The "A Pleasant Surprise At The Secret Spot" Story

Claudine, the owner of the Secret Spot in
Marigot, St. Martin holding a copy of a blog
story I posted almost 5 years ago about her
business.  Remember to click to enlarge photos.

It was an ordinary day.  That was until I stepped into the rectangular white nylon tent in the Marigot Market and spotted Claudine, the owner of the Secret Spot.  She took one look at me, hopped out of her chair and headed to pull something from one of her plastic cases in the tent.  She held it in her hand as she approached Carol and me and had a delightful smile on her face as she held it for me to see.  Inside a plastic sleeve was an article I had posted on my blog dated June 10, 2011.  The article was about her stand known as Secret Spot in the Marigot Market in St. Martin.  She said a friend she was visiting in Sweden had been searching the Internet for her silk-screen printed apparel business website in St. Martin when she came across my blog story.  

Some of the many designs featured at her stand in Marigot.

She printed out a copy of my story and gave it to her.  She said many people had stopped at her stand to see her products after reading my story.  As soon as I walked in the tent today she knew exactly who I was.   I was amazed she would recognize my face after seeing it on my blog almost five years ago.  She thanked me for writing the article which has added a few sales to her growing business.  Carol and I have been making stops at her stand for years now, usually buying a few articles of clothing from her collection.  

My newest addition.

Her silk-screened long and short-sleeved t-shirts are perhaps my most favorite t-shirts I own.  The designs are very imaginative and feature designs that include themes from the Caribbean islands.  I remember talking to her in years past about teaching screen printing in high school which gives me a greater appreciation for what she and her husband must do to create the product they sell at her stand.  I purchased another great t-shirt today, but walked away from the Secret Spot with more than another piece of clothing.  I walked away knowing that I have people from all over the world who read my stories and actually take the time to visit some of the places I write about and make mention of the fact that they read about her place on my blog.  My thanks to Claudine today for sharing it with Carol and me.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.