Living and Working in Hamden CT

I can't imagine my life without the adventures I've had since graduating high school and undertaking my gap year. Now I'm on to Phase Three. It was by far the easiest to pack up and go for a third time; for one, I'm much closer to home than Germany or Florida, and two, I'm settling down with family in  an area I already know. There is little grandeur about moving one state south to go work for the spring--not when you compare it to my other adventures, at least. But I know I need a different type of experience. Learning how to operate in a working environment is just as important as discovering the nuances of a new culture or figuring out how to live on my own.

My Odd Jobs

Through the generosity of my great aunt and uncle, Harry and Nellie Scoble, I am now situated in Hamden, CT. My first week consisted of many introductions, some paperwork, and a bit of job training; now, I'm ready and willing to work and work hard. My uncle Harry has been instrumental in aligning my job opportunities. He is the president of the Summit Corporation of America--a metal processing and manufacturing company--and also owns a restaurant called Park Central Tavern. I have the chance to work at Summit during the days--doing anything from office work to maintenance and odd jobs in the factory. In the evenings, I make the short drive to Park Central. Over the past few nights, I've been learning the ins and outs of the operation. It's pretty simple. The restaurant is my first commitment, and I know I will enjoy working there most nights this spring. I also know there are plenty of opportunities at PCT. It won't be hard to establish myself, and then I can go from there.

My third job opportunity will be at the New Haven Country Club. My day job at Summit is only temporary, because once the golf club opens for the season, I'll have the chance to work with the head pro and hopefully get to caddy as well. Though my first couple days at Summit went well, I look forward to the course opening because it's two minutes away instead of the forty minutes it takes to get to Summit. And all commutes aside, it will be nice to have a gorgeous golf course to look at instead of a dirty factory. The golf club is timeless, and the old Willie Park Jr. design has undergone restorations so it plays similar to the way it did back in the 1920s. Whether I'm playing the course or caddying, I'll know all of its tricks by the time it reaches full splendor in late May.

Here in Hamden

I can't wait to get to know Hamden and the surrounding areas. My dad grew up here, and ever since I was young I remember making visits. First it was Thanksgivings with my grandparents Mimi and Papa while they still lived here, and more recently we've rekindled our Christmas Eve lunch tradition with incredible family gatherings at Harry's restaurant. Living here for a few months will be different than those short visits. I will truly get to know the area and understand more about the place where my dad grew up. It's also nice to spend time with family that I know well but don't see as often as I'd like. I've seen Harry and Nellie's daughter Leeza almost every day (it's hard to believe she's engaged already), and I'll get to see Harry Jr. when he comes home from his senior year at St. Joe's in Philly. And when no one is around, I still have their beagle named Oscar to mess around with. He likes to sleep in, and most mornings I wake up with him curled up on my bed. 

A Look Back on My Return North, From My New Home in Hamden CT

It was barely two weeks ago that I completed the final miles of my road trip. Exiting off of I-87 and heading west, then finally passing Jiminy Peak, Five Corners, and Mt. Greylock, I knew my time on the road was up. Departing Williamstown six weeks earlier in bitter cold with the promise of a month of Florida warmth felt so long ago, yet here I was arriving back home even before winter had blown its final breath. 

It's difficult to compare my Germany adventure to my road trip, because they were so very different. In Germany, I had the time and structure in place to take things slowly--to not only observe but learn; to not only meet people but build relationships that will last a life time. In my solo excursion down south and back, I took things at a faster pace--attempting to squeeze in as many experiences as time would allow. My focus was different, too. The South is a whole new world compared to New England, but at the same time, it's still America. There's no language barrier, no new system of government or social structure, and no thrill of being in Europe. I didn't have the desire to go out of my way to look at a church or a historical monument. Instead, I was interested in discovering a new golf course; visiting family, friends, or friends of friends; and getting a feel for the broad spectrum of life in a different part of my own country. And after accomplishing all of this, along with the many hours spent in the drivers seat of the Malibu, I arrived home, again. 

This time, it was much easier to answer the question, "How was Florida?" When I was asked the same thing about Germany, I rarely knew where to start. But most people in Williamstown are more familiar with Florida than anywhere in Europe. I could get by with something along the lines of: "The weather was gorgeous; I played a lot of golf; I spent a lot of time driving; it was a lot of fun." And above all, it was a ton of fun--certainly not a bad way to spend six weeks of winter. 

A Few Occurrences While Driving Home

With Dudleyite Rich Maxwell

I cannot be finished with my road trip without writing a bit about my trip home. Five days of slowly decreasing temperatures and a few notable stops later, I reached Williamstown from Dunedin, FL. I took a different and more direct route than on my way down, stopping to see family friends instead of buddies in college. My first destination was Seabrook Island to see a longtime Dudleyite Rich Maxwell. Though I wish I had time for golf on Seabrook (or on next door Kiawah Island), it was still a gorgeous place to stay. And I did find time for a final round of golf the next day in North Carolina, when I drove slightly out of my way to play a course called Tobacco Road. It was a unique course to say the least, and though I'm glad I don't have to play that style of golf every day, trying my hand at the extreme layout that is "the Road" was a ton of fun.

My favorite stop was in Washington D.C. I bypassed D.C. on my way down, but no East coast road trip would be complete without a visit to our nation's capital. I visited to see Charlie and Martha Johnson and received the bonus of seeing the Capitol. Charlie Johnson served an incredible tenure as the Parliamentarian of the House of Representatives. He worked in the Capitol building every day, and a quick glance at his "wall of fame" at their home in Bethesda, MD reveals his connection to the most powerful political figures of this country. Though he retired in the mid-2000s, he still has a small office in the basement of the building and still has access that few even dream of. My arrival included no visitor parking or tourist entrance; instead, I parked in the lot reserved for employees and "special guests" and got to sneak in one of the side doors, with Charlie leading the way, of course. It's an incredible place. I'm as big of a fan of American history as anyone, so I enjoyed walking around and seeing statues and paintings that triggered bits of knowledge stored up in my brain. But I won't go into any detail; simply walking where thousands of instrumental politicians have worked, debated, and compromised is the most important part of the experience.

With Charlie Johnson in Bethesda, MD

Getting a tour from Charlie Johnson does have its perks. Not only did Charlie introduce me to someone in every hallway, but he also made sure to take me to places where normal tours do not go. The photo above is the view from a private balcony on the front of the Capitol looking over the National Mall. The offices that have access to this balcony were property of the Speaker of the House and his cohorts. I know Charlie would like to think he set it up, but just a minute later when he was pointing out the Speaker's office, there was John Boehner walking towards us. Politics aside, it was neat to see someone like that in person. I could tell immediately that he really did respect Charlie, and when I was introduced, he took the extra second to say, "Hi Tom, John Boehner, nice to meet you." Of course I knew who he was from the second I saw him, but his humbleness made him really likable.

It was a tremendous stay with the Johnsons, and the next day, after a stop at the National Cathedral for a few pictures and a quick lunch at Potbelly's, I was off to Delaware to see the other Johnsons for my final stop before heading home. Drew is Charlie and Martha's son, and seeing Drew and his family one more time was a cool way to end the trip. I stood on the beach that day at sunset with Drew and Luke (a soon-to-be Cub at Camp Dudley) and watched the surfers in their wetsuits riding wave after crashing wave. It was beautiful there on the Delaware coast. I'd been going non-stop for weeks, and in that moment, I found it fitting to slow down and reflect on my trip. Phase two of the gap year was nearly over. Though nothing will ever compare to my time in Germany, six weeks on the road were about as good as it gets.

The Delaware shoreline at sunset

Golf & Hockey (And Sunsets on the Beach)

Visiting Grandparents in Florida, Part 2

Though I had seen Mimi and Papa, my grandparents on my dad's side, only a few weeks earlier for a Super Bowl visit, my one night with them in Dunedin barely counted for a visit. Heading north from Placida, Miranda and I hit heavy traffic but made it to Mimi and Papa's in time for dinner. She would have an abbreviated visit, but I would stay for a full four days. As I learned over the course of my visit, Dunedin is a great place to live. While a quiet community like Placida is a perfect place for a relaxing week or six weeks of vacation, many long-term residents choose places in and around Tampa Bay because there is so much to do. I found that out quickly. We filled our days with all sorts of activities, dining experiences, and fun times in Florida's warm weather.

I'll write briefly about golf first. A few weeks back when I first visited Dunedin, I had the chance to join Papa's Monday golf group for a morning round. He also plays on Wednesdays with some of the same guys at a different course: Seven Springs. Two days later, Papa and I played the local Dunedin Country Club, which was a different type of course than the two where he usually plays. In both rounds, I hit the ball better than ever but struggled more than ever on the greens. At Seven Springs I shot an 81 with four three-putts and a few more near-"gimmies" that lipped out. Though it would've been fun to shoot a couple 75's, I had no trouble having fun golfing with Papa.

Outdoor seating is always a nice thing in Florida

One of the highlights not only of my stay with Mimi and Papa but also of the entire road trip was our Thursday night outing to see the Boston Bruins play in Tampa. The evening started with a dinner in downtown Ybor City at the Tampa Bay Brewing Company. Our quest to find the restaurant took us through a really cool part of Tampa; the cobblestone streets, trollies, and plethora of great restaurants made Ybor a fun place to be before the game. My Cuban sandwich was superb (I couldn't pass through Tampa without having a Cuban sandwich), and the fried plantains definitely crack my top ten list of foods I've tried this year.

In the past few years, my Bruins have surpassed the Red Sox and Celtics in order of my favorite Boston teams. Though I grew up visiting Fenway Park every season and also had my seventh birthday party in the front row at a Celtics game, I'd never seen the Bruins live. Who would've imagined I'd see the B's for the first time in Florida?

We arrived at the game with plenty of time to spare; watching warmups, it was clear that Tyler Seguin was the most gifted player on the ice. I think we often forget that he is barely twenty-one, and with the skill and speed he has now, I can't wait to see him a few years down the road. As I stood a few rows back from the glass and snapped photos, I couldn't help but wonder at the sheer size of Zdeno Chara and Milan Lucic. The program listed them at 6'9" and 6'4" with Lucic having the slightly bulkier build, but on skates they both looked like giants. Size doesn't always matter, though. Brad Marchand scored the goal that put Boston ahead for good and was a pest all night long. Nathan Horton was the player of the game, however, scoring the first and fourth goals. He is finally injury-free, and on this night in Tampa Bay, he lead the team to victory.

It was an incredible treat to see an NHL game with Papa. Our seats were pretty ideal, and we got to see a couple close up goals scored down our end. Even better, we sat directly under the lightening machine. Each time the Lightening scored, we could see and hear some serious energy coming out of the metal rods right above us. It was a fun stadium to say the least, and though I've never thought of Florida or Tampa as a place where hockey would be popular, it seems they have no trouble selling out the arena every night.

Plenty of people out on a Friday afternoon at Clearwater Beach

I can't summarize my vacation with Mimi and Papa without talking about the beaches. We visited two located right next to each other; though they were both popular and highly rated, they couldn't have been more different. Caladesi Island required a ferry ride across the bay and through the Mangrove canals to reach the marina. The main building is probably the only establishment on the island, and the rest is pure dunes and sandy beaches. We walked almost all the way to the tip of the island, collecting a few shells and laughing at the pelicans fighting the wind. Clearwater Beach was different to say the least. After a round of golf, we packed up the car and drove down to Clearwater and crossed the bridge that brought us out to the gulf. Whereas Caladesi is a destination for a day, Clearwater could be a vacation destination for a week. There were more than enough hotels, condos, and houses on the island, and on top of that, they had all of the restaurants and shops one would need for a pleasant week of vacationing. The actual beach is massive, extending from the back doors of the restaurants and hotels fifty or a hundred yards down to the crashing waves. Pier 60 is a popular stop along the beach. Basically it's an extension of Route 60, and half of it is covered in artists' tables while the other half is exclusive to fishermen.

We decided to sit down for dinner, take things slowly, and make sure we stayed until sunset. Grouper was the best and freshest fish available, so we took advantage of it. I could barely see the salad part of my grouper caesar salad because the filet was so big, but I enjoyed every bite of it. It was my second-to-last night in Florida. By that time the next day, I had the car packed up and ready to go. Seeing Mimi and Papa was so much fun. Dunedin is their home, and now I have an appreciation for where they live and what they do. There are plenty of fond memories, too. I can't thank Mimi and Papa enough for having me visit, taking me out on the golf course, on the beach, or out to restaurants where we watched the sunset. I waved goodbye on the morning of Sunday the 24th to start my drive north, and I knew it wouldn't be the last time I make a trip down to Dunedin. 

 

Beach Time and Seafood in Placida

Visiting Grandparents in Florida, Part 1

It feels like forever ago that I sat on the screened porch of 406 in the Placida Harbor Club, dining on fresh papaya, strawberries, and melon with my grandparents, Mommom and Babo. Now as I sit in my own room looking out at the brown and snow landscape, I realize how luck I've been to spend time with family down in Florida. I've been just a little bit busy since then, but during my five days at Placida, I had the chance to relax. When I'm near the water, I often get the same feeling that I do on a golf course: wonder and tranquility. There's something about a beach stretching into infinity and the soothing crash of waves that stirs up a certain kind of happiness that's hard to find anywhere else. And being with family in a place like this doesn't get any better. 

I arrived on Valentine's Day night in a downpour, and the weather grew better from there. It was cold the next morning, but not cold enough to stop us from venturing out to the Waterside Grill for some lunch or taking the trip out to Boca Grande to pick up a new bathing suit for myself. I wrote about the next day's golfing experience in a previous post, but we can all agree the weather, at least on the back nine, was far from ideal.

With Babo on Boca Grande's famous Banyan Street. 

I felt the best part began when my cousins, Ellie, Carter, and Rachel, my Uncle Matt and Aunt Jess, and my sister Miranda rolled in on Sunday morning. Placida Harbor Club has two sets of houses--the two dozen or so on the mainland looking out on the bay, and the five beachside establishments out on the island. A ferry makes the short trip every half an hour; only boats can access the island. The day the Storeys and Miranda arrive was cold, and the night was even colder. After shivering my way through two ferry rides on Sunday, I decided the next morning it would be a good idea to break out my puffy winter coat. I rode comfortably from then on, and by Monday and Tuesday, we were back to the gorgeous Florida weather that we all expect. I loved those early morning ferry rides, not only because the cool breeze reminded me of my bike rides to school in Germany, but also because there was always a good chance of seeing a manatee or a dolphin along the way.

The boat docks, dwarfed by the community's signature tree

The two best parts about spending time with family in Florida were the hours on the beach and seafood every night. First the beach: Placida Island is small, secluded, and covered in seashells--perfect for walks, runs, or swims. The girls found some incredible shells, but it was Carter and I who set off in search of shark teeth. And boy did we find them. Well, Carter found most of them. I would pick up one or two, and by the time I stood up Carter would be holding out a handful of eight or ten. I'm sure we found upwards of 800 teeth, and I wouldn't be surprised if Carter brought home a full jar.

It was beach time (and pool time) during the days, but in the evenings when the sun set over the harbor, it was seafood time. I'm sure I've mentioned Mommom's cooking here before, but having the chance to enjoy it for five days in a row was a treat, especially because fresh seafood was available everywhere we went. I love seafood, and it tastes even better in Florida. We had everything from shrimp cocktail to pan-crusted grouper to mahi-mahi on the grill.

I've traveled a lot this year and wouldn't give any of it up for the world. Still, my days in Placida (and the ones in Dunedin with my Mimi and Papa, my dad's parents, which I will write about next) felt like the vacations I remember from my early childhood. I took three trips to North Captiva Island as a youngster, but those were more than half my life ago. Coming back to Florida after all these years reminded me of those memories while I created new ones in the company of my grandparents, my sister, and the Storeys. Thank you to Mommom and Babo for having me stay with them, and I can't wait to see you guys when you get home at the end of the month!