BAILEY HOUSE NOVA SCOTIA

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Fourteen years ago, my former wife and I were seated at Virgilio’s bar. Next to us was a lovely lady. We started talking. Her name Suzan Hebditch. From Toronto.

Suzan mentioned the next day was her 50th birthday. We invited her to dinner the next evening to celebrate. We had an enjoyable time at Pisces.

Suzan had and still visits Key West once a year. Occasionally, she will e-mail…..Wanna have dinner? Every third or fourth year.

This was to be my year. She remembered me. We had dinner last night at the Hot Tin Roof. Prior to dinner, we stopped at the Chart Room. Suzan had never been there.

When we first met, Suzan was the CEO of the lawyers’ library system in Canada. The law libraries are owned by the bar and not the state as here in the U.S. A big job.

A law librarian no more. She is now the owner of a bed and breakfast in Nova Scotia, Canada. The Bailey House Bed and Breakfast. Her life.

A stay at The Bailey House is a uniquely Canadian experience. The facility sits on the ocean. Thirty foot tides coming in. Gardens in the back. Special. Different. Beautiful. Planned and planted by Suzan.

The property consists of the main house and a coach house. The coach house is comparable to a Key West mother in law’s abode.

There is history to the place. Built in 1770 by John Easson. He sold it to Joseph Totten in 1783. Totten was a bit of a scoundrel from an American perspective. A Tory. Described by Canadians as a refugee loyalist. He fled Westchester County. He left in the dead of night with his wife, six children and four slaves.

The small community where the now Bailey House is located was and still is known as Annapolis Royal. Totten became a prominent figure. Bailey House once guested Prince Edward. The Prince was the father of Queen Victoria.

Suzan has revamped the property. Pictures show a lovely place to spend a few days. Suzan has a reputation for being an outstanding cook. Pictures reflect the same, also.

Take a look at The Bailey House website. www.baileyhouse.ca. E-mail info@baileyhouse.ca.

Should you get the itch to visit Canada and spend a day or two at the Bailey House, Suzan can be reached at 1-877-532-1285. Toll free. The property’s address is 150 St. George St., P.O. Box 368, Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia. Canada BOS 1AO.

Suzan’s beauty is only excelled by her toughness.  She tries odd ball things. None easy. She relishes in doing the difficult.

In 2013 and again in 2014, she walked the 500 mile pilgrimage known as the Camino del Santiago.  Started in France and ended at a shrine in Spain. The walk took many days. Something like 6 weeks. Though my recollection might be wrong in this regard.

I sense Suzan did it as a challenge. Not so much from a religious perspective.

Suzan’s Camino del Santiago is my Santorini volcano. She succeeded where I failed. Hers a much longer and arduous adventure.

I anticipate seeing Suzan in 3-4 years. It will be my time again.

Enjoy your day!

KEY WEST SCHOOL SEGREGATION

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I came across an item concerning Fats Navarro this morning. The world famous trumpeter. He had a Key West connection. I checked it out.

Fats was a Conch. Born in Key West. Resided here through high school. Then departed for what turned out to be an exciting career.

He attended Douglass High School. I thought the name strange. Had never heard of a Key West high school by that name.

There was. It no longer exists.

It was the high school for blacks. At a time Key West, as much of the South, was segregated.

Today, there exists the Frederick Douglas Gymnasium in Bahama Village. A gym and community center. Serves the youth of Bahama Village. Many of whom are African-Americans. I could not ascertain whether the gym today was the building that housed the segregated high school of yesterday.

My yesterday a lot of running around. With little accomplished.

Tried to get an appointment for a manicure and pedicure. Tammy was all excited on the phone. No appointment till next week. I could not understand. I always get a timely appointment. I have been a weekly customer for years. Plus, this is not season.

I suspect something must be wrong at her end. I will find out next week.

A doctor appointment at 1. Then to the Cuban Coffee House for lunch. It was 2. A Cuban cheese toast and large Cuban coffee.

No way.

All the tables were occupied. The line waiting to place an order several deep.

I decided to go to the Pier House Beach Bar. Enjoyed fish and chips while observing the lovely ladies in swim attire. Never tires me.

On this day in 1945, Dachau was liberated. Hitler had killed 6 million Jews. It was supposed to be the last genocide. The world deceived itself. Genocides have been frequent since the end of World War II. Especially in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

Dinner tonight with an old friend. Suzan Hebditch. A Canadian true and true.

I met Suzan many years ago. At Virgilio’s. She was vacationing here. As she does every few years.

I have not seen Suzan in 6-7 years.

She owns a guest house in Nova Scotia. The Bailey House Bed and Breakfast.

We are dining at Hot Tin Roof. I am sure it will be a fun time.

Enjoy your day!