The "The Sint Maarten Ambassador" Story

Marilyn, long-time worker at Cannegie's Liquor Store.

It was an ordinary day.  Marilyn and I are sharing a good laugh.  Minute or two ago I had asked her if the "Gardener" was working today.  She looked at me with the strangest look so I added, "Barbara told me to stop in to say hi to her husband Diederick.  She calls him her "Gardener", doesn't she?  Then the laughing began.  All started years ago when I began reading "Barbara Talks! A St. Maarten Blog!" (You can access it at http://barcann.livejournal.com).

Diederick standing inside his store on Front Street in
Philipsburg, Sint Maarten. He is holding a framed certificate
celebrating his 50 years in business.  This photo was sent to me
by his wife Barbara.  I hope to someday meet Diederick.

Neat blog about everything that's happening on the island of Sint Maaten/St. Martin in the Caribbean.  Many of Barbara's stories are about her and her gardener and for years I just assumed her gardener was ...... well, her gardener.  Then I read in The Daily Herald, the island edition, about a place called Cannegie's Liquor Store in Philipsburg, the Dutch capital of the island, that last year had celebrated 50 years of being in business.  

What the store looked like in the mid-1960s.  The Oranje
Cafe was owned by his parents and is where he started selling
his liquor products before he opened the store to the left.

I then posted a question on Travel Talk Online (TTOL - a travel forum) asking where the store was located and if it was still in business now.   One of the many responses came from Barbara, author of the blog.  She said, "O yea, we are still open.  50 years and still going strong. A few stores down (west) from the court house on Front Street."  I finally put two and two together and realized that the author of the blog I enjoy reading was also the wife of the "Gardener" who celebrated his 50th year in business last year.  

Photo I snapped of what the store now looks like on
Front Street.  The garage door on the right is where
Dee's granddaughter has her store.

Then I found a blog entry she had posted giving a little history about the business and her husband.  Went like this:  The gardener opened up his liquor store 50 years ago (1963), putting up some shelves in his father's bar and selling a few bottles of liquor.  He sold out the first day and that was the beginning of it all.  We are very proud that he has been so successful, still in business after all this time.  The gardener is not one to brag or toot his own horn, but our daughter Erika thought it should be commemorated in some way.  

Diederick standing next to the plaque that was presented
to him to honor his years of service to the city of Philipsburg.
Diederick's daughter, Erika, was responsible for creating the
award and presenting it to him. Photo by Barbara

The celebration and the publicity were all her ideas.  She even purchased a plaque to put on the front of the building. While the gardener was a reluctant participant at first, I think he rather enjoyed the attention.  After all he can be proud of himself.  Not only is he a good gardener, but he is a good businessman too.  After I had finished reading the blog entry and the information on TTOL, I thought I should email Barbara and ask if she would mind if I would make a visit to the store and  write my impressions about her husband, the "Gardener."  She said, "What a nice thought.  I think my husband is the last local businessman still doing business on front street.  

This is Melanie, Dee's granddaughter.
She has her business next to Dee's store
with her mother Leona.

If you go to the store, ask if Dee is there.  He would love to talk to you about how he opened the store.  The cashier there is Marilyn, a woman who has worked for us for 30 years."  Well, Marilyn and I had not only a good laugh about her boss's wife referring to him as the "Gardener", but she told me some stories about his entire family.  Told me to stop next door to visit with Melanie, Dee's granddaughter, who has a store with her mother, and Dee's daughter, Leona.  Marilyn told me that Dee wasn't in at the time, but I may be able to see him in the afternoon on most days.  I did stop to make a visit with Melanie who is such a nice girl and who recently graduated from the University of Miami.  Her store sold hair ornaments such as ribbons and bows, according to my wife.  Melanie told Carol and I that she has an uncle who runs a hot dog stand that was down the street.  What a great family!!  My only regret was that I didn't have a chance to meet Dee, even stopping back several times to try and find him.  Melanie told me I was about his age and I would love talking with him.  Maybe next year when we make our annual visit to our favorite island.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.