Afterword

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af·ter·word    Audio Help   /ˈæftərˌwɜrd, ˈɑf-/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[af-ter-wurd, ahf-] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation

–noun

To My Readers,

It should be noted that this document is Historical in nature. All of the events occurred between 1994 and June of 2001. Please read it in that light.

Writing this book has been an emotional experience made worse by the fact that I allowed certain people to read certain chapters.  I wanted their criticism but just as equally, I wanted their praise.  “What a great writer you are George." I have received both criticism and praise, though not in equal proportions!  The criticism has far outweighed the praise. I hope that will change.

In retrospect it was an unwise move to let anyone be privy to the document, beyond my wife and editor.  I have lost several friends by sharing.  Several have refused to allow me the use of their names or photographs so their names have been replaced by fictional names. That was also the case with the Church. However, those people who live in Punta Banda will recognize the Church and the fictionalized people who refused to allow their real names to be used. Much of the foregoing has changed in recent days.

Many of the people mentioned in these Diaries are deceased. It would be an easier task to name the living than the deceased.

The Pastor of the local church in La Jolla camp and one very vocal member forbade me from using the name of the church.  At first I said, "To hell with them."  After all he was a "Johnny come lately".  He had nothing to do with the founding or sustaining of the church during its past.  I finally conceded and proposed that I show my current pastor the pertinent chapters and that I would abide by his decision.  It took nearly two weeks for him to review the documents and for us to arrange a meeting.

We met on a Thursday morning.  Having anticipated that he would be late for the meeting I took a book to read.

We sat at a small conference table in his office.  On it was a laptop computer, some stacked papers and my documents on the "Church Wars".

I didn't know what his opinion was going to be but I decided to abide by it.

He was in agreement with the pastor from La Jolla camp that the name of the church should be changed, so it became the Baja Christian Church.  He said that he felt the book was necessary because it represented a catharsis for me and for Tina.  It could also help others in the future who might go through similar battles.

Residents and former residents of the area would recognize the church by any name.  The location was not changed and new names for certain characters did not change the description of the characters.

The Church has changed. Because of the operation of time and a new dedicated Pastor many of the wounds from the past have been healed. I look forward, with great enthusiasm to returning to the Church and seeing and worshipping with old friends again.

This is how we arrived at this point in time and space.  I do hope that you enjoyed what I have written and the contributions of a few of my friends.

Since starting to write this book I have now envisioned a trilogy. The second book of the trilogy is entitled, “Our Sons, Our Dreams, Our Lives.” It takes over where “Baja Diaries…” ends with our return to Tucson and covers the next seven years.

Book three is entitled, “Return to Paradise.” What is the area like today, seven years after our departure? How have the institutions changed. What new activities have been put into place? How do the still remaining evictees feel about the evictions today? How do they feel about those newcomers who have purchased the former homes of their friends?

I plan to return to Punta Banda and take up residence for several months to find answer these and other questions as I work on the final book of this trilogy.

If you would like to make comments or have questions you may reach me at: epgeorge007@gmail.com.

Thanks,

George Puckett, February 6, 2008

Amended June 4, 2008

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