By Request, “Introducing… Simon Templar!”

airbnb, airbnb, American Football, bed and breakfast (bnb), bloodless coup, bloodless revolution, border run, BREXIT, capitalism and freedom, certified nursing assistant (CNA), Christianity, coup d'état, creating, dating, dolphin, expat lifestyle, Fair Trade, fair trade coffee, feminism, financial advice, finding your zen, get rich, golf, guiding light, holiday home, holiday travel, Hypatia, immigration, invest/investing/investments, Islam, islamic supremacism, islamic supremacism, jealousy, Let's go Brandon., Lima, Peru, Lisu Hill Tribe, living abroad, Manila, medical marijuana, Merry Christmas, music, Nation Building and BDB, National Security/ Defense, nCovid-19, on human suffering, poetry, Politically Correct, Religion, Rudyard Kipling, Sex, site of future LIsu Hill Tribe grown coffee shop, super food, Thai massage, The Simon Tao, This too shall pass., VA, visa run, WheelTug, winning the peace
My Inspiration for this post.

Greetings ST, ‘Ettes, ‘Sieurs, and All!

His Graciously Unleashedness/Unwokeness has asked yours truly to reflect on his transformation from an “international man of mystery” (IMOM) to an instantly recognizable man of action/raconteur known as: “Simon Templar”. Therewith comes a tale.

Let me say at the outset that simplicity suits the truth best. A basis in facts, generously shared, can give creativity space to spread its wings. My earlier efforts to pay homage to ST’s “Lt. Dangerous” episode, led me to expect the unexpected regarding ST’s nom-de-guerre/nom-de-plume/nom-de-pixels. Join me, dear netizens of Unleashed/UnWoke as the story unfolds.

Surprisingly, the quest started off quite matter-of-factly:

First name first: “Simon”. ST isn’t certain where/when this moniker began, (“I’ve always been Simon, just Simon.”) but it stuck. Maybe, it’s from ‘Simon says…’, since his capacity for creative leadership was so close to the surface in his encounters with his “grunts” [enlisted Marines]? I’ll leave the answer to this in the annals of unwritten history, since further speculation about it will lead us further from the rest of the story.

Our background is a series of annual/semi-annual, coordinated drug-interdiction exercises [“Exercise Fuerzas Unidas-Contradrogas Riberena”] with partner nations all up and down the “spine” of the Andean Ridge (Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela). Our soundtrack might include the strains of the Andean flute. Our setting (Iquitos, Peru on the Amazon Riverwalk) is a gathering of participants at a celebratory dinner marking the end of one such exercise. In the space between exquisitely-prepared (possibly exotic) foods, well-chosen drinks such as Chilean pisco (brandy), cigars, and camaraderie, anything can happen…

As the evening progressed, an unknown woman, who made her surroundings fade into the background, with a voice as sultry as the night air – and as lilting as a shepherd’s bells – made her way to the table where Simon and others were seated. Casting an appraising glance from one guest to another, her gaze rested on one in particular. She smiled, pointed at him, and said: “And you, you must be Simon… Yes, you are Simon: Simon Templar.”

She left them, as unexpectedly as she had come.

Thus, our Graciously Unleashedness/Unwokeness came to be known as “ST”. (Step aside, Sir Roger Moore.)

Unknown's avatar

Published by D’Nanda Panda

Retired hospital chaplain, Theo-Geek, Honorary Marine, bookworm, crossword addict, and lover of intelligent conversation, well-brewed tea and/or occasional distilled spirits - as appropriate.

Published

48 thoughts on “By Request, “Introducing… Simon Templar!””

  2. Peruvians in Lima have an unflattering name for the girls of Iquitos. This girl was hot by local standards but may have been a bit too indigenous to score 10 with the NYNY jet setters.
    One of my jarheads bought a sugar-shack just outside of Iquitos. Wouldn’t be surprised if he isn’t living there by now with hot and cold running señoritas.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. The second E in MELDEP is for exchange. Can not forget that part nakrap

      Did I tell you about the Peruvian Marine Colonel that I helped install in Camp Lejeune after he blew up the Japanese Ambo’s house circa 1996?

      Liked by 3 people

      Reply

      1. Or the US Ambo’s wife who/m wanted me to take my lunch at the staff’s table.

        I was the ‘bodyguard’ for a US Congressman who was interested in providing ‘oversight’ to my riverine counterdrug program in Peru. Congressman got me a seat at the big people’s table.

        Liked by 2 people

      10. The Congressman was there to provide oversight for my program. I was there to translate (Spanish/English & English/Spanish) and keep him from harm.

        Liked by 2 people

      11. There was a general from SouthCom who thought he was something special. I always gave him a police escort with motorcycle cops and sirens blazing on the squad cars in escort. We even caused an accident once when a motorcycle ran into one of our escorts. It was all for show! It was all for the general’s
        ego but for the congressman, who stayed more low key.

        Glory Dayz!

        Liked by 2 people

      17. He personally set all the demo for the recapture of the Japanese Ambassador’s house in Lima, Peru. The bad guys wanted him dead and very dead after a long torture.

        Liked by 1 person

      36. That sounds like a preview of coming attractions, if ever I’ve heard one, ST….Say more, por favor y muchisimas, if so inclined. We’re all eyes and ears….

        Liked by 2 people

      40. I have vague memories of hearing this story, or at least, parts of it, long ago. But I am pretty sure that you have provided details that until now, I was unaware of.

        Liked by 2 people

  4. I worked once in a very high society (for Western Mass, lol) dinner club. They used to have cold soup. They called it Gezpacho. I was never brave enough to try it: it looked like salad dressing to me, and I had no wish to eat it without lettuce 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  6. “Is this the first y’all are hearing this?”

    This fellow seems connected with “Fishing in Mongolia” (my online introduction to your many talents, ST) on a website I subscribed to long ago and far away. How far off target am I? 😀

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.