"JUST
CALL HIM HUCK"
By Ed Lusch
Few of us have ever argued with a crocodile over canoe rights. I doubt
very many of us have ever experienced a tapir screaming through campsite
with a 250-pound jaguar in hot pursuit. Have you ever pulled your careless
friend up a dock from the river just seconds before a school of 10,000
hungry Piranha zeroed in? Art Post has and chronicled those stories
and many more in his recently published book “Huck Finning the
Amazon” (see review October issue Ojo del Lago).
But to start at the beginning, Art began
his life in Palo Alto, California in 1914. After graduating from Palo
Alto Union High School in 1932, he enrolled at San Jose State College.
Before classes began, however, Art and two best friends took a summer
vacation break on the Klamath River. For several weeks they swam and
fished, panned for gold and enjoyed the serenity, beauty and wildlife
of the Klamath wilderness. Around campfire one evening, Art and friends
hatched a plan which was to take them into the unexplored upper reaches
of the Amazon River and down its entire length. This ten-month odyssey,
planned and successly completed by three eighteen-year-old boys, ranks
among the greatest adventure achievements of the 20th century.
After returning from the Amazon, Art
began his studies at San Jose State College, but was forced to drop
his enrollment due to family health and financial problems. Art obtained
his building contractor’s license and became a supervisor for construction
projects throughout the Western US. He spent many years doing management
and personnel hiring for massive construction endeavors in Mexico and
Peru before returning to the states to form, with his wife, Mary Ellen,
his own construction business in Reno, Nevada.
Art and Mary Ellen became disenchanted
with living and working in the Western US.
At about retirement age, they came to
the conclusion they belonged in Latin America. After a few moves throughout
the plateau area of Central Mexico, they closed out all affairs stateside
and moved to Ajijic, where they built their own home and have lived
for the last 16 years.
Art turned 89 last June but one would
never guess this remarkable man is closing in on 90. His whirlwind of
energy would exhaust a man half his age: fingers immersed in numerous
pies such as founding and managing the Chili Cookoff and a myriad of
charitable fundraising activities. An obvious advocate of team effort
and unity, Art also believes wholeheartedly in remaining patient and
steadfast in support of any goal: “Rome was not built in a day,
but nevertheless achievement must start at the beginning, so seize the
day, but patiently,” says Art.
After 16 years residing in Ajijic, he
insists the best things about living here are the people one meets from
all walks of life. Be they nationals, long-term gringo residents, or
newly arrived foreigners, when mixed together in the Lakeside-melting
pot, they all add to the spice of living here. But Art has some peeves
about living in Paradise, as well. Too many litterbugs and overuse of
aerial bombs, for example. His most serious complaint is reserved for
expatriates who forget they are guests of Mexico. He advises particularly
rude or insensitive expats that, “The road out of here is that
way!” Art sums up living here by simply stating, “We have
an ambiance few others enjoy.” Art, closing in on 90 years of life,
rejoices that most of his goals have been met. What remains, he says,
is obtaining the best life has to offer and in so doing, provide whatever
possible for the betterment of family and friends.
No doubt about it, Art Post is a Huck
of a guy!