Survivor Guatemala - Better Known As "The Jungle Ain't No Picnic"  9/16/05

By Marcus

The civilization at Tikal lasted longer than the Roman Empire? And the USA? Well, we are just a passing moment compared to the Maya. Sometimes it seems that Survivor series are also just passing moments. But this program started strong. Even with the usual mixture of bikinis, d' Vinci veneer teeth, halter-tops, sleeveless muscle shirts and firm abs, there are also very real people.

I especially was drawn to Jim, the retired Colorado fire fighter. Here, I thought, was another Rudy, a man who knew about life experiences and how those years of living and providing for a family shape us. Nothing artificial about him, but simple honesty and accountability. The deeply rutted lines on his face traced his maturation path from boyhood through adolescence, into young adult and into the start of the senior years. His thinning light charcoal gray hair crowned his life achievements. What stories of rescue and leadership he could have shared. It was a precious moment when his wife sitting on their living room couch, shared her love and her pride for her husband. We need more couples like this, because they are real. I thought that Jim would be the wisdom of his tribe and his role would be to temper the impulses and calm the eventual and always inevitable in-fighting and lying. But his arm injury cost him dearly. I am already missing him. Jim, you and your wife are always welcomed at my house.

Full-cheeked New York doorman Judd is a big barrel of a fellow. He plopped into the muddy quicksand of that riverbank and plodded his way to shore. He didn't quit and didn't call for help. I think he will last well into this series. Perhaps he can depend upon what he has had to endure as a New York doorman through torrents of rain, the freezing drizzle of winter and the blistery sun of summer. Not to mention human rudeness. He has what it takes to win, determination. Go for it, big guy. Take on those challenges.

Let's hope we see more of nighttime in the jungle. No lights to calm our human fears of the dark unknown. It is those strange sounds that conjure up primal fears. The anguish on the survivors' faces told the story that something was out there. Something out there that is unfamiliar and frightening. It is during periods of such fear, that we unintentionally cuddle together sharing body warmth and giving to one another self-assurance that we are not entirely alone. Such nights will shake out the frightened from the bold. The darkness of jungle nights is very real.

Pigskin thrower Gary puzzles me. Is he a recent exodus from the witness protection program? Okay, I don't follow football, but why the secrecy? Does he think he will have to charcoal a tree twig to sign autographs for his adoring jungle fans? Maybe he is just use to people looking up at him, literally. And exclaiming "wow! A football player." I think he is making too much of it. It will be interesting to watch when the "real Gary" reveals himself. I predict that he will be surprised that he is no big deal.

Trauma nurse Margaret's sad compassionate eyes share much of her life with us. It is like reading a locked diary. We are un-welcomed intruders but just cannot stay away. We are drawn hypnotically towards her. Trauma means trauma. And often at the end of the shift, the memories linger with crass indifference. You try to say to yourself that it is a job, but this job seeps deep into your skin and is not easily washed. This is woman who has often been emotionally as well as physically exhausted. But when someone is hurt, think of Blake being knighted by the torn branch, her own exhaustion dissipates as she renders care. Margaret is a real person. Sorrowfully, I bet that when the human snakes start their slithery dance, she will be bitten.

Puking Bobby Jon. Tough and experienced but serious dehydration cuts down anyone without consideration of past accomplishments. He did make a comeback of sorts, but will his strength return? His face was ashen as yesterday's wind. And those rolled up eyes…..well, we will have to see. (no pun intended) If he stays, he could be another real person.

The women of the series are tough. While the men flopped about the ground like gasping fish, the woman did the work, the nursing, and the coaching. If they can get together for an alliance and kick off the wimpy males, well this could be an all female final. Even when two had their feet trapped in the boat pull, they kept on fighting. There are many real women in this survivor.

A Tikal tidbit……the height of their population is estimated from 100,000 to 200,000.

See Also:

10/21/05 "Burgers, beer, and a bully" - Survivor Guatemala Episode 6 Summary

10/14/05 "The Ax Man and the Grenadier" - Survivor Episode 5 Summary

10/7/05 Smelly bodies. Shrunken bellies. Switching bodies - Survivor Episode 4 Summary

9/30/05 "Paint, feathers, and elbows" - Survivor Summary for September 29

9/23/05 Not a food fight, but a mud fight...... Survivor Summary for September 22