Chapter 46

Peace & Plenty

Sunday, Oct 11, 1970

Willie Nelson, Hank Williams, Jr & Johnny Paycheck, Day 6 of 6 @ Radio City Music
Hall, NYC, 8pm. (Live at Radio City, Broadcast Live, CBS-TV, 9-11pm)

“This is my island in the sun
Where my people have toiled since time begun
I may sail on many a sea
Her shores will always be home to me

Oh, island in the sun
Willed to me by my Father’s hand
All my days I will sing in praise
Of your forest, waters, your shining sand

As morning breaks the heaven on high
I lift my heavy load to the sky
Sun comes down with a burning glow
Mingles my sweat with the earth below

Oh, island in the sun
Willed to me by my Father’s hand
All my days I will sing in praise
Of your forest, waters, your shining sand

I see woman on bended knee
Cutting cane for her family
I see man at the waterside
Casting nets at the surging tide

Oh, island in the sun
Willed to me by my Father’s hand
All my days I will sing in praise
Of your forest, waters, your shining sand

I hope the day will never come
When I can’t awake to the sound of drum
Never let me miss Carnival
With Calypso songs philosophical

Oh, island in the sun
Willed to me by my father’s hand
All my days I will sing in praise
Of your forest, waters, your shining sand

Ooh
Ooh
Ooh
Ooh”

Island in the Sun
By Harry Belafonte & Irving Burgie, aka “Lord Burgess”

I may not have mentioned it yet, but Ali was preggers. In 1970, they didn’t have the 3D Ultrasounds that were almost like a picture, later on.

In 1970, the Doctors used other ways to find out things about the Fetus inside, mostly how far along the Woman was. They had used Ultrasounds in the 3rd Trimester, but not early in the Pregnancy.

We think Ali got caught on our Wedding Night, but that’s only a guess. The Doc thinks Ali will have Twins, but once again that’s just speculation.

Blanca Geffen & Harri Helmsley were also Pregnant, so we would have some Rug-Rats in another 6-Months or so, Mar, 1971 should be special.

Leif spoke up, saying he was sure that Ali was Pregnant with Twins. A Boy was Conceived Sun, Jun 21, 1970 @ 12:01am. A Twin Girl was Created, Sun, Jun 21, 1970 @ 12:07am. He had felt each one, excited to be a Dad by osmosis.

Ali & I quickly Named them; Andrew, “Drew” & Rebecca, “Becca.”

Actually, I must now confess to another 4-Some, me, Ali, Barbie & Bambi. All 3 were Pregnant.

Leif said that Barbie was going to have a Boy, who we were going to name Bruce.

Leif then told us that Bambi was going to have a baby Girl, Ginger.

It was about to get weird. Ali & I had shared my Secret with the Twins long ago, so along with the Lang’s, they the other 2 who knew.

Most of us were to continue on, with our The Bahamas journey, altho a few had to leave for other obligations, but their Families were staying, bonding with the other Partners, & their Families.

Those who hadn’t checked out the Iguanas, on Allan’s Cays, just North of Highbourne Cay, did so this morning. The Iguanas were very friendly, mostly due to being Fed by Humans, a bad thing that would be discouraged in coming years. We would start that now, putting up friendly Signs.

B-G & Tom Crowley had gotten with our Top Crew of Welders at C-4’s Plymouth Road Plant, in Detroit. They had built 10 Custom Shallow Draft, Aluminum Cataram-Hulled Power Boats, Powered by Propane. They were 30’ Long.

The cool part was the Glass Drop-Down Viewing Port, that was 10’ x 6’. There were Lights for Night Viewing too. It had an Upper Deck, that also had a Helm, so you could operate it from either Station. There were 30 Seats, plus 2 Heads, as well as a Galley.

They were specifically for the Exumas Land & Sea Park. All were Operated by experienced Crews, hand picked by Lynden Pindling, the Prime Minister, himself, assuring us that they were the best, as well as the smartest, friendliest, etc.

They were awesome Boats, as you could Raise-Up the Glass-Viewing-Port, so it didn’t Drag when you wanted to go faster. The Port was perfectly Clear Under Water, no Distortion at all. B-G had worked on that, trying a few options, before choosing the one he used on our Fleet of 10, just for the Exumas. 5 would be Based out of Highbourne Cay, the other 5 Based out our destination for tonight, Peace & Plenty, George Town, Great Exumas Island, The Bahamas.

“It′s not what you got
It’s what you give
It′s not how you die
It’s how you live
It’s not what you read
It′s what you solve
It′s not what you keep now
It’s what you let go

Well, Now now easy does it
Make this moment last
Don′t worry about the future
Don’t forget about the past

It don′t really matter
Where I’ve been
Or what I′ve done
I just keep on searching
For that island in the sun
I’m keep searching
For that island in the sun
I’m gonna find my island in the sun

No No location
It ain′t on no map
It takes concentration
All into your lap
It ain′t in the whiskey
It ain’t in the drug
It could be a woman with you
Who leads you to love

Easy does it
Make this moment last
Don′t worry about the future
Don’t forget about the past

It Don′t really matter
Where I’ve been
Or what I′ve done
I’ll just keep on searching
For that island in the sun
I’m just searching
For that island in the sun
I’m gonna keep on searching
Island in the sun

Once upon a time
I couldn’t move without a spliff
Then I wouldn’t stop hiding
I got so much more to give
I got so much more to give
I got so much love to give

It don’t really matter
Where I′ve been
Or what I’ve done
I’ll just keep on searching
For my island in the sun
I′m just searching
I’m gonna keep on searching
For that island in the sun
Island in the sun
I got to keep on searching
Island in the sun”

Island in the Sun
By Ringo Starr-aka Richard Starkey & Todd Rungren...

The Iguanas on Allan’s Cays were super cute, just watch out for their teeth if you get too close, as in Feeding them, so don’t.

We didn’t dawdle, as we knew we would be back often.

We passed by Highbourne & Norman’s Cays, a ways out so we could get to the Exumas Land & Sea Park faster, although the entire Exumas Chain of Cays & Islands were all magnificent. The Sea Park was what everyone wanted to see though, so we would feature it, along with Deep-Sea Fishing.

The Sea Park began at Shroud Cay, its Northern Boundary, & 22 miles to the South, was Bell Cay, its Southern Border.

I can’t begin to describe the beauty we looked down on, as it was all underwater. Just Google-net it. I just kicked back all day, with my 3, Ali, Barbie & Bambi. Of course, we had Ryder & Pug Red with us too. Ryder jumped in with the Iguanas, just playing with them, never a threat. He did the same further South at Staniel Cay, with its Water Pigs nearby.

We arrived at George Town, Great Exuma Island, with Daylight to spare. We had just bought a small Resort Hotel, right on the waterfront, just North of Government Building, a smaller Government House, that was in Nassau. Further South was Government Dock, that all could use.

Peace & Plenty was built in 1958, with 35 Rooms, in 3 Wings. Most were 2 Floors, all with Water Views, some just above the Sea.

What I loved about Peace & Plenty, was its Name, as well as the nice Courtyard, with a small Pool, with Elizabeth Harbour beyond.

We looked across Elizabeth Harbour to the small Peace & Plenty Beach Club. It was just a few Huts in 1970, as well as Outhouses. We would expand some, mostly adding Indoor Plumbing, in Dressing Rooms, as well as a Covered Patio area, out of the sun. We would have a nice BBQ Hut too, as I could see many Beach Bash’s in our future.