quote:

After reading the above, do you still want to hear about the time I took a shower with a female ghost under a waterfall in the rain forest?

Ummm... YEAH

Back in 1975, during the trip I posted about above, I took a train from Merida to the ruins at Palenque.
It as a long train ride, very hot, very uncomfortable. It smelled of raw sewage and body odor. It stopped a gazillion times all night and people brought farm animals on with them. I mean, you just wanted to vomit, and many did.
I think the train ride was 14 hours, and if wasn't 14 hours, it sure felt that long.

I met this American school teacher in her mid thirties. She told me she was from Madison.
She was a nice person and we talked most of the night because it was impossible to sleep in that train car.
We get off the train near Palenque and we are just filthy, maybe the worst I have ever been, she said the same.

Since I was backpacking, I could not afford to stay at any hotels, so I would string up my hammock wherever I could.

She said she waiting for a friend to arrive and knew the area well. We trekked about 15 minutes into the jungle.
We came across a fairly sizeable river and there was a waterfall of hundreds of feet across.
We stripped down nekkid of course, and carefully made our way out and underneath the falls.
It was a bit cold but not too bad.
Hey, she looked pretty good for being in her thirties and me at twenty. At twenty, her being in her thirties, I considered her old.

After the shower, we sat around talking for a while until she said she needed to go meet up with her friend. I took that as boyfriend.
I asked her for a light, she handed me some matches and we smoked a cigarette.

I had this kind of Kodak Instamatic camera at that time and asked her to pose standing underneath some kind of huge lily.
I took the picture and we said our goodbyes.

A few days later I was back in the states and had the film developed.
Oh, I certainly can see the giant lilies in the picture, but there is no one standing beneath them.

She was a ghost and I will always treasure the moment I took a shower with a ghost woman under a waterfall in a rain forest.
And somewhere or another I still have the matchbook cover.

And no, I did not have sex with a ghost, if anyone was wondering. It might have been kinds neat though.

appreciate the story....and the background.

Recognize some of the features you describe.

I'm not about to post some of the odd events of my own experience.

And thanks for sharing your current adventures.

This was a strange time in my life.
I will at some point post about the trip back to the states and my dad dying of heart attack waiting for me to come in on Braniff Airlines.

This post will complete another part of the weirdness that was the Summer of 1975.

The night before I left for the states back in 1975, I was staying one night at a youth hostel/area workers compound that was more like an army barrack in reality.

Basically I was killing time waiting for my flight out the next morning.
Remember, this was 1975 during the tail end of the hippies and back then I would do things I would never do today. I had some tequila and few bottle of quaaludes I was going to bring back home with me. I met a couple of guys in the barrack and we started drinking etc.

One of the guys was an artist who did Mayan type murals for the hotels being built in the area. As the evening progressed, he took out a ball point pen and began drawing on paper.

Talk about a hangover, the next morning as I left, the artist handed me the drawing and wanted me to have it. He explained it was a Mayan priest who died and the picture was about going to the afterlife.
I thanked him and went on my way.

I board the plane and come in Port of Entry in Houston.
I stand around waiting in customs. One's luggage would up through a hole in the floor and you were expected to grab your luggage, put it on another conveyor belt and walk with it until it stopped in front of the Man With No Eyes. You know the look, a big man in law enforcement clothing with mirrored sunglasses and looking none to happy.

Has anyone ever had their bag pop up first like ever? Mine did.
I placed it on the conveyor belt and opened the backpack. It had a zipper that would actually open it in half like a suitcase.
To my horror, I see 3 bottles of quaaludes sitting right on top in plain view. Those guys at the barracks must have done some more of them after I fell asleep and didn't put them back where I hid them. They were sitting right on top!

This is pretty serious cuz the Man With No Eyes is looking me over as I walk toward him.
He stops the conveyor belt with the opened pack below where he was standing.

I tried to remain calm as he looked me in my eyes and said "Are you a citizen of the United States."
To which I replied, "Sir, I am a citizen of Texas first and United States citizen as well.

I figured I was going to get busted when he said: "Welcome to Texas, please move along."
He never looked down to see the bottles laying there and I zipped it up and went to catch a flight to Dallas.

Yes, I was young and dumb but smarter than that now.
Little did I know that my father would be dead in a couple of hours.

True story.

Here is the pen and ink death picture that was given me, dated July 14, 1975.
The dead priest can be seen at the bottom right.

Come on now, go ahead and post how off the wall I am.
I can take it.

All of this is true in The World According to Wigley.

I have a spiritual component to me I cannot deny.

AWESOME story!!!

In any case, things happen in our lives to make us who we are and how we view things.
Therefore, I think these stories give insight into why I am the way I am.
And why I think the way I think.

I still have one more story about that Summer of 1975 left, it's about my dad.

Once I post that, I think it will be obvious that the Summer of 1975 altered me forever.
I went from a young person to a seasoned adult in the span of about 4 weeks.

I think you should have boinked the Ghost Lady lbj..

I been reading you some here and thanks for sharing your thoughts. Had a couple requests if I may.

Any pics of Big Green? Is it a Armalite? Its the only AR 10 I've ever seen with green furniture.

I wouldn't mind hearing how you came to know Para and SIGforum. Give us some history please.. Like I said before, I thought you were just lbj with a Shelby and never knew of your IFL background.

I'm a horse of many colors.

Big Green is or was an AR10A2C. I switched out the original upper with the compensator to a 16 inch non-flattop smaller profile barreled A2 type flash hider one. This newer upper has the forward assist the other one did not have.

Back then, you had to use converted M14/M1A mags.
However, shortly before the change in Colorado law, Donna Flanagan was able to get me a few 20rd mags which were original to the design of the rifle with the rectangular rib thing on the back. It fits the magwell with perfection.
That did mean I had switch out the mag catch for an updated version.
I love Big Green.

Me and Big Green:

Nice! The hills are alive, with the smell of surplus Radway powder..

quote:

Originally posted by lbj:
I'm a horse of many colors.

Big Green is an AR10A2C.
I love Big Green.

Me and Big Green:

What are you sporting on that waist Holster??

A P228 in a Kramer horse hide belt scabbard.

Here is the current version of Big Green.
It likes to run wet.
Now that Armalite has a new type AR10A out, I should properly call mine an Armalite AR10B with a 16 inch A2 light barreled upper.

I can't even find my upper on their site anymore.

I think the ghost stuff scared everyone away.
Now we're back to guns.

Big Green does stomp on the terra for sure.
Now that I have it in this configuration, it really has become a favorite.

The 16in heavy barreled upper with compensator Big Green originally came with really bit moose.

LBJ

I have refrained from posting as a lot of this strikes very close to home.
Lost my father 8 years ago to a sudden heart attack.
So we have that in common.
My FIL was diagnosed with lung cancer, went through chemo, radiation, and all the treatments with that. They took out one lung.
He was declared Cancer free.
Three months ago, he was diagnosed with bone cancer, with hot spots at the base of his spine, and at the ribs they cut to remove his lung. They are giving him 3 months.

Tough stuff.

But your attitude is great.
That helps a lot.

Eat bacon.
Don't ride roller coasters!


I felt like I got to know you virtually on this board, and all I can really say is, this place is like family.

We are here for you, and please feel free to stream your consciousness.

Positive thoughts your way, and prayers sent.

We all need to live like today is our last.
No regrets.

Peace brother,

quote:

I think the ghost stuff scared everyone away.
Now we're back to guns.

guns are good
I'm ready for more 'summer of 75' whatever the ride....

quote:

Originally posted by rainman64:
.
Three months ago, he was diagnosed with bone cancer, with hot spots at the base of his spine, and at the ribs they cut to remove his lung. They are giving him 3 months.

This is terrible and I hope he can do the best he can as well as you too.
I may be in the same boat if the new scan comes in poorly.

quote:

Originally posted by FishOn:
Fruit basket in-coming at Mauna Kea

Very nice gesture and one we are looking forward too. Thank you.

quote:

Originally posted by lbj:

quote:

Originally posted by FishOn:
Fruit basket in-coming at Mauna Kea

Very nice gesture and one we are looking forward too. Thank you.

You got it man. Keep posting summer of '75 stuff. You have great stories to tell.

Enjoying the "book". Keep typing Mr. T.