A Riecks Re-union

A Riecks Re-union

Finally, it was time to leave sunny Florida and return to the cold of the North. But it was not time to go all the way back just yet. I had a meeting of Region 4 of the National Association of Railroad Passengers in Baltimore I wanted to attend. Plus, I had family there I had not seen in years (probably almost 50). So we went to Baltimore for a two day trip before returning home.

We were met at Penn Station in Baltimore by Henry E. ("Pete") Riecks. "Pete's" father was "Cousin Eddie" to my father. That is to say, "Pete's" grandfather, and my grandfather, were brothers.

We had corresponded on occasion, and in a Christmas letter of a few years ago I had "warned" "Pete" we just might stop by. So I was looking forward to the meeting.

Not only did we meet "Pete" and his wife, Janet, we also met his brother, Paul Riecks. Here is a picture of Pete (on the left) and Paul (on the right).

Pete is a retired Curriculum Administrator for the schools in Harford County (just to the NE of the city of Baltimore). Paul runs a consulting business for new "entrepreneurs."

In addition to the two boys, Cousin Eddie also had a daughter, the oldest, Anne. However, she was not with us because she and her husband were "house sitting" for a friend in Florida.

However, Pete's boys were present. Thus we met the sailboat captain, Jeff Riecks, an engineering graduate from WVU. He now lives in Annapolis. Until recently had had lived and sailed in the Key West Florida area. We also met Pete's younger son Steve Riecks. He is a food service supervisor for Rutgers University and lives in New Jersey. In addition, we met his wife, Natalie, a native of Brooklyn NY, and his son, Benjamin, who is in the 2nd grade.

Of course we all talked about our name and all the various and nefarious pronounciations we have heard. I was also glad I had a chance to share the fact that I had met people with a similar spelling (Rieck), and a similar pronounciation.

And then, Pete turned to me and asked if I would like to see the "family heirloom." It turned out that my Great Great Grandfather Anton Riecks, the one who had emigrated from Brunswick in the early 1850's, had purchased a wooden trunk in 1828 when he got married.

When he and his family packed up to come to America, they put all their possessions in this trunk and brought it to America. It was saved after they arrived, and has been used for clothes storage ever since. Pete and his wife keep blankets in it.

You will note that it is elborately painted. In addition, his name "Anton Riecks" is in Germanic letters across the top of the sides. This was a real treat to see.

But then we left. The next day was devoted to our meeting, and after a crabcake supper at the Inner Harbor, we returned to our hotel. The next day we caught The Cardinal as it came through Baltimore and arrived home to be greeted by the first sign of spring in West Gate, my Crocuses. They were just beginning to bloom.

Cypress Gardens FL

CYPRESS GARDENS

Our other Florida activity consisted of spending 2 days at "Florida's First Theme Park" Cypress Gardens. Peggy and I had visited the park on one of my 2005 visits. At that time, there had been a change in the management and they were attempting to re-juveniate what had become a rather dated attraction.

For many years, Cypress Gardens had been known chiefly for:
"Southern Belles"

Some magnificant gardens

A water ski show (indeed it pioneered the concept in 1943)

And a small zoo.

But time, and Disney World, had taken its toll. New owners and managers had been brought in, new carnival-type rides installed, and a series of big-name entertainment shows had been brought in.

On that earlier trip, parts of the gardens, plus the zoo were closed due to the tremendous damage done to the park by the hurricanes of 2004. So this time Peggy and I wanted to see those parts. Plus Alice had not been with us on that earlier trip and had never been to Cyress Gardens.

On this trip I got in free because I was retired miliary and the "girls" got in at a reduced price (a nice surprise)! We (Peggy & myself that is) found much of the park was the same as before.

Alice, this being her first time, enjoyed her visit. I think for her the high point was the water ski show. When we went back a second day, we "had" to see it over again, and indeed it was enjoyable.

As for me, my favorite part remained the Botanical Gardens, and the birds associated with it. One difference I noted, however, was that the water was much lower than my previous visit. That was probably to be expected. After all, I was there after all those 2004 storms with all their water. Plus, I knew from Peggy, that there area had been in the overall Southeastern Drought area.

However, I am, and remain, concerned about the long-term future of the park. Both of our visits to the park this time (and both of the times we went before), the crowds were less than over-whelming. Admitted, we didn't go on week-ends or during the summer vacation time. Nor did we see any shows. But I am afraid that if they run into one of those "results-oriented" "bottom-line" financial types (you know the ones who created the current economic mess through their "sub-prime" lending program), who looks at an empty parking lot and from that sole criteria sees this as a "hopeless cause" and decides to "pull the plug" they might be in trouble.

I sincerely hope the park is doing well enough to stay afloat financially, particularly in these troubled economic times. It is too nice an attraction to be torn down to make way for a giant mall.

Is Cypress Gardens another Disney World? No (and I have been to both Disney World and Disneyland). But it is a nice place to go with your family. The experience will be totally different (to say nothing of being cheaper), but also enjoyable.

So if you go to Florida to "do the Disney thing," consider making room to see Cypress Gardens. And maybe even consider doing Cypress Gardens rather than add your nickels to the coffers of Walt Disney Company. As U said above, you will not have the same experience, but I suspect you will still have a good time.

And that is what "vacation" is all about isn't it?

Spring Training 2008

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

Of course our main reason for this trip was to take in some ball games. And that we did. Friday, the day after going to the Strawberry Festival, we went to a Cleveland Indians vs. NY Mets game at Chain of Lakes Stadium

in Winter Haven. We had had some trouble getting tickets as most of the games were already sold out. The best we could do was along the left field sidelines about 1/2 way between 3rd base and the fence. They were not very good seats. To make matters worse, the scoreboard was "broken" and only displayed the score. In addition, we could not hear the PA. (We later found out, this is the last year for the Indians in Winter Haven. Next year they are moving to a new training facility in Arizona being built for them by a developer who sees this as a way to make some money. What about it Winter Haven? You are still acting like the Indians are part of your community. But they will not be back. Sure having a new CSX facility will help the economy, but at what cost? Think about it.) Still, we had a good time, and really enjoyed having to put sun block on.

Then on Tuesday, all 3 of us went to see the Detroit Tigers versus the Cincinnati Reds at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland. This was more like it. "Joker Marchant" is more like modern ball parks with a good PA, active scoreboard and all the promotional "whistles" one sees these days at games.

In addition, we had good seats along the 3rd base line. (the moral of this is, if you want to go to Spring Training next year, get your tickets as early as possible, these I got in February).

Over all, we had a good time at both games. We saw a lot of players. Some are established stars. Others were obvious "try-outs." Plus, we saw some good plays (Unlike one game a few years ago where the Tigers made 6 errors in a game). We even saw a perfectly executed "Hit and Run" play by the Mets! Pretty impressive for the 2nd week of training (when we saw it).

The Strawberry Festival in Plant City FL

THE GREAT STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE EATING CONTEST

While seeing some baseball was the main reason for this trip, a secondary reason was to attend the Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City Florida. It reminded us a lot of the West Virginia State Fair. There were livestock exhibits (not nearly as many as the WV Fair), crafts and cooking contests, and of course, the normal commercial displays of everything from the ever-present waterless cookware, to the tractors, and various what-nots.

But the day we went, Senior Day, the main activity was the Strawberry Shortcake eating contest. The contest was put on by the local Catholic Church, St. Clement. St. Clement had a "build your own strawberry shortcake" booth, so I guess they considered this a part of their booth. They have been sponsoring both the booth and the contest for the last 35 years. I understand the "rules" have changed through the years, but I must admit, I think the current set made for a good contest.

The participants, except for last year's champion, were randomly drawn from among all those who had signed up to compete. Once they were all seated, the contest began.

First, they constructed a 4 lb strawberry shortcake (they even had a scale to weigh each one). The "shortcakes" appeared to be 9" round layer cakes. Of course, they put lots of strawberries on, around and under the cakes. Then they piled the whole thing with gobs of whipped cream.
The contestants had 10 minutes in which to eat the strawberry shortcake.

But, wait there is more.

The first 2 minutes, they could only use their mouth. They could not use any utensils, they could not use their hands.

Then, they could begin eating using their utensils.

The last 3 minutes they were supposed to put their utensils down and just use their hands. But they never got that far. The winner, a man they called "Tiny" (he is on the far right in the picture above) finished off his cake in 5 minutes, 40 seconds. The runner-up, last year's champ, was close behind. He only had 2 ounces left on his plate.

I mean I like strawberry shortcake, but I would never enter this contest!

(But it was a lot of fun!)