Michael, i had already know by picking him up from a Tucson County Jail once for some minor offense was hardly inclined to Prison. In fact, that night i went to get him in Tucson, he did not even wait for me at the Jail, preferring to flee and amble in the night on his immediate release. I found him, gasping and nervously running alongside an unlighted road. Hardly, a picture of a accommodating or matter of fact business as usual prisoner. I knew this bust would put him on the ropes and in drastic measures.

As indicated, Michael himself assessed his circumstances and had made a decision to elude authoriti

The Man of La Manga!

Ariba! He appears again.

There had been about a 5-year gap when i actually had not heard the voice or even knew with any certainty the location or whereabouts of Michael Hager or his wife Sherry.

I knew by his own accounts sometime prior to September 1998, Michael had made a fateful decision, which would supplant for all practical purposes the normal freedoms the average American would enjoy. It would change his course of involvements with those that loved and were close to him, his family and two sons, but it was also not mis-cast, nor was it not inevitable.

It would lead to a period of an underground lifestyle for over 5 years. Where we had once "made a run for the border" for Tacos, Michael had made a literal dash, in hopes of Old West Predecessors before him. Gone South, escaping into the Mexico badlands, via Nogales, Arizona and a cautious if not surreptitious life.

As Michael had recounted to me sometime early in 1998 he had made a decision perhaps consistent with one who had not fully forsaken the momentums and exceptions to living within "legitimate" means to acquire compensations. His choice of "services" were ones, which many of almost equal creativity and disdain for secular disciplines have taken. Living in Arizona, its proximity to its own environment of entrepreneurial endeavors, Michael attached himself again to the risky and rewarding? World of transporting Marijuana. It might have been the low road to those of righteousness looking in and for Michael Hager, already 50; he had no reason to claim inexperience or lack of wisdom. It was and always is about choice, especially when any of us become enamored to the apparent "ease" and access such opportunities afford.

As, it has been with Michael, almost wondrously and maddeningly so, he paid a hard price, his unfoldment as follows, also includes his paradoxical Nature to find purpose and be a recipient of great graces and bear hardships.

Still it is the story of the human and the divine, not intended to be opposing forces, but certainly if not oddly playing out in the landscape of free will and providence...and eventually, the "Man of La Manga." was born.

Michael, quite characteristically was easily able to embellish about himself and his experiences. He told me he had fallen for a "ploy" at a DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) checkpoint on a Missouri Highway, advising of an ahead stopping, which inspired those with contraband, to make uncertain decisions.

Michael's reasoning to pull over at the "previous" exit, played right into, the agency designs to dupe the "guilty" one (holding) to such a precise action.

Sure enough, they were waiting, Michael commenting, the drug sniffing dog started to do a "Mexican hat dance" around their rented truck full of and secreted with 150 lbs of illegal contraband.

Michael, i had already know by picking him up from a Tucson County Jail once for some minor offense was hardly inclined to Prison. In fact, that night i went to get him in Tucson, he did not even wait for me at the Jail, preferring to flee and amble in the night on his immediate release. I found him, gasping and nervously running alongside an unlighted road. Hardly, a picture of a accommodating or matter of fact business as usual prisoner. I knew this bust would put him on the ropes and in drastic measures.

As indicated, Michael himself assessed his circumstances and had made a decision to elude authoritie

As Michael had recounted to me sometime early in 1998 he had made a decision perhaps consistent with one who had not fully forsaken the momentums and exceptions to living within "legitimate" means to acquire compensations. His choice of "services" were ones, which many of almost equal creativity and disdain for secular disciplines have taken. Living in Arizona, its proximity to its own environment of entrepreneurial endeavors, Michael attached himself again to the risky and rewarding? World of transporting Marijuana. It might have been the low road to those of righteousness looking in and for Michael Hager, already 50; he had no reason to claim inexperience or lack of wisdom. It was and always is about choice, especially when any of us become enamored to the apparent "ease" and access such opportunities afford.

As, it has been with Michael, almost wondrously and maddeningly so, he paid a hard price, his unfoldment as follows, also includes his paradoxical Nature to find purpose and be a recipient of great graces and bear hardships.

Still it is the story of the human and the divine, not intended to be opposing forces, but certainly if not oddly playing out in the landscape of free will and providence...and eventually, the "Man of La Manga." was born.

Michael, quite characteristically was easily able to embellish about himself and his experiences. He told me he had fallen for a "ploy" at a DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) checkpoint on a Missouri Highway, advising of an ahead stopping, which inspired those with contraband, to make uncertain decisions.

Michael's reasoning to pull over at the "previous" exit, played right into, the agency designs to dupe the "guilty" one (holding) to such a precise action.

Sure enough, they were waiting, Michael commenting, the drug sniffing dog started to do a "Mexican hat dance" around their rented truck full of and secreted with 150 lbs of illegal contraband.

Michael, i had already know by picking him up from a Tucson County Jail once for some minor offense was hardly inclined to Prison. In fact, that night i went to get him in Tucson, he did not even wait for me at the Jail, preferring to flee and amble in the night on his immediate release. I found him, gasping and nervously running alongside an unlighted road. Hardly, a picture of a accommodating or matter of fact business as usual prisoner. I knew this bust would put him on the ropes and in drastic measures.

As indicated, Michael himself assessed his circumstances and had made a decision to elude authoriti

As, it has been with Michael, almost wondrously and maddeningly so, he paid a hard price, his unfoldment as follows, also includes his paradoxical Nature to find purpose and be a recipient of great graces and bear hardships.

Still it is the story of the human and the divine, not intended to be opposing forces, but certainly if not oddly playing out in the landscape of free will and providence...and eventually, the "Man of La Manga." was born.

Michael, quite characteristically was easily able to embellish about himself and his experiences. He told me he had fallen for a "ploy" at a DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) checkpoint on a Missouri Highway, advising of an ahead stopping, which inspired those with contraband, to make uncertain decisions.

Michael's reasoning to pull over at the "previous" exit, played right into, the agency designs to dupe the "guilty" one (holding) to such a precise action.

Sure enough, they were waiting, Michael commenting, the drug sniffing dog started to do a "Mexican hat dance" around their rented truck full of and secreted with 150 lbs of illegal contraband.

Michael, i had already know by picking him up from a Tucson County Jail once for some minor offense was hardly inclined to Prison. In fact, that night i went to get him in Tucson, he did not even wait for me at the Jail, preferring to flee and amble in the night on his immediate release. I found him, gasping and nervously running alongside an unlighted road. Hardly, a picture of a accommodating or matter of fact business as usual prisoner. I knew this bust would put him on the ropes and in drastic measures.

As indicated, Michael himself assessed his circumstances and had made a decision to elude authoriti

Michael, quite characteristically was easily able to embellish about himself and his experiences. He told me he had fallen for a "ploy" at a DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) checkpoint on a Missouri Highway, advising of an ahead stopping, which inspired those with contraband, to make uncertain decisions.

Michael's reasoning to pull over at the "previous" exit, played right into, the agency designs to dupe the "guilty" one (holding) to such a precise action.

Sure enough, they were waiting, Michael commenting, the drug sniffing dog started to do a "Mexican hat dance" around their rented truck full of and secreted with 150 lbs of illegal contraband.

Michael, i had already know by picking him up from a Tucson County Jail once for some minor offense was hardly inclined to Prison. In fact, that night i went to get him in Tucson, he did not even wait for me at the Jail, preferring to flee and amble in the night on his immediate release. I found him, gasping and nervously running alongside an unlighted road. Hardly, a picture of a accommodating or matter of fact business as usual prisoner. I knew this bust would put him on the ropes and in drastic measures.

As indicated, Michael himself assessed his circumstances and had made a decision to elude authoriti

Michael, i had already know by picking him up from a Tucson County Jail once for some minor offense was hardly inclined to Prison. In fact, that night i went to get him in Tucson, he did not even wait for me at the Jail, preferring to flee and amble in the night on his immediate release. I found him, gasping and nervously running alongside an unlighted road. Hardly, a picture of a accommodating or matter of fact business as usual prisoner. I knew this bust would put him on the ropes and in drastic measures.

As indicated, Michael himself assessed his circumstances and had made a decision to elude authorities and avoid attempts to prosecute him. Unknowing of any real plan to speak of, he took refuge in one of Arizona's lake regions and camped out, and even there, narrowly missing apprehension.

Back, in Tucson, he had also only been moments and literally several feet from being captured, federal Marshals, bounty authorities and one's inner aversions and fears soon catapulted him to seek the outlaw's haven and hope for some type of life on the run. Fortunately, Hispanic and fluent in the language, Mexico was a had to go, geographical.

No mere Border town would suffice, Michael had learned of the coastal towns and villages of San Carlos on the Gulf of Mexico and 300 miles from the border.

On arriving in San Carlos, bereft of much currency and raining conditions with no place to go, Michael with Sherry parked in their recently purchased older used Van alongside Hotel Fiesta in San Carlos. As their "luck" would have it, they were waken up by locals who informed them, they had to leave, " a hurricane" was coming.

As is often the case when we most need it, without trying to judge Michael's circumstances, mercy and intervention comes in the helping assistance and overtures of others. Such as it became, Michael was informed of a nearby stretch of ocean, known as the fishing village of La Manga, where groups of Mexican Nationals and families had carved out their livelihoods and home fronts in makeshift living quarters, vehicles and tents. In other words, a place Michael and Sherry could fit right in.

One thing that was a credit to Michael and Sherry, and certainly an asset in this situation was their almost complete willingness to live amongst, and thrive in communal and cooperative environments. Michael was very endearing to people and could make do, as Sherry also, in circumstances and with few resources, in ways that most people would become dismayed by.

Here, in the humble and relenting sanctuary of La Manga, Michael quickly was accepted by the community of families and actually became an advocate and organizer, even a representative of the Village in local matters.

Mexico is one of those places that can absorb a man's past and if you can embrace and liken yourself to its culture it can quickly and easily make you one of its own. That was no more true than here in La Manga and what began as a haven, had lovingly befallen to Michael, Sherry and at least one of their sons, home and in a larger sense loving, nurturing community. Here Michael, may have been openly known as, "EL Renegado" (the renegade) but had come to represent the hopes of these people, their advocate and in his own heart had found rest, safety and a true purpose.

Michael and Sherry would spend 5 years in that Village and while Michael discovered renewal and won hearts over as his was also soften