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THEY CALLED ME “MR. JONATHAN”

Posted in Baja Fishing, Baja Mexico Fishing, Fishing, holidays in mexico, Jonathan Roldan, La Paz Fishing, Living in Mexico, Tailhunter International, Uncategorized, Western Outdoor News, Western Outdoor Publications on May 29, 2011| Leave a Comment »

THEY CALLED ME “MR. JONATHAN”

Originally published in Western Outdoor News the Week of June 3, 2011

You get only one chance at this.

Doing what we do here in La Paz running a fishing business and restaurant, we get to watch alot of folks.

For example…

Several days ago here in La Paz, a family of five arrived to stay at the hotel we live at here in town. Mom and dad; a younger boy; an older girl and a young teenage boy. “Family vacation” time.

But, other than the time I saw them pile out’ve the airport shuttle into the hotel lobby, that was the last time I’ve seen them together. Dad’s snorkeling. Mom’s at the spa. One kid sits in the lounge with headsets to an iPod. The younger one seems glued to some electronic hand-held game. The teen just wanders around looking lost and bored. I don’t think I’ve even seen them eat together.

And then there’s this other family. . .

For the past few days, Outdoor TV host, Chad Schearer has been filming for his popular Outdoor Channel TV show, “Shoot Straight.” http://www.shootstraighttv.com/index.php .

Usually, Chad can be found with a rifle or bow in hand traversing the world with a camera following him around or perhaps you’ve seen him at the hundreds of seminars or speaking engagements he’s done around the country.

He’s an outfitter and guide to stars and celebrities. I don’t have the space to list all his accomplishments and despite his resume, he’s about as soft-spoken and easy-going as it gets. But I think his biggest and proudest accomplishments might be his family.

You see, he travels with his family. His wife, Marsha, is a licensed ouftitter, guide and hunter herself. She rolls camera when Chad is stalking a grizzly bear with a blackpowder rifle or drawing his bow on an African antelope. She also home schools two great kids…10-year-old Walker and 8-year-old Wyatt. They all hunt. They all fish. Being from Montana, they’re a little bit like “Little House on the Prarie” family.

The four of them along with Chad’s mom and dad have been fishing with us for the better part of the week to film their TV show. Three generations who not only vacation together, but genuinely like each other.

How refreshing to hear youngsters address their parents with, “Yes, Ma’am” and “Yes, Sir.” Not like robotic recruits in boot camp or boarding school, but out of genuine respect. I’m called “Mr. Jonathan.” They call my wife, “Ms. Jill.”

Among the family I hear “thank you” and “please” and their enthusiasm and smiles are infectious to everyone around them. And selflessness.

I hear them say things like, “I’m going to put my rod down now because I’d like my brother to have a chance to catch a fish and I already caught a big one.” Or, “I need to remind grandpa to drink enough water so he doesn’t get too hot.”

After the older brother caught a big dorado, he came up to me un-solicited and said, “Thanks for helping me catch that fish. It was great!” And he held out his fist to give me a knuckle bump. Just like that. Thanking ME for helping him catch a fish? Wow.

During one of the few downtimes when the fish gave us a break, Chad and I both mentioned our childhoods and how our respective parents didn’t have much but made a point of getting us outside and into the outdoors.

It’s a common thread we share with many of our fellow brothers and sisters who love the outdoors. It started with our parents who lovingly “kicked or dragged us away and out of the house and stuck around to actually share the experience with us until it grew on us. If you’re reading this in Western Outdoor News, my blog or some other outdoor publication, you understand. You already have an interest in the outdoors.

We’re losing a generation of kids to the “distractions” of electronic toys, technology and social networking where we “tweet”, “twitter,” “my space” and “facebook” even our own family members instead of just stepping outside with each other. I’m just as guilty.

Your kid might not especially like fishing or hunting, but find something outside that doesn’t involve being plugged-in or battery operated. You get one chance with each other. That’s it. We pass this way once with the ones we love…our parents..our kids…our friends. Thanks to the Schearer family, I’m reminded that my name isn’t “dude” or “bro.” It’s “Mr. Jonathan.” I liked how that sounded. Especially from a 10-year-old.

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Jonathan Roldan has been writing the Baja Column in Western Outdoor News since 2004. Along with his wife, Jill, they own and run the Tailhunter International Fishing Fleet in La Paz, Baja, Mexico www.tailhunter-international.com. They also run their Tailhunter Restaurant Bar on the famous La Paz malecon waterfront. If you’d like to contact him directly, his e-mail is riplipboy@tailhunter-international.com or drop by the restaurant to say hi!

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“THEY ARE LISTENING!”

Posted in Baja Fishing, Baja Mexico Fishing, Fishing, holidays in mexico, inshore fishing in Baja Mexico, Jonathan Roldan, La Paz Fishing, Living in Mexico, Panga Fishing, Salt Water Fishing, Sun stroke, Tailhunter International, Western Outdoor News, Western Outdoor Publications on May 14, 2011| Leave a Comment »

“THEY ARE LISTENING”

Originally Published the Week of May 18, 2011 in Western Outdoor News

I am a terrible eavesdropper. I can’t help it. Especially here in Mexico when I am usually immersed in Spanish around me, my radar cannot help but pick up on English when it drifts through my zone.

A word here…a word there…it’s not easy to tune it out. But it’s interesting what you pick up. Restaurants are good place. Airplanes are another good spot. Usually confined spaces where it’s hard to miss certain conversations. Even tho’ I try NOT to listen, Americans tend to speak loud and sometimes I think they want everyone to hear.

We can sound pretty ridiculous sometimes. Embarrassing at other times. Do we listen to ourselves and how we sound to others?

At a nice restaurant several nights ago, three slightly enebriated guys wearing the de-rigueur Tommy Bahama shirts and designer sunglasses perched on their heads were escalating their conversation.

It was bad enough that they were all talking “money deals” and how they were going to do this and that and how one guy was the “CEO of this” and “everyone does what I tell ’em to do.”

But, it wasn’t difficult to pick out that every other word was an “F” bomb. “F-ing” this and “F-ing that.” The universal adjective at it’s finest. My “F-ing yacht”. My “F-ing condo on the beach.” What an “F-ing great fishing day!”

Whoa. Most of the patrons, many of whom were locals, in the restaurant were there for a nice quiet dinner at the marina and knew what they were saying and it got uncomfortable. It was embarrassing for my wife and myself. Many people migrated away. The three gringos kept right on smoking the big cigars and downing the brews.

We moved to another table.

A gringo couple was close by. Again, hard not to hear the conversation. The woman was speaking quite loudly as she asked the water, ” We love the service here at this restaurant. So why do YOU people make such good waiters and house cleaners?”

My wife and I stopped with our forks in mid-air. Choke. Gaaack!

She was serious and said it with a smile on her face, as she sipped her white wine with her manicured fingernails and gold wrist bling. She was just trying to make conversation with the waiter who happens to be a good friend of ours.

We cringed.

The husband said non-sequitur and oblivious to his wife’s previous statement, “If YOU people would just get more education, you can really move up in the world like us.”

Double cringe. The waiter just professionally gave a laugh and walked away as if he had to attend another table. I mean…how do you answer that?

As he walked away he looked at us and rolled his eyes and raised an eyebrow.

On the other side of the restaurant, we could still her the “F bombs” by the three men. It continued to be an uncomfortable dinner.

Then a group of two families with kids and nannys in tow entered. Kids as loud as parents. Running around the tables. Saying what they wanted. Called their parents by their first names. Nannys doing their best. Restaurant staff trying to keep everyone happy.

Again…couldn’t help but eavesdrop…they were loud enough…

“We just LOVE La Paz because it’s just NOT like Cabo or Mazatlan where there’s so much noise and traffic and so “gringo-fied.'”

“Got 18 holes to play tomorrow.”

“Glad we finally got Wi-fi. But the signal is so bad here in Mexico. You would think…”

“I can’t believe this place doesn’t have diet de-caf Pepsi, but I did find the best little coffee place that has double latte mocha!”

“When is your hair appointment? I have a pedicure at 9 a.m. then aromatherapy at 10.”

“This restaurant has the BEST chile rellenos stuffed with shrimp cooked by REAL Mexican cooks. Look you can even see them back there in the kitchen!”

“Next time, let’s rent a Hummer so we can don’t feel all those bumps in the roads here. Why don’t THESE people fix the roads? You would think they would get tired of bumpy roads and broken cement.”

“Still can’t get an electricion to fix that light in the jacuzzi. I hate this “manana” atittude here. Must be someone like the Better Business Bureau we can complain to.”

Sometimes I wish there was someone we could complain to. I admit that even I probably sound like this as well at times. I try not to. We keep reminding ourselves that we’re guests here in Mexico. Whether we live here or are just visiting. People are listening. We represent down here and our ears sometimes don’t hear what our mouths are saying.