“When you are courting a nice girl, an hour seems like a second. When you sit on a red-hot cinder, a second seems like an hour. That’s relativity.” – Albert Einstein, explaining his Theory of Relativity. And those were my feelings halfway through the summer of 1985 with my uncle and friends. Like courting the nice girl, everything felt like seconds you couldn’t contain. But … Continue reading Adventures of a Modern Pirate: September 2019
The scent of gas and oil permeated the air, and yes, I inhaled. There was no better high than Avgas and oil when it came to old seaplanes. She was a large white Grumman HU-16 Albatross with blue stripes along the fuselage. “Chalk’s” in bold blue lettering ran along the vertical stabilizer. A classic aluminum beauty floating on the beach before my very eyes. As … Continue reading Adventures of a Modern Pirate: August 2019
The taste of home-baked coconut cake was still around in my mouth when I awoke to a picturesque sunrise with the rhythmic sound of lapping waves tenderly stroking the shoreline. I smacked my lips, tasting the after-effect. Through squinting eyes, I logged the tropical view somewhere in my brain for later reminiscing. It didn’t take long for me to notice the quintessential rum hangover in … Continue reading Adventures of a Modern Pirate: July 2019
The night descended upon us like a silky black cloak, and soon my uncle and I were staring up at the huge light bulb in the night sky: the moon. It lit up crashing waves like a Christmas tree, the foamy splendor bright as snow. The roar from the waves was music to our ears. Despite a few pesky mosquitoes and some no-see-ums, life was … Continue reading Adventures of a Modern Pirate: June 2019
I could not wash away the images of a large band of pirates launching massive cannon balls down upon penny-loafer-and-Rolex-wearing developers. With all the beauty I was surrounded by, my mind could not comprehend how anyone could bring themselves to develop land that was as pristine as what I was enjoying. But as my uncle said, “It is the way of the world. Put large … Continue reading Adventures of a Modern Pirate: May 2019
We spent more than a few jocularity-filled days with our hosts, and now it was time to leave. My uncle suggested we head back to Sand Piper Beach, where we could relax and enjoy a couple of days of solitude in paradise. He was right; it was time to give Tom and Evelyn a break, as they had treated us like kings and we didn’t … Continue reading Adventures of a Modern Pirate: April 2019
Photographer and author, Bibi LeBlanc, has just released the second book in a series of adult coloring books featuring cities around the globe. LeBlanc is inspired by beautiful, historic sites found throughout her travel adventures as well as those close to home in DeLand. LeBlanc took her own scenery-inspired photographs and turned them into beautiful mandala coloring pages. Thus, the launch of Culture to Color, … Continue reading Culture to Color Adult Coloring Book Features NSB
With plenty of daylight left, my uncle suggested the Hope Town lighthouse next. Tom gave an approving nod of the head as Evelyn clapped her approval. And just like that, it was decided. We were going to Hope Town. Another lighthouse? I thought. It seemed like a nice idea, so I gaily went along, as I was a captive participant in an otherwise happy pirate … Continue reading Adventures of a Modern Pirate: March 2019
I officially had the heebie-jeebies. Swimming in the blue hole was spooky, and I was creeping myself out with images of the Creature from the Black Lagoon flashing across my mind. Though I was told that it was just a huge cavernous hole filled with water and there were no creatures with large teeth, I still felt as if I were being watched from down … Continue reading Adventures of a Modern Pirate: February 2019
“An Abaco Blue Hole,” my uncle said as I pondered, images of Captain Kirk and Spock staring fixedly at a large blue hole flashing across my mind. “It’s a large hole in the ground that usually leads to caves beneath the ground,” Tom added. “Very cool to see and swim in.” As if on cue, Evelyn appeared with a black three-ring photo album, turned a … Continue reading Adventures of a Modern Pirate: January 2019
