Seeking Byrd, a Rock and a Coyote
January 5, 2008
Jun Matsumoto, 23, works both as a photographer’s assistant and a bicycle messenger in Tokyo, Japan. He read “Everybody Needs a Rock,” a book by Byrd Baylor, and it caught his imagination - he decided to come to the U.S. to see the beauty that Byrd had described.
Last October Jun flew, with his bicycle, to Los Angeles and headed for the Grand Canyon to see the rocks. While there he met someone and mentioned Byrd’s book as a reason for his travels. That person said, “Byrd lives right here in Arizona, in Arivaca.”
Jun carries professional cameras and a tripod to photograph and record what he sees and each night writes in his journal about the people he has met and the photographs taken. He said that he rides until he arrives at a place that interests him, then he stops, camps and photographs. In this fashion, he spent a month of biking the back roads of Arizona to get to Arivaca.
When Jun arrived he stopped at the store and asked to see Byrd Baylor. One wonders at the series of coincidences - Jun happened to mention Byrd to someone in Northern Arizona who happened to know where she lived; the Mercantile, cautious about residents’ privacy demurred until after he explained his story and they happened to see Tom Lewis in town - Tom caretakes at Byrd’s place - they sent someone to get Tom; Byrd has been staying in Tucson of late– but she was in Arivaca that day. She and her visitor from Japan shared an afternoon of conversation.
Jun, a charming young man and interested in our part of the world, became a favorite of the ladies at the Library where they furnished him with information on the area. He told them he also wished to see a live coyote. He had heard their song during his camping and had seen road kills but had never actually seen one - alive. About then Hawk Clinton walked into the library. Hawk is known for his prowess at calling in coyotes. Hawk offered Jun a place to camp while he was here.
Jun speaks English well but carries a pocket translator that he types in words that he wishes to express or to understand. He said he wants to read more of Byrd’s books because her words are beautiful.
Jun said he will be leaving soon to do more traveling around the States (perhaps he’s still looking for the perfect rock). Asked if he planned on publishing a travelog with his many photos, he said, “No. I want to publish a book that will let the people of Japan know that not all Americans are just interested in money and” (he typed something into his translator) then said, “consumption!” because that’s what they think about Americans and I want to show them people - like here in Arivaca.”
Byrd’s books have been translated into many languages and perhaps we will have another delightful traveler arrive in Arivaca from far-off lands seeking Byrd.
Copyright 2008 Maggie Milinovitch
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