 A Mexican "Body Shop"Here's a shot of a multi purpose building- a Funeral Parlor in front and a "Body" Shop in the back! |
 Why I decided to stay...once again.It was winter 1987. I had had a tough go with sales, and I was trying to decide whether to stay in Cabo or go back to the States. I was down to my last $500 and unsure how to make the $250 rent on my apartment and buy gas and food even to get back to the border. I thought of having a couple tacos and hitting the sack, then slipping out under cover of hangovers in the morning and being on my way, last five Franklins to go. Once I started walking downtown, I realized that the taco stands weren't going to break a C-note, so I decided that- what the heck- it's my last night in town; why not have a steak at the old Marina Hotel restaurant. So I entered from the then dusty main street, and sat at the table closest to the door so I could catch any possible breeze. I ordered a couple of Pacificos, and a fine piece of meat from the new steak cart. About then, a rather shy couple passes, peers inside, and she pipes up with, "They've got cold beer here, Charlie!" So, I shoved one of my cool frosties toward the door and said, "Sit on down and join me, Charlie." The conversation led to them asking me about whether they could buy a place here,I said yeah, but you'll have to talk to one of the real estate agents around town, I'm outta here. So next morning, I take them to the condo project. There I show them around while we wait for the sales office to open. Bythe time ol' CW Ferguson the sales manager showed up, Charlie and Dorothy had picked out a condo. They bought it, and told ol' CW that he'd ought to hire me as a salesman. Later that day, I went to see the couple at their camper and told 'em I'd taken the sales position. They were happy for me. The following morning, CW told me that that was a heck of a strategy I'd used, and that I should always remember to forget I was a salesman; just help the folks get all the information and be myself. I never told him that I'd planned to leave that day. The commission from that sale earned me enough to stay 'til summer. I learned that you just never know how a chance meeting can change your life. |
 September 28, 2001Those cape rocks must have seen a lot of hurricanes in their time. But since man has clung tenuously to theshores of this forbidding outcrop, the storm known as Hurricane Juliette on September 29-31, 2001 will remain the most talked about for years to come; at least we hope so! The winds began on Thrusday. By evening we had about 65 mph, some heavy white caps and serious overcast. I left the fourth green at El Dorado Golf Course under a giant Tootsie Roll looking cloud that was rolling in fast, and we got drenched by the time we reached the car. I raced to town, stopped by the Pueblo Bonito rose to warn some friends that we were in for a big storm; the airport was closed. We stocked them up with water and food and candles. I was already provisioned at home. You learn to stay ready during August and September- Gas tanks full, candles, non-perishable foods, flashlights with batteries, ice, duct tape, cell phone charged, computer completely disconnected during lightning (your modem can blow through a phone line overampage even if your electric cords are disconnected)etc. By Friday morning the winds were sustained at around 135MPH and gusting to 150. I later got that report from a couple of yacht drivers down at the marina. Most big boat capatains rode out the strom onboard their boats. many people spent three days huddled behind a bush or rock as the relentess winds took their vegetable crate shacks and tarpaper shelters far away. Over 36 inches of rain came meanwhile, never a drop falling straight down. It was driven into every building like a sand-blaster. paint was removed. Glass was broken. Windows and doors leaked and rattled. We learned a lot about construction. During the early hours of the storm a man ran out into the bay waving for his wife who held the video camera. The waves he defied took him away, and his two sons nearly drownd trying to save him. His body was driven to shore by the huge punding wind surge later that night. the howl of the storm was at every pitch imaginable. It resembled the screaming voices of a million people. Athen it sounded like a jet plane, Then it just whistled at the highest note on a maniac flute. |
