Lunch at Lake Eola and the Seed of a Book
Sometime later and with much fanfare, Jan ushers Steve into an appropriate restaurant - a small, simple cafe on the shore of Lake Eola in downtown Orlando. Steve and Jan sit at a table, looking over menus. “Well, so, what do you think, Steve? This okay with you? “Sure, nice place and they serve burgers.” “Glad you like it. And, what about the company, you think it’s going to be a hit?” “Maybe.
We’ll have to see. My attitude is, hope for the best, but plan for the worst,” Steve says. “Very reasonable of you. I’ve known a lot of people who are convinced that their scheme will net them millions, and all they have to do is sit back and wait for it to roll in. That’s not how my dad made his money, and it’s not what he taught me!” Jan replies.
“Good for him. I hope I’m able to do the same for myself one day,” Steve says. “We can only hope. For now, let’s live in the moment!” Jan responds. Jan looks at Steve intently. Steve becomes serious and quiet. Steve and Jan order, get food, eat and talk. “I’m curious, Steve. How’d a Boston boy like you end up here?” “I’m not a complete stranger.
My mother was born and raised here.” “Southern Belle and Yankee Boy linking up? Oh, that must have been a fiery mix,” Jan says laughing “Oh yeah. Dad told me it was six years before she stopped saying “damned” whenever she’d say Yankee. When my Dad retired, my Mom convinced him to move here. Said she couldn’t take another New England winter.
I was still in school, but my siblings were grown, so it wasn’t a big deal to move us down here.” “Wait, your Dad retired, but you were still in school?” “I was a late baby; he was fifty when I was born.” “Oh, man! I can see it now; I bet he was strutting around like a peacock when you arrived.” Unsettled and nervous, Steve continues.
“Yeah, quite the affirmation of his virility. The family always said, he’d take me for walks in my stroller, and people would ask if I was his grandchild. He was so proud to announce that I was his! Anyway, we moved to Sarasota, Dad insisted on being near the water. That’s where I graduated from high school.” “Is it nice down there?” “It’s okay, but back then it was quite the retirement community. That made growing up there a rather interesting lifestyle,”