That’s the idea! Have some fun with it!
Shut My Mouth
Originally Published the Week of Aug. 27, 2019 in Western Outdoor Publications
It was an awkward situation that had the potential to turn ugly. Actually, it already was.
On the sidewalk outside our restaurant in La Paz, a gringo (I’ll call him Pete) was getting pretty loud.
In front of him looking embarrassed and afraid was Jose who makes his living walking up and down the beach and waterfront selling jewelry. Everthing is “genuine” and of “highest quality.” (wink wink).
But he says it with a smile so you know it’s a game.
No, that $30 Rolex watch is not waterproof nor would you expect it to be! Not for $30 and you’re a doofus if you think it’s real!
But I know Jose. He’s a good guy. He works hard. He doesn’t pester or hound. Folks like him and look for him. He laughs a lot and he runs a good bargain.
That turquoise bracelet that is 100% silver he tells you it’s $60. And he laughs. He’s dangles the bait in the water.
He EXPECTS you to say “no” and give him a counter offer!
He knows that the bracelet is not worth $60 and he figures you’re smart enough to know that too! If you plop down $60 and you’re happy…well so be it!
But, you say $15. He laughs and says $50.
You say $17 and he says “no way” and laughs again. He says he can’t sell it for less than $45.
Back and forth. Back and forth. You really want it. He really wants to sell it to you.
When you both finally settle on $21 dollars, everyone is happy! He made a sale and made a few bucks. You got a pretty piece of “genuine” silver and turquoise.
Win-win. It’s the game. It’s fun. It’s expected.
That’s not how it was going today. And by the way both Pete and Jose were looking at me, I was being drawn in as a referee.
Pete was getting pretty livid.
“This guy is like all the rest. He’s just trying to rip me off!”
Whoa…I already don’t like the usage of “all the rest” and “rip me off” in the same sentence.
Calm down Pete. Let me get Jose’s side.
Jose looked like he could use some assistance because Pete’s whole family was there and Pete was still causing a commotion drawing a crowd to listen in.
Jose explained to me that he and Pete had done a deal over several items of jewelry.
Well, Pete wanted his change in dollars!
Jose is a street vendor. He doesn’t or didn’t have dollars. So, he tried to give Pete the change in pesos.
Pete didn’t want pesos, but he definitely wanted the jewelry and didn’t understand the exchange rate.
Ultimately, there was a $5 dollar difference in what Pete thought and what Jose was giving him in change. Five freakin’ dollars!
And Pete was letting everyone know about it who would listen. About getting “ripped off” by “these people.”
By the way, Pete came into town on 75’ yacht and loved telling people over and over about it and all his antique sportscars. Five dollars. Are you kidding me?
I explained to Pete about the exchange rate and that no one had been trying “rip him off. Jose didn’t have American money to give him any change.
Pete glared.
“What you gonna do, Pete? Do you want the jewelry and pesos?”
He took his family and stormed off. Mumbling something about, “What am I supposed to do with pesos in my pocket?” Emphasis on the “I” as if it was beneath him to have pesos and how demeaning it was.
Uh, you’re in Mexico, Dude. I’m sure you’ll find something to spend that on.
His pretty blonde wife and two perfect kids also walked away indignantly with their noses in the air.
Jose gave me an appreciative high-five “gracias.” He shrugged. Just another day working the street. I’m sure it’s not the first time.
I won’t write what some of the other onlookers said about Pete and his family.
It got me thinking about five dollars here in Mexico…
Five dollars a day is what some people bring home after a day of work. A six-day work weeks gets you a whopping $30 to live on.
If you have a car (rarely), it buys one gallon of gas. Not to cruise or go to the beach. Hopefully that gallon is enough to putter to and from work. hopefully enough to bring the kids to and from school.
Five dollars is a bus ride to work and back. Even though you are only making 11 dollars for working a 12-hour day.
Five dollars barely buys a crappy dinner for a family of 3. That’s 3 Cokes and 3 Cup-O-Noodles in the styrofoam cup. Salt and sugar for dinner. Highly nutritious but at least you don’t go to bed hungry.
Five bucks buys you enough propane for a week to cook and light your home.
For cleaning 15 messed-up hotel rooms by herself, five bucks is the total amount of tips your cleaning lady made at the resort you’re staying at.
Just enough to pay for her bus ride home tonite.
Enjoy that genuine silver jewelry, Pete.
That’s my story…
Jonathan
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Jonathan Roldan has been writing the Baja Column in Western Outdoor News since 2004. Along with his wife and fishing buddy, Jilly, they own and run the Tailhunter International Fishing Fleet in La Paz, Baja, Mexico www.tailhunter.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: jonathan@tailhunter.com
Or drop by the restaurant to say hi. It’s right on the La Paz waterfront!
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Jonathan Roldan’s
Tailhunter International
Website:
www.tailhunter-international.com
Mexico Office: Tailhunter International, 755 Paseo Obregon, La Paz, Baja Sur, Mexico
U.S. Mailing Address: Tailhunter International, 8030 La Mesa Blvd. #178, La Mesa CA 91942
Phones:
from USA : 626-638-3383
from Mexico: 044-612-14-17863
.
Tailhunter Weekly Fishing Report: http://fishreport.jonathanroldan.com/
Tailhunter YouTube Video Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBLvdHL_p4-OAu3HfiVzW0g
“When your life finally flashes before your eyes, you will have only moments to regret all the things in life you never had the courage to try.”
That's My Story 
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