeles BC
Member Is Offline
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Jr, Jr................either ya loved him or you hated him. (or you finally realized he was just haveing fun, and boy did he like to stir up s**t just
for fun!)
He and I went back and forth for years, going back to the Amigo's board. We did it mostly via e-mail. He would email me and say "Watch this, check
out thread so and so", he loved getting David and Mike H. going mostly.
Mike used to get soooooooo peeed at both of them, until I started to point out to Mike that that was just what JR was trying to do, then he'd smile
and shake his head (he'd call JR a name, but with a smile on his face) I'll never forget Mike's reaction when he found that David had "tagged" (his
words, not mine) his dumpster with a "Viva Baja" sticker after a party at Mike and MA's house in Filmore. We were driving down his driveway when he
spotted it "That SOB TAGGED MY DUMPSTER!! I would have been scared (Mike could be very scary at times) but he was laughing so hard my fear was that
he couldn't see through tears of laughter to get us off that driveway (kind of a cliff on the other side than had his attention (the dumpster!)
We have lost alot of Amigo/Nomad friends in the last few years.
I realized lately that I still have U2's and emails that I hadn't deleted (now I just can't bring myself to do that) Some that I never met in person,
but, somehow feel I knew. JR being one of them. Others that I spent alot of time with.
Some that I met in person only once or twice but, felt welcome like I'd know for years.
Here's to (a toast, I only have milk.........that should do?
In no order:
JR/SkiBaja
Mike H.
Jimmy Smith
Choral Pepper
Chopy
Tucker
Raquel
All of these people made me smile at one time or another. Made me feel welcome, invited me to their homes, and their lives, helped me (or offered too)
in my hour of need...........broke down.........needing a hug when sad, or just a slap on the back! and an ATTA-GIRL!
Okay, call me sentimental' yeah! (that's just my Mom thing, I feel it when people care, and are hurting.
and need ) , but, I would ask...........
How much different would the morning "Today's Posts" be if we wake up to another Nomad's passing?
I'm going to really far out on a limb here, but, I think you/he/she/them might feel pretty crappy if that last thing that was said was something
nasty?
Mean people suck!
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Baja Bernie
`Normal` Nomad Correspondent
Posts: 2962
Registered: 8-31-2003
Location: Sunset Beach
Member Is Offline
Mood: Just dancing through life
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Debra
I'm going to really far out on a limb here, but, I think you/he/she/them might feel pretty crappy if that last thing that was said was something
nasty? |
Right on, Lady!
My smidgen of a claim to fame is that I have had so many really good friends. By Bernie Swaim December 2007
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