Seven in the morning. The sun is breaking over the horizon. Another great Key West day in the making!

I never left the house during the day yesterday. Did a lot of paper work that I had let accumulate. Sometimes you just have to get to things.

I mentioned in yesterday’s blog about a Key West tradition which has people going to the beach for sunrise on Easter morning. Harry Truman did it when he was in Key West on Easter Sunday.

Sixty years ago! Easter fell on April 9, 1950. Then President, Harry Truman attended an Easter sunrise service on the beach with his daughter Margaret.

I tried to determine if another of Key West’s favorite sons ever did sunrise on the beach on Easter. Ernest Hemingway. I could not find anything on the topic.

I have a recollection that the Hemingway House used to have an egg hunt on Easter Sunday morning for children. That would be when I first started coming to Key West 20 years ago. I know there is none any more. It is a recollection. I could be wrong.

Hemingway enjoyed Key West. He behaved like a native Key Wester! Sloppy Joe’s, fishing and what have you.

He also did some serious work while he lived in Key West. His time here was only 9 years. But he wrote 70 per cent of his works in those nine years. Among them For Whom the Bell Tolls and The Snows of Kilimanjaro.

Hemingway also wrote To Have and Have Not. The novel was set in Key West. Interestingly, it was the only book he wrote whose setting was in the United States. Hemingway seems to have taken his earlier travel experiences and put them into print during his 9 year Key West stay.

Last night I had a date with June and Bill Nelson. They took me to dinner. At La Trattoria. They are my good friends from Delaware. We have known each other for about 15 years.

They return to Delaware thursday. I will not see them again till October.

They are true Key Westers. They built their keys home in Sugarloaf back in the 1970s.

Bill is a former divorce lawyer and a Republican. A black hearted Republican. To the bone! We have some great political conversations.

Kathy was bartending. Love her new hairdo!

Becha hosting. Lovely Becha! I got a hug and kiss when I arrived. I got a hug and kiss when I left. I am gong to start going to La Trattoria every night!

I hurried home after dinner to watch the Duke/Butler game.

A classic!

I was pulling for Butler. The underdog from my perspective. All of their starting five returns next year, except for one player. Beware! Butler is going to be a big time threat. At least everyone will know it. They snuck up on a lot of good teams this year, including Syracuse.

Enjoy your day!

Another Easter has come and gone.

Another joyous day experienced.

Lisa’s Easter starts early in the mornig. With an egg and toy hunt for Robert and Ally. In their backyard. The grandkids go crazy. They each carry a bag which is quickly filled with goodies. Ally’s cry soon into the hunt was….my bag is full….. I have no room!

May her bag, and Robert’s too, always be full!

Lisa must have arisen at sun up. Her table was covered with all sorts of goodies for her Easter brunch. I ate and ate and ate.

Donna and Terri were invited. But 8:30 was their sleeping time.

After the huge brunch, I walked. Farther than normal. I needed it!

My walk took me to Louie’s Back Yard. I was tired and wanted to sit. So I headed for Louie’s deck.

Valerie was there! Valerie from Hot Tin Roof. Clayton’s Valerie.

She works Louie’s deck bar on Sundays and Mondays.

We exchanged holiday greetings.

I finished my walk and headed home.

It was around 1. Donna and Terri were outside on Louis’ deck having breakfast.

I sat and chatted with them for a while. Lisa, Corey and the grandkids showed up to say hello and good bye.

Donna and Terri left about an hour later to drive back to New York. Terri has Carnigee Hall, Feinstein’s and 3 months of Chicago ahead of her. Plus the Tony nominations in early May. She is hopeful.

I shall miss them. Though we spent little time together, I enjoyed having them.

Terri spent her last hour at my home working on her sun tan. I still do not understand why black people need to tan.

I spent the balance of the afternoon home. Watched the golf tournament.

I intended to go out last night. The weather is magnificent. But my head cold that began at the Seder monday started bothering me. So I did the wise thing and stayed home in bed.

Enjoy your day!

Happy Easter!

I am up early. Like 6 o’clock. I have to be at Lisa’s at 8:30. Easter egg hunt time in the back yard.

Lisa warned me yesterday. Be on time! Robert and Ally will be anxious to get started. For them, it is like getting up Christmas morning and wanting to rush to the living room to see what Santa has brought.

Many Key West locals will be up early this morning also. They gather at the beaches to watch the sun rise Easter morning. A bit of a tradition.

My day started in the morning yesterday with a visit from Lisa, Corey and the grandkids. Lisa and Donna are friends. Lisa wanted to see Donna and meet Terri.

Good luck, I told Lisa! These are theatre people. They sleep late! No early to bed and early to rise for them.

Makes sense. Terri works till close to midnight. Then they have dinner and drinks. They are to bed around 3:30-4. They sleep till 1:30-2.

They are like babies. On a different time schedule!

Later in the morning, I went to Lisa’s. Egg coloring time! I love it! Did it with my children! My other grandchildren! And now again with Robert and Ally! God is good!

We did the deed at the kitchen table. Lisa had it covered with newspapers. Several small soup dishes filled with different colored fluids.

Robert and Ally did the names first with crayons. Lisa had hard boiled the eggs the night before.

Then came the coloring.

Robert likes multiple colors. No overlapping. He is very meticulous.

Ally likes multiple colors also. But she rolls the whole egg in each color so you never know what the final color will be.

With several dishes of color liquid on the table and the grandkids arms flaying around, I knew it was a disaster waiting to occur. It always is.

Ally knocked over the dish of yellow. Spread it all over the table. No problem. She continued with other colors. Lisa cleaned up.

While the grandkids were coloring, I was also. There are a couple of eggs done by the master himself.

The scene brought me back to when I was Robert and Ally’s age. 4-5. Who had egg coloring in those days!

My grandmother used to boil onions. The liquid residue was dark brown. The eggs were immersed in the dark brown liquid. All our Easter eggs were colored dark brown!

Before colloring the eggs, we used to write names on each egg with soap.

A good memory!

Then I took a walk. Having company and extra food in the refrigerator has caused me to eat a bit more than I usually do. I am a picker. I avoid the eating problem by keeping very little food in the house. However with company, I have to be the good host so the refrigerator is full. And so is my stomach! Bad!

I needed the walk!

Then it was to the Coffee House to read the New York Times. I was hoping to run into Jane who I had met there the day before. But alas, no Jane.

My evening started at the Chart Room. Captain Peter and bartender Michael and I chatted for a while. I bought Peter a holiday drink. He is one nice person.

I was anxious to get to the Sports Page Bar. Two great Final Four basketball games to watch.

The place was packed. The whole world was there watching the games. I was lucky to get a seat at the bar.

I was also thrilled! There for the first time I saw the Syracuse flag hanging from the ceiling. Right in front! In all its glory!

I was proud. I am a die hard Syracuse fan.

The flag hangs at the Sports Page due to the thoughtfulness and genrosity of Larry from Syracuse. He mailed it to me and asked that I have it hung. It awaits his visit next year. We will drink together beneath it.

The Butler/Michigan State game was terrific. Butler won by 2 points. Butler wins because of its ferocious defense. That is why they beat Syracuse and everyone else so far in the tournament.

The second game was not exciting at all. Duke trounced West Virginia by 16 points. Never a game.

I expected more from West Virginia. They were a force in the Big East this year.

I have to move swiftly now. Shower, shave and all that. And then to Lisa’s for the Easter egg hunt. Actually Lisa has more than eggs hidden. She also hides books, games and toys for Robert and Ally.

Then Lisa has planned a brunch for us.

Should be fun!

Enjoy your holiday!

Yesterday’s radio show was the best yet!

How could it miss!

My guest was Broadway star Terri White!

Terri’s story is one for the books. Homeless less than 2 years ago. She could not get work in New York City. Her age and style were working against her. Sixty. Blues singing was not in vogue. She slept on a park bench in Washington Square Park for 3 months.

It was the bottom! The pits! As Terri described it on the show, “It was chin ups from the gutter time.”

How life changes in an instant. Sometimes for the good. She is just coming off her starring role in Finian’s Rainbow. This month she is appearing at Carnigee Hall and Feinstein’s. And then back to Broadway. A three month run in Chicago as Matron Mama Morton.

Wow!

After the show, I was off to the Coffee House. Terri and Donna had a luncheon.

Made a new friend at the Coffee House. Jane.

Jane is older than me. 79. A rarity. Everyone is younger than me these days!

A lovely tiny white haired lady. A glowing smile. Dressed in long flowing atire. Beads wrapping her neck.

She is a retired school teacher from Buffalo. Jane and her husband have lived in Key West since 1995.

Our conversation was triggered by War and Peace. She was reading it. A wow in itself. Over 1,100 pags. She had never read it before. Surprising. I told her about the 1950s movie. The great music in the movie. She is going to obtain a DVD of it.

We talked of many things. I hope we meet again. I enjoyed her company.

Then home for the afternoon. To a minor tragedy. No water. A pipe broke somewhere in Key Haven.

At 5 the pipe still had not been repaired. The girls and I were going to dinner at 8. I telephoned them and told them to shower elsewhere. Perhaps Donna’s daughter’s place. I was off to Lisa’s to clean up.

Dinner was at La Trattoria. Excellent meal. Excellent company. Donna and Terri kept me entertained.

Beecha looked glorious. As usual! I got two hugs and kisses last night instead of one. Wowie!

Ran into Cheryl and Roger. They return home to Chicago tuesday.

Karthy bartending. She has a new hair do. Lovely!

Then to the Keys Piano Bar.

The place was packed. They were waiting for Terri.

Terri was not working. But they knew she would sing.

When she finished her first series of songs, she received a standing ovation from her family of friends.

Terri’s singing is better. Her voice and appearance are more confident. The off shot of success.

Today is Easter egg coloring. With Robert and Ally at 11:30. I love it!

Enjoy your day!

Big radio show today!

Don’t miss it!

Broadway star Terri White my guest!

What a story she has to tell! The highs and lows of life. She has experienced them all.

Listen on radio at KONK 1500 AM. Watch and listen on the internet anywhere in the world at www.konkam.com.

I spent a bit of the morning yesterday sitting outside by the water with Donna and Terri. Actually Terri. Donna was off to the side on the telephone. She now manages Terri. She was working all morning.

Terri has spent about an hour outside each day on the deck. She is working on her tan. Black people want to tan also.

White people tan to become black. Black people tan to become blacker.

Does not make sense to me.

Terri and I chatted a bit about today’s radio show while she was working on her tan.

We then separated. I have not seen either of my guests since yesterday morning.

I did an hour at the beach in the afternoon. Working on my tan! The reflection off the sand helps.

The Chart Room was my first stop last night.

Catain Peter was there. He was holding court at the far end of the bar.

The Captain was smoking a cigar. First time I recall seeing him do so.

At some point, he placed his cigar in the ashtray. When he picked it up, it had a large gob of chewing gum attached to it. The Captain was upset. The gum stuck. He finally had to cut off part of the cigar with a knife.

Then ensued a discourse on the propriety of placing gum in an ashtray, where gum should be disposed off, etc. An earth shaking conversation! A typical Chart Room one!

The Sports Page Bar was next.

I brought the Syracuse flag which fellow Syracuse fan Larry had sent me.

Spoke with Sports Page owner Patrick as to where to hang the flag. He was delighted to have it. We finally settled on a spot. He will be hanging it today. Larry, I will e mail you a pic as soon as it is up.

I had dinner at the bar. The special was turkey.

Turkey is sold in just about every Key West restaurant on thursday evenings. It is a tradition.

The meal was delicious! Just like Mother’s Thanksgiving dinner. Too much, however! I could only eat about half of it.

I watched NIT basketball during my meal.

That’s it for today.

Again, please listen or listen and watch The Key West Lou Legal Hour this morning. Should be one terrific show!

Enjoy your day!

Hello! And good morning!

I rose late. It is close to 9. The sun is up. Shining bright. No clouds in the sky. Going to be a beautiful day!

Show time tomorrow. My radio show. The Key West Lou Legal Hour. At 10 am.

I have a very special guest for the whole hour. Broadway star Terri White.

What a story she has to tell!

A year ago she was homeless and sleeping on a park bench in New York City. Six months ago she opened and starred in the revival of Finian’s Rainbow on Broadway.

It has been good luck ever since.

Listen to her story.

KONK 1500 AM radio. On the internet for viewing and listening at http://www.konkam.com/.

When I came down to the kitchen yesterday morning on my way to go play golf, Donna was sitting at the kitchen counter. With an ice bag on her head. I laughed. She said not so loud. She had had a big evening. I smiled and walked on.

There was a big reunion group to greet Donna and Terri at the Keys Piano Bar tuesday night. The big head requiring the ice bag was one of the fall outs.

Golf was teriffic yesterday!

I played with Don, Aaron, Mike and I can’t remember who else. Alzheimers. It happens. I remember. Larry Smith! How could I forget!

I played well on the front nine. Very well. Shot a 50. First time in years.

The back nine was another story. I started getting tired and my game went to hell. However…..I still won $5. The front side saved me.

Tom usually plays with us. However his daughter and a friend were in yesterday. So he played in a group ahead of us with Tino. It was nice to watch Tom enjoying his daughter’s company.

I napped after golf. In preparation for a party last night.

I was invited to a dinner party/picnic at a friend’s home. About 25 people. I knew half of them. And got to know the rest before the evening was over. Good food. Interesting people.

Mick Barnes and his wife were there. Mick is one of Key West’s top attorneys. He got the $8 million award last year in the Duck Boat case. Need I say more about his competency.

Amy was there also. She used to own Mangoes. A frequent traveler to Africa.

I had not seen Amy in about a year. We now both share a common situation. We drink no more. Made for some interesting talk. But…..she still smokes. Lucky her! Not really.

Bocce tonight. Donna and Terri are coming to watch.

Enjoy your day!

Good morning world!

Dark outside. Pitch black. And yet 6:30. It is like getting up in the middle of the night. Weird!

My radio show is this friday at 10. The Key West Lou Legal Hour. I am going to have a guest for the entire hour. Broadway star Terri White!

You may say how does this tie into legal. Easy. Terri’s recent life has been gigantically impacted by three current legal issues: Homelessness, same sex marriage and hospitalization insurance. A wow show! Listen in. KONK 1500 AM. Or even better, see and hear Terri and me on the internet at http://www.konkam.com/.

Terri and her relatively new spouse Donna are my house guests this week. They are upstairs sleeping. I have no idea what time they came in. Probably late. There was a big time welcome home gathering at the Keys Piano Bar last night for them. Lynda Frechette spearheaded the event. When they wake up early this afternoon, they will fill me in.

It will be this afternoon. These show people sleep late! Their schedules are different from ours.

I stayed in last night. Actually I went to bed late yesterday afternoon. The cold temperature at the Seder the night before did me in. Coupled I think with my old age. I felt the beginnings of a head cold. I am very conscious of my health. So it was better to bed than out on the town.

Yesterday started as a very good day for me.

A haircut at 10. Always happy to see Lori.

Then a manicure with Tammy at her place afterwards. Her little 2 year old son was running around. A cute young man.

Just before I left home, I received a telephone call from old friend Ann. Ann and I knew each other back in Utica in the early 1960s when she was a young newspaper reporter and I a young lawyer. She left after a couple of years. I never saw her again till about 5 years ago when we ran into each other here in Key West. She and her husband were living in Big Pine.

An old friendship renewed. We get together several times a year now to catch up.

She said lets have lunch. She was buying. How could I say no.

We met at Hogfish.

Ann’s dieting. Lost 15 pounds already. It showed! I told her.

We talked for a couple of hours. It was pleasant time well spent.

Stephanie Kaple is the shoe lady. So called because she spends all her free monies on female shoes. She is also very much into the homeless. Devoted to the cause. She is executive director of a not for profit homeless organization.

She had a comment on Facebook this morning wherein she said she was “…..very excited about an awesome donation…..2 new sets of pots and pans…..we got from the good people in Key West.”

Little things mean a lot!

Remember the book The Shack I have been raving about. One of the best novels, if not the best, I have ever read. That good!

Yesterday I decided to check out the author. I had never heard of him. His name is William P. Young.

Turns out Young is Canadian, was a hotel night clerk and is the father of 6. Wrote the book. Could not get a publisher. Self published the book. The book took off. Sold over 1 million copies. Was #1 on the New York Times paperback fiction best seller list for almost 2 years.

A wow!

Golf this morning. My head cold seems to have gone away. I hope. Anyhow I shall be out there struggling.

Enjoy your day!

I grocery shopped yesterday. Donna and Terri were coming.

My cupboard is always bare. Necessities were needed. Like eggs, bacon and bread. Orange juice and milk. Yogurt. Cookies. Fruit. And booze. They drink Maker’s Mark, a bourbon whiskey.

I rarely drank at home here in Key West. Did my drinking out in bars. So I rarely went to a liquor store to make a purchase. I was shocked at the prices! It’s expensive to be an alcoholic!

Donna and Terri arrived at around 4. We had to be at her daughter’s for Seder at 5:30.

The girls looked like hell! They had been driving since midnight Saturday. They could not leave New York till Terri finished a gig. They drove straight through, except for one 5 hour stop to sleep.

A quick drink and shower and we were on our way to daughter Stacey’s home.

I did the Passover Seder with Donna’s family last year also. So I knew the guests.

The dinner is a family event. I was the only outsider. Though I did not feel nor was I treated like one.

About 20 people.

Three of Donna’s four children. Scott, Brett and Stacey. Derek could not make it. However modern science is wonderful. He was with us all night. A computer at Stacey’s and another at Derek’s in Detroit. The two Seder dinners were simulcast, so to speak. Total communication and interaction all evening.

Scott and Brett ran the show. The Seder, that is. They led the prayers and chants.

Cathy was there. A lovely lady. Scott’s wife. And Tal. Tal is Brett’s partner.

Stacey’s husband is Rob. A Key West school teacher. A good guy and a good father. Very much in love with Stacey as she is with him.

Rob’s mother Mickey joined us also. She has moved to Key West. Her husband died in December. Mickey is 80 and a joy. Never stoped talking.

Then there was Donna’s first husband and his present wife. He is father to Donna’s 4 children.
And his brother and wife from St. Louis.

And Donna’s third spouse, Terri.

Plus 4 kids from about 2 to 12.

They all had fun together. It was like my Christmas Eve.

I wore my yarmulka. In days of old, I referred to it as a beanie. Stacey’s children made it for me last year. It has my name on it.

The Seder was held outdoors. Too many people to sit in the house. A long table.

I have been telling you how great the weather has been lately. That it had finally turned. Not last night. It was 64 degrees! Cold. Windy. A cold front came upon Key West suddenly.

I was not dressed for it. No one was. I wore shorts and a shirt. Fortunately I had the good sense to bring a sweater in case it got cold. The sweater was not enough! Donna brought out a blanket to cover my legs. I have become an old man.

I cheated. I drank for the first time since October 29. A bit of wine. The 4 sips that are part of the tradition. It was Manischewitz grape wine. Fruitty. Delicious. Only 11% alcohol. I checked the label before drinking. Four sips led to 2 glasses. Oh, well.

We all prayed and sang. I did a couple of readings. Everyone read.

Scott and Brett were the masters of ceremony, for want of a better description. They did it with joy and humor.

The Seder dinner itself was outstanding. Donna usually spends 3 days cooking for it. Since she was traveling and unavailable, her children did it. And in only 2 days!

We had matza soup. Great soup. A floater. I learned it is important for the matza ball to float. In order to do so, seltzer must be added in the preparation.

Then brisket and potatoes. And turkey. And beans.

Desert was very intersting. Three types.

Matza covered with chocolate. The Jews know how to suffer!

Then 2 cakes. Both made with ground matza. Looked like cake and tasted like cake. And rose. I found that aspect interesting. That the cakes could rise. Since they were made with ground matza. No leavening. The Jews forgot the leavening when they fled Pharoh. Each cake stood proudly 2 inches tall.

That was my evening. Did it all! And then took Donna and Terri back home with me. They both needed to hit the sack immediately. I doubt they will wake before noon today. Then, Key West watch out!

Enjoy your day!

I am being invaded today. Pleasantly so. Donna and Terri are arriving to spend a week with me.

Today marks the beginning of Passover. Donna is Jewish. And a tough Jewish Mom to boot. It is a maternal family requirement that all her children gather with her for the Passover Seder. No matter where Donna is.

So this year they will all be traveling to Key West.

The Seder dinner is at 6 tonight at Stacey’s home here in Key West. Stacey is Donna’s daughter. Nine months pregnant and waiting. Donna’s 3 sons are also coming in with their families from all parts of the northeast.

Donna and Terri have been living in New York this past year where Terri has had some terrific gigs. Terri last job was Saturday night. Donna and Terri did not leave the City till midnight. They are driving.

I have heard from them via telephone as they move along I 95 towards Key West. No stopping. They must get here today. Before 6 this evening.

What wrecks they are going to be!

The reason they are driving is that they both have clothes in storage that they want to bring back to New York with them. Terri goes into rehearsal for the Chicago revival upon their return.

My house is in tip top shape. Even put clean sheets on their bed. I am ready for them.

I join them at the Seder dinner. I have for the past two years also. I drink the 4 glasses of wine, chant, pray and eat matza and other symbolic foods. I come out of Egypt with my Jewish brethern.

Yesterday was a pleasant day.

Meet the Press from my bed. Then the drugstore where I ran into Christine. Love her! She calms Larry.

I stopped at Lisa’s for a bagel. She had bought fresh ones. I enjoy onion bagels and she had one for me. My girl!

Then I was off to the beach. The fantastic weather continues. Mid 80s with a touch of humidity.

This time it was Higgs Beach. A lot of people. Again I could only handle one hour. The sun is too much for me. But the hour was good. I sat in my sand chair and read the Sunday New York Times.

I was hungry. Salute was behind me. So I stopped in for a sandwich. Yellow snapper. Delicious!

Ran into Clayton at Salute’s. Clayton is a former premier Key West bartender. Last worked at Antonia’s and Bagatelle. Now he is self employed. Makes tee shirts. www.dirtydogtees.com.

Clayton is originally from New Zealand. Owns a condominium in Dubai. And most importnantly is married to the lovely Valerie who bartends at Hot Tin Roof.

I asked Clayton when he worked. I go to the Sports Page and he is there shooting pool. I stop at Salute’s and he is lounging at an outside table. He laughed.

Then it was home for a nap. The sun does get to me.

Dinner last night was at Lisa’s. It was Cameron’s birthday. Cameron is Corey’s son and Lisa’s step son. A good kid. Now 15 and maturing well.

Corey’s grandmother is quite old. She lives in Germany. Corey is going to visit her in June. A two week trip. He is taking Cameron. Father and son. Both are excited.

They are going to stop for a few days on the way back in London. Corey is working on his doctorate at a university just outside London. He is stopping to visit his professor.

While in London, Corey is taking Cameron to a concert of some sort. 90,000 plus people. I forget the star’s name. Not my game. But Corey and Lisa’s birthday gift to Cameron were two tickets to the concert.

Cameron went crazy!

Enough.

I have to move this morning. Company coming. I need to buy some groceries. My cupboard is always bare. I cannot be a poor host.

Enjoy your day!

Good morning! It is Sunday!

I just went outside for a few minutes. A Key West day is starting. Already a bit warm. The sun breaking over the horizon. And I could taste the salt. First time in a long time.

Yesterday was a strange one. Started slow. Finished in good order.

I overslept. That I told you yesterday. I rarely oversleep.

My plan was to go to the beach again. The weather was perfect for it.

I never made it.

I stayed in bed all day.

Do not know why. Just did.

Watched TV. Old movies, basketball and golf. And slept a bit in between.

Marty called at dinner time. He’s back in town. We decided to meet at Michael’s for dinner.

Dinner was at the bar.

Michael’s is one of the finest restaurants in Key West. I ordered meat loaf. You figure. Guess I needed some comfort food.

Many friends at the bar. A lovely blond came up to us to say hello. We talked a bit. Who is she, I wondered. I could not place her. She then returned to her seat with friends. She was sitting two seats away from me.

Then it dawned on me! It was Janine! Janine from the Pier House. She is the outside bartender.

I had never seen Janine out of her Pier House uniform. Nor made up as she was last night. Wow! She looked terrific! I did not recognize her!

I leaned over her date and apologized. Told her why I had not recognized her. We all had a good laugh.

It turned into a big night. After dinner, Marty and I headed over to the Keys Piano Bar. It had been a couple of months since I was there. When you are not drinking, you tend to avoid bars and the like.

Brooke was waiting tables. Brooke is a young lady. Probably all of 27 or 28. Last year her grandmother was going through chemo and was losing her hair. Brooke shaved her own head. A good girl! A great granddaughter!

Last night Brooke’s hair was growing in. It was a couple of inches long. Grandma is better.

Captain Dan was bartending. The last I saw of Dan was sometime last summer. He used to work the bar at the Pier House’s Wine Galley. I would run into him when I would go over to listen to Larry Smith.

Dan is both bartender and boater. A sailboater. He owns a 42 foot sailboat.

Last summer Dan decided to change his life a bit. He had turned 50. Figured he needed a new residence. So he filled up the sailboat with his belongings and left for Puerto Rico.

Dan was traveling alone.

Somewhere south of the Bahamas and north of the Turks and Caicos, he ran into a storm. An unexpected one. A ferocious one.

The area he was in when the storm came up is also known as the Bermuda Triangle.

His sail got ripped. His boat got broken up. His body took a beating.

Dan and boat ended up on a reef. He was rescued by the Bahamian Coast Guard.

Dan ended up for a few weeks on a small island in the south Bahamas. No civilization. Just natives. He had next to no cash. Credit cards were useless. But he says the people there took care of him.

The type of story movies are made from.

Dan is healed. And wiser. Does not plan ever to travel a long distance on the ocean alone again.

Ricky was playing the piano. His hair style reminded me of Jerry Lee Lewis. A big white pompadour high up on top.

Jennifer is in from New York singing. A talent.

Ricky was playing and Jennifer singing All of Me. The lyric begins…..Why not take all of me, don’t you know I’m not happy without you!

Rickey told us Gerry Marks wrote the song. When Marks died, he was cremated. His ashes placed in a urn. A small plaque was attached to the urn. The plaque read…..”All of Me.”

It was a good evening!

Enjoy your day!