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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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Many a new Nomad since Don Jimmy left us.
It is reallly hard to believe that he has been gone for 6 years now.
Don Jimmy Smith
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 stunt man 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 bandy 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
2004
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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Woooosh
Banned
Posts: 5240
Registered: 1-28-2007
Location: Rosarito Beach
Member Is Offline
Mood: Luminescent Waves at Rosarito Beach
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It's always sad when friends pass- but only those who deeply touch our lives are remembered in this way.
\"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing\"
1961- JFK to Canadian parliament (Edmund Burke)
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15939
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
Member Is Offline
Mood: Everchangin'
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sounds like he was a happy guy, finally!
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65285
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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A great 'Baja guy'!
Thanks for the memorial. I was lucky to know Jimmy, we had many great talks in person and via email. Now that Dave Deal and Chuck Potter have joined
him up there, the old gang is together again. I hope they let us play when we get there Bernie!
[Edited on 8-7-2010 by David K]
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capt. mike
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8085
Registered: 11-26-2002
Location: Bat Cave
Member Is Offline
Mood: Sling time!
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some one borrowed my book and NEVER returned it!!!!! GRRRRRRRRRR.
formerly Ordained in Rev. Ewing\'s Church by Mail - busted on tax fraud.......
Now joined L. Ron Hoover\'s church of Appliantology
\"Remember there is a big difference between kneeling down and bending over....\"
www.facebook.com/michael.l.goering |
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65285
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by capt. mike
some one borrowed my book and NEVER returned it!!!!! GRRRRRRRRRR. |
Ummm... get another while they are still available...! A classic!!
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Packoderm
Super Nomad
Posts: 2116
Registered: 11-7-2002
Member Is Offline
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Jimmy Smith is Nomad #101 out of 18,386 total members as of date, so I would have to agree with you that there has been many new Nomads since him.
Surprisingly, he had only 57 posts on this board. His very last post was a response to my thread, "The Vow."
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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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"In the End, All You Have Left is Your Stories"
--Burt Reynolds, in his role as a disgraced spy descending into Alzheimer's on a recent episode of "Burn Notice".
Maybe the finest piece of acting he has ever done.
“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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Keri
Super Nomad
Posts: 1393
Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: La Mision, Baja Norte
Member Is Offline
Mood: muy contento
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Good one Bernie, Mike I think Bernie still has some of Don Jimmy's books for sale ,k
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capt. mike
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8085
Registered: 11-26-2002
Location: Bat Cave
Member Is Offline
Mood: Sling time!
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i will, on Amazon when i can get one cheap
| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
| Quote: | Originally posted by capt. mike
some one borrowed my book and NEVER returned it!!!!! GRRRRRRRRRR. |
Ummm... get another while they are still available...! A classic!! |
until then - i am waiting to spend bigger bucks on one converted to books on tape. well, now mp3 or Apple's codec which sucks.
now - who would be a good actor to read them stories and make you think it was the Don his self??
votes??
i like Eddie G. Robinson, he'd be good.
or Bogart.
anyone?
formerly Ordained in Rev. Ewing\'s Church by Mail - busted on tax fraud.......
Now joined L. Ron Hoover\'s church of Appliantology
\"Remember there is a big difference between kneeling down and bending over....\"
www.facebook.com/michael.l.goering |
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Osprey
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3694
Registered: 5-23-2004
Location: Baja Ca. Sur
Member Is Offline
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Skeet
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65285
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Osprey
Skeet |
Good call... as they actually met each other, as seen in the photo I took of them in May, 2003 at the Pyramid Resort's first Baja Book Signing...
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Eli
Super Nomad
Posts: 1471
Registered: 8-26-2003
Location: L.B. Baja Sur
Member Is Offline
Mood: Some times Observing, sometimes Oblivious.
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Thanks Bernie for bringing up Don Jimmy. classic old Baja he was. Can you imagine only 57 posts, and at the time, he played a very important role on
Nomad.
I expect those who knew and loved him will never ever forget him. I know for myself, he travels with me every where I go. He is a hummingbird that I
meet here and there and everywhere and as soon as I spot the little warrior, I know the Ol Man's spirit is there. He is my guardian, my advisor, and
most of all my conscious. I sure was lucky to get to spend the time with him that I did, I learned a lot.
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Osprey
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3694
Registered: 5-23-2004
Location: Baja Ca. Sur
Member Is Offline
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I sent this little poem to his family while he was in critical condition. I didn't want him to go -- it was blowing hard for days, down here and in
southern California. I don't think he got a chance to read my words but I think it was dead calm when he went away.
Jimmy
Don’t die windy
if you can help it
don’t die when it’s blowin’
If you can wait
wait
just hang on
til you can hear the calm
Wind can blow your spirit
to hell and gone
If you don’t want it
on the wander
linger
til it’s calm
They’ll tell you
not to worry
Remind them about
suck you dry wind
wear off your hide wind
Wind moans and keens are
agony of spirits blown off course
Listen to
me
Don’t let the wind
scatter
the last best part of what you got
Wait
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Eli
Super Nomad
Posts: 1471
Registered: 8-26-2003
Location: L.B. Baja Sur
Member Is Offline
Mood: Some times Observing, sometimes Oblivious.
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Osprey, I remember that day very well, I can assure you that it was sunny skies, warm and calm the day he died, also the day we buried him.
His last words were spoken in wonder; "I'm getting in the jeep, I'm turning on the key, it's snowing outside, I'm going home".
He never said another word after that, just quietly slipped into a coma, and died peacefully.
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bajalera
Super Nomad
Posts: 1875
Registered: 10-15-2003
Location: Santa Maria CA
Member Is Offline
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What a nice memorial collection! Don Jimmy 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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elgatoloco
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4346
Registered: 11-19-2002
Location: Yes
Member Is Offline
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My wife and I were fortunate enough to spend a short time with Don Jimmy during a visit to San Diego, thanks to Bernie. We also had the pleasure of
meeting Eli as well. What a kind,sweet soul she is. Jimmy signed a copy of his book to my wife and it is a treasure. It was a real treat to visit and
hear first hand some of his experiences in what was a long and very full life. It was easy to see how he can have such a strong effect on those who
new him well and those of us who new him mostly as a "slinger of ink". We really enjoyed meeting him and we have gifted numerous copies of his books
to all manner of folks and some ask if he was a real person and most all have said they wished they could have met him, or even better have been him!
What a life!
Viva Don Jimmy!
MAGA
marooons Are Governing America
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65285
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Very well said Matt...
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Eli
Super Nomad
Posts: 1471
Registered: 8-26-2003
Location: L.B. Baja Sur
Member Is Offline
Mood: Some times Observing, sometimes Oblivious.
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Don Jimmy brought us togeather, bless his sweet soul, I would not be posting on this board or have known the fine people who have contributed to this
thread had it not been for him.
Matt & Barbara, I will always remember your hospitality in opening your home for me during the time I was across the boarder seeing Dad thru his
ordeal. Being State side was kind of traumatic for me, I hadn't done that in years, nor ever again since. Your home was such a blessing, and Your Cat
was such good company, just made being there more than bearable, (which was the most I could have hoped for), actually it was a very enjoyable stay.
Bernie, always thanks for keeping Dad's spirit alive on this board.
The Ol Man knew how to enjoy life, how to Love humanity and for that he was loved to the very end and even today. He had a great life, he was well
rewarded for his efforts, I think.
Viva Don Jimmy!
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El Camote
Senior Nomad
Posts: 514
Registered: 9-7-2003
Location: Above the clouds
Member Is Offline
Mood: y Blues
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A Picture's Worth a Thousand Words...
Scratching for worms, laying eggs, deflowering maidens and making the world safe for democracy...
Jimmy Smith
Knowledge is good. - Emil Faber
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