The "Merits Of A Long Vacation" Story

It was an ordinary day.  And ... I know after reading my story today you'll have no sympathy for me.  But, I thought after telling you about other cultures and the length of their vacations, or "Holidays" as they are known in other areas of the world, you might be more sympathetic.  Seems that vacations of two to five years were common for those who lived in ancient Rome.  Centuries later, wealthy Europeans spent months visiting spas.  So, what's the big deal if my wife and I decide to take a vacation for ... lets say ... a month!  Years ago we vacationed for a week when Carol was only permitted that length of time by her boss.  

Enjoyed vacations along the Chesapeake Bay in small cottages where we could relax and unwind without having to drive or fly for any length of time.  If you are traveling miles and miles to reach your vacation destination, either by car or plane or ... perhaps even horse and buggy as is the custom in our home town of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, it may take a day or two to shake off the travel fatigue so you can hustle through the rest of your vacation itinerary before you hop back in the car, plane or buggy to get back home.  So, when Carol and I began our family, we were able to add an extra day or two, or even an extra week to our summer vacations along the Chesapeake Bay.  Times were tough with one salary, a teacher' salary to boot, but we found places to stay that were inexpensive.  It actually began to feel like vacation, with time to unwind and plenty of time to actually enjoy your time away from the grind of work with the entire family.  

Then the family grew up, left home, retirement arrived and we found we were able to add a few more days onto our vacation.  We now had more time and a few extra dollars to spend on vacation.  Reasoned that if we were finally able to fly to a spot in the sun along a beautiful beach, we need to go for at least 10 days or two weeks or we would be wasting the money we paid for the airline ticket.  Well, two weeks turned into two and a half weeks and to make up the difference in days, we opted to settle for a less expensive place to stay.  Then, last year we found a very nice place in paradise for less and decided to stay for three weeks.  Felt guilty at first that others didn't have the same chance that we did, but that quickly faded away.  Halfway through vacation we wondered if we had made a mistake with staying three weeks, but at day 18 or so we looked at each other and wondered if we could add another few days to the trip.  

Being able to do absolutely nothing except sit in a beach chair on a beautiful white sand beach in the Caribbean with a book in one hand and a drink in the other seemed to relax the soul more each day.  Started to feel we actually deserved our vacation for all the years of hard work.  Well, we have already made our reservation for next spring for three weeks once again.  Then, the other day Carol said, "You know, since next year we will be married 50 years, I think maybe we should finally add that extra week!"  Didn't take long before I placed an email to the realtor whom we rent our villa from in paradise.  Not finalized yet, but the merits of a long vacation totally outweigh the negatives.  Here's hoping that someday you too will be able to experience the merits of a long vacation, or holiday.  Those merits seem to be growing the older we become.   And, we have decided now is the time before it is too late!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.     

The "Hubley Toy Equipped A Generation Of Cowboys" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Just got home from a visit to State College, Pennsylvania where Carol and I spent time with friends Jerry and Just Sue.  I no sooner walked in the door when I remembered what I wanted to do during our visit.  I wanted to take a photo of Jerry's Hubley six-shooter cap gun.  Jerry had been looking for a Hubley cap gun for years since Hubley toys were made in Lancaster, PA a few blocks from where we lived while growing up.  When he finally found one, I thought I would take a photo of it just in case I ever needed it, as I do for this story.  

Jerry's Hubley cap gun with box of caps.

Called him and asked if his lovely wife could take a photo of it and email it to me.  He told me she most certainly could do that and to listen to this.  A few seconds later there were a few blasts as he fired a couple of rounds from his cap gun.  "Remember when we used to take an entire roll of caps and hit it with a hammer?" I asked him.  

Photo I recently took showing what I think was the Hubley
Company in Lancaster, PA.

"Didn't do that too often since caps weren't cheap back then," he responded.  Well, Sue emailed the photo shortly after and the emailed photo has sat on my desktop until today.  I recently posted a question on a Lancaster website asking if anyone knew the exact location of the original Hubley Plant, since I went searching for it and couldn't seem to locate it.  

Some of the many toys Hubley made for young cowboys.

I swore I knew where it was, but you know how that goes sometimes. Well, I got all sorts of answers from people posting on the website.  After reading that it was located in five different locations, I stopped reading and began digging on the web to try and find the answer.  After a trip by car to the spot I found on a map, I was stilled totally confused.  Then I thought, doesn't really matter where it was years ago or where it is today, the toys they made were a child's dream back in the late 1940s and thoroughout the 1950s when Jerry and I were kids on the north end of Lancaster city.  

An advertisement in a magazine.

The toys they made were cast-iron as well as zinc alloy and plastic.  The metal cars that we played with were 1:20 scale.  Hubley first began producing toys in 1909 and their 11 inch Packard truck was one of my favorites.  Of course I had a 6-shooter and holster to go with my cowboy hat, bandana, lasso, and chaps.  Hubley toys are now collector's items and if you can find one in a box, it's worth about twice the amount, according to my brother who sells items such as this on eBay.  Hubley was purchased by Gabriel about 1969 and continued making toys throughout the 1970s.  The dies used to make the toys were then bought by CBS Toys and they in turn sold out to Ertl who has now stopped production of all of the original toys made from the dies and molds that were Hubley.  My Great Grandfather was a designer for Hubley and my dad worked for Hubley for a few years.  He lost the tip of his left pointer finger while running a stamping machine.  And, I could drive all over Lancaster and it wouldn't matter where the place used to be, just as long as Jerry has his cap gun and can share it with me as he just has.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

LDub standing on his porch at 929 North Queen Street with his Hubley gun and accessories.

The "The Five Stars Of Orient Beach ... Revisited" Story

Current day Orient Beach in St. Martin

It was an ordinary day.  Walking on one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, Orient Beach, which is located on the French side of the island known as Sint Maarten/St. Martin.  Many compare Orient Beach to the French Riviera which is known as the St. Tropez of the Caribbean.  

The same stretch of beach in 1980. 

Located on the 1.32 mile long beach, which runs from north to south, is what are known as "The Five Stars Of Orient Beach."  They are an affiliation of the most established Beach Restaurants & Clubs on Baie Oriental; Bikini Beach, Waikiki Beach, Kontiki, Kakao Beach and Coco Beach.

Another view of beach before being developed.

Six years ago I wrote a story about the Five Stars on Orient and described each beach bar.  Times have changed, as has Orient Beach and "The Five Stars of Orient Beach."  A few of the beach bars are much larger with better food and drink while a few have neither changed or have gotten worst.  And, the 1.32 mile beach has added quite a few new beach bars as well as water sports.  I will allow my photos from the past as well as the present tell the story for me.  Follow along to see what one can expect if they would venture today to Orient Beach, the St. Tropez of the Caribbean.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  PS - years ago Ed and Sandra visited Orient Beach and captured an aerial view of the beach.  It, along with identification of the beach bars, can be seen here as you scroll from left to right:  https://web.archive.org/web/20150403064116/http://edsandra.com/photos2005/largeorientpanorama.htm

Also, check out this YouTube video on the best beach bars on Orient Beach, St. Martin.

An early photo I took of Bikini Beach Bar.

An early photo I took of la Playa Beach Bar.

An early photo I took of Kon Tiki Beach Bar.

The new Coco Beach Bar.

The new Bikini Beach Bar.

The new Kakao Beach Bar.

The new La Playa Beach Bar.

The new Waikiki Beach Bar.

This beach bar is at the far north end of the beach and wasn't in existence when The Five Stars of Orient were popular.  This bar is known as Palm Beach Bar.

At the far south end of Orient Beach is Club Orient which is a Naturist Resort and one of the most popular beaches on Orient Beach. 

A very early photo of Club Orient.

At the opposite end of the beach is the Mont Vernon which at one time was a first class resort.  It now houses condo units that are privately owned.

The "Pennsylvania Amish Lumber Makes A Big Hit" Story

Article in the American Airlines Magazine.

It was an ordinary day.  Sitting in seat 18E on an Airbus A-319 traveling from Philadelphia to Sint Maarten at an altitude of over 30,000 feet and reading American Airlines in-house magazine, "American Way."  Actually, I was more like leafing through it until I reached pages 34-35 and then I stopped and started reading the story titled "There's nothing simple about a bat."  Should tell you that the article was about wooden baseball bats and not the bat that is a mammal.  But, what really got my attention was a two-inch circular photograph that had a nine-line paragraph under it that said that the bat company that was featured in the story, the Marucci Company, owns its own ash and maple wood supply in the Amish area of Pennsylvania.  Wow, when most people think of Pennsylvania Amish they think of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, since it is the oldest and best-known of the 53 Amish settlements in the state.  

So where do they get their wood.  I don't know I'm sorry to say.  I'm going to say Lancaster County, but it really could be almost in any of the other 53 settlements in the state where they harvest their lumber.  And, it doesn't really matter anyway since my story is really about producing baseball bats and not the exact location in the state where the lumber might be harvested.  My interest in the wooden bat goes way back to when I played baseball as a youth.  We didn't have metal bats back then and everyone on the team used the same couple of bats that the coach would bring to the field.  When my neighborhood friends would gather to play summer games at the nearby train station or behind my house in the printing company's parking lot, we at times would use a wooden bat that was held together with screws or nails, having been broken numerous times throughout the summer.  Back then there were only a few manufacturers of baseball bats.  

League in the North-East sponsored
by Major League Baseball and where
wooden bats are used exclusively.

When my oldest son, Derek, pitched for Villanova University, they used metal bats instead of wooden bats in his collegiate games.  The ball came off the bat so much faster that it did with wooden bats.  As a sophomore and junior he had the chance to play in the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League for the Quakertown Blazers.  This league was sponsored by Major League Baseball to showcase college students who might have a chance to make it into professional baseball.  That league used only wooden bats, since that was what was used in professional baseball and still is today.  The sound and speed of the ball off the bat is entirely different than it is with metal bats.  Today's Little League teams use metal bats because of the cost of replacing wooden bats every time they would crack or break.  Must say though that the cost of metal bats is unbelievable and they are said to be good for only so many hits before they wear out.  Great advertising to get you to buy another new metal bat.  Now, back to my story about the Amish supplying the wood for the bats made by the Marucci Company.  The company was founded in 2002 by Louisiana State University athletic training director Jack Marucci.  Jack's 8-year-old son Gino wanted a wooden bat just like his Major League idols.  

Marucci wooden bats are in big demand.

Tough to find one at a sports store anymore, so he decided to make one in his backyard shed.  Then Gino's friends wanted one so he made more.  Eventually made one for his friend Eduardo Perez who happened to be a Major Leaguer at the time.  Word spread and two years later he moved from his shed to a larger facility.  As of this year he is the second largest bat producer behind Louisville Slugger.  Doesn't make them on his home lathe in the back yard shed anymore.   Today there are 32 manufactures of bats that are approved by Major League Baseball.  That first bat that Jack made was with wood he got from the Amish country of Pennsylvania and he still uses the same wood today.  The company produced over 5,000 bats this year between January 15 and February 14, in time for the start of Major League spring training.  The story was the most interesting one in the American Way magazine I was reading and just before I finished it we were told to turn off all devices and buckle in.  I wanted to re-read the story so it happened to fall into my carry-on.  That's why I happen to have it in front of me as I'm typing my story today.  They make those for people to read and that's exactly what I'm doing, be it in my Caribbean villa or on the plane.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  

The "A Visit With Barbara" Story

Diederick and Barbara with Scarlett.
Photograph was taken two years ago.

It was an ordinary day.  Sun was high in the sky and there was barely a breeze.  Didn't matter anyway since we were on our way to Barbara's house in Sint Maarten no matter what the weather may have been.  For the past few years we have visited our friends Barbara and her husband Diederick in their beautiful home with the sky-blue roof on the hill high above L.B. Scott Road on the Dutch side of the island known as Sint Maarten/St. Martin.  Diederick is the founder and owner of the Cannegieter Liquor Store in downtown Philipsburg, a long stone's throw from their home in the hills. But, today Dee, as he is known, is sailing in a regatta on the island of Antigua and we will miss his advice on raising the flowers and shrubs that fill about an acre next to their home.  

Entrance to the Cannegieter Home.

As we arrive we are greeted by the "Beware of Dog" sign and a cutout of a cat that both are located next to the front gate of their home.  We ring the bell and wait a second before Barbara walks toward us to open the gate.  Hugs and kisses follow and we are then greeted by first Scarlett and then Amber, their dogs.  We grab a glass of liquid refreshment and take our annual walk through the garden and find a relaxing chair near their pool.  

Carol with friend Scarlett sharing hugs and kisses.

Thus begins the story of our visit which for the next hour or so is filled with story after story about life on both Sint Maarten and Pennsyl- vania.  After a few minutes I leave the girls and wander around for a few more photos of the garden.  Try using my close-up attachment for my camera and photograph some of the smallest items in the garden.  As I return I see Barbara has gathered her scrapbooks of the island for me to view and take photos of those which I may be able to use for stories in the future.  Barbara tells us of her visit a few days ago with a group of girls whom she sees when they also visit the island.   One of the girls, Pat, is someone I have always wanted to meet since getting to know her on the website http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/postlist.php?Cat=0&Board=stmartin.  

Hummingbird visits the home for a snack.

Oh well, maybe next year!  As our visit came to an end, we bid farewell with hopes of returning once again to the island that is known as "The Friendly Island" and Barbara and Dee are two great examples of why the island is known as such.  Thank You very much for your hospitality and here's hoping we can meet once again next year.  It was another extraordianry day in the life of an ordinary guy.

This photo and the ones that follow were taken with my iPhone and an attachable close-up lens. 

The "President James Buchanan Returns Home After 60 Years" Story

The LancasterHistory.org museum in Lancaster, Pennsylvania

It was an ordinary day.  Staring into the blue eyes of James Buchanan at the Lancaster History  Museum at Wheatland, home of former US President James Buchanan.  Seems that President James Buchanan has finally returned to his home at Wheatland in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania after 60 years of standing erect in the Hall of Presidents and First Ladies in the Gettysburg Museum, PA.  

James Buchanan in wax

The Gettysburg Museum closed this past November and its contents, including wax effigies of past Presidents and First Ladies, were sold at auction.  When LancasterHistory.org found out about the auction, many people contributed to a fund to make the highest bid to return James to his home in Lancaster.  So what does a 6 foot tall wax figure dressed in formal black overcoat, white shirt and white bow tie while clutching his walking stick go for at auction.  President Buchanan sold for $4,400 which topped Thomas Jefferson ($2,640) and Richard Nixon ($2,090), but came in under Ulysses Grant ($6,820), Teddy Roosevelt ($8,800) and President Buchanan's successor Abraham Lincoln which sold for $9,350 which was the highest bid of the auction for wax Presidents.  I must tell you that as I stood looking into his baby blues, it was freaky.  His eyes were somewhat crossed and he seemed to be looking at me with one eye and looking past me with his other.  

President James Buchanan 

If I had stood on a slight platform as James was doing, I would have been the same height as he.  He was holding a copy of the Preamble to the United States Constitution in his right hand which looked remarkably real, while his left hand was empty.  Mr. Tom Ryan, President and CEO of Lancaster- History.org made the winning bid in Gettysburg and then loaded the wax figurine's body into the rear of his station wagon for the ride home;  

The hand and Preamble

the head lay detached in a cardboard box nearby.  What I am looking at today isn't exactly what came back in the station wagon.  Marianne, the daughter of friends from our church and an employee at LancasterHistory.org, told me that the head had been removed and replaced with one that they already had from another figurine which looked more realistic. So, what did I think?  I have looked at quite a few photographs, paintings and drawings of President Buhanan and must say I wouldn't have recognized him when I walked in the door had I not known where he would be standing.  His hair seemed to be too short his weight was quite a few pounds less than expected and his facial features weren't as good as what you would expect if it had been a Madame Tussaud wax effigy.  

A plaster study of President Buchanan

It was still impressive and having my photograph taken with him was pretty neat.  Now, a few feet from the wax effigy of President Buchanan stood a small plaster study of Buchanan based on a statue in Meridian Hill Park in Washington, D.C.  Even though it was much smaller than the original as well as the wax likeness that stands next to it, I feel it is a much better likeness than the wax effigy.  But then, that's my opinion!  No matter what, it's good to have the former President home once again!!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

Just a bit freaky!

  

The "The Tides Have Changed In St. Martin" Story

The new look of Orient Beach after the storm.

It was an ordinary day.  Strolling along the shoreline of Orient Beach, trying to remember the exact location of Andy  Cheryl's Baywatch Beach Bar.  Carol and I have been visiting the island since the early 2000s and have many fond memories of having lunch in the brightly blue painted beach shack with yellow trim.  

The Original Baywatch on Orient Beach.

Spent many a noontime talking to Cheryl as well as watching Andy wander around the restaurant in his stained white apron.  Many an early morning, while walking the beach, I would stop in to see Andy as he helped prepare breakfast for his patrons.  I never had the chance to know him as many did, but suspect my impressions of him are very similar to most.  

Andy's first beach bar, Surf Club South, in Grand Case.

His rough and abrasive exterior was just a front with his big smile and interesting stories his true personality.  We talked a few mornings when he wasn't real busy and I found him to be a very interesting man with a very interesting background.  I suspect that not many knew that he, as well as Cheryl, were originally from New Jersey.  

A makeover of Baywatch a few 

When he first came to St. Martin he opened his original beach bar, known as the Surf Club South, on Grand Case Beach.  At the time it was voted one of the top ten beach bars in the world by various travel magazines.  And then ... well, Hurricane Luis arrived in 1995 and Surf Club South was just a memory on the beachfront of Grand Case.  He then opened Baywatch on World Famous Orient Beach and the rest is history as they say.  That was until two years ago when another hurricane did severe damage to the beachfront and the government decided to tear all the beach bars and shops down and rebuild.  

A license plate from Carol and I was on the roof of Baywatch.
Pennsylvania plate CAW-LWW.

The spring of 2016, when Carol and I arrived for our annual vacation on the St. Tropez of the Caribbean, we were greeted with the all-new construc- tion.  They are OK, but they can never replace what once stood there.  Andy died a few years ago and Cheryl has decided not to reopen in one of the new buildings, so our memories of Baywatch will have to come from our scrapbooks and mementos we have around the house.  So sad at times to see the past wash away. There will no longer be Mussels ala Andy. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

Cheryl was always ready with a hug and kiss.

Andy and Cheryl in times past. 

Click on photo to enlarge.