By Bill Quain
Summer is in full swing, and this week’s column reflects the happiness we all feel as we reconnect with friends, family and acquaintances. In recognition of these happy times, I want to share a song I wrote a few years ago. It is set to the tune of Garth Brooks’ country-western hit, “Friends in Low Places.” I performed my version of the song at the Mr. Mature America Pageant at the Ocean City Music Pier in 2019. I won the pageant in 2018, and this was my last performance as the reigning “Mr. Mature.” If you’d like to view a recording of this performance, go to YouTube and search for “Bill Quain I’ve Got Friends in Ocean City.” If you’re just after a quick read and a small chuckle, the lyrics are at the end of this column.
Friendship: a day in the life
This was a week full of friends and family, but Saturday, July 20 was the highlight. My daughter Amanda Quain was in town to do a book signing for her third novel, “Dashed,” at Sun Rose bookstore on Asbury Avenue.
She and I started off the day with an 8-mile run on the boardwalk. That run was punctuated with lots of friendly encounters, including Ken (the guy who says hello to everyone), Gary (who worked with me about a million years ago at Watson’s Restaurant), about a dozen fellow runners who recognize me (I’m wearing a bright yellow vest that says “BLIND” on it, so I’m hard to miss and easy to remember), and a man riding a bike named Glenn, who said he was very glad to see me after many years. He said, “Hey, it’s me, Glenn. I just had lunch with Joe and Mike, and we were remembering all the good work we did together.”
I had to search my memory on that one. I just couldn’t figure out where we worked together. It finally hit me that he was a friend of my brother Jack, who is also blind, and looks exactly like me! But hey, it still counts as a “friend encounter,” even though he wasn’t my own friend!
Let’s take it up a notch.
At my daughter’s book signing, the friend encounters really got going. My wife Jeanne and I sat on a nearby bench as people stopped at Amanda’s table to talk about (and buy!) her books. We had put the news of Amanda’s book signing on Facebook, and told our friends and family as well. And people showed up! Jeanne’s book club members, two of my sisters, fellow author Anne Dice, and our neighbors – we had it all! But the best surprise came when an older woman saw “Quain” on the cover of Amanda’s books, and asked, “Are you related to Kay Quain?”
You see, Kay (my mother) was also an author. She passed away 21 years ago. This woman was one of her only still-surviving friends! My sisters and I had a great time reminiscing with her. What a great day!
Night in Venice, night of friendship
My “day of encounters” continued that evening. There is nothing quite like a Night in Venice party to reunite people. For many guests, it’s the only time we see each other. There are always new people to meet, but because we are all connected in some way, it’s easy to jump right into a conversation. Most of us bring food to share, and I always bring my specialty, grilled jumbo shrimp with lime. It was a big hit again this year. If you want the recipe, just send me an email!
Let’s finish this with a song!
As I thought about the great day we had, I remembered why I wrote the new lyrics for
Garth’s song. It captures so much of what we all feel about Ocean City. Here it is:
Verse 1
I try to be strong, all winter long,
As I dream of that place by the sea.
Where I can just go, and take life real slow,
For me and my family.
I made a big plan, to work on my tan,
And look good in my bathing suit.
But then I cross that bridge, and head straight for the ‘fridge,
And I give my diet the boot.
Chorus
Oh, I’ve got friends in Ocean City,
Where the boardwalk’s clean and the beach is pretty. It’s the place to be, with my family.
It’s a magic place where sand and perspiration are the perfect mix for a great vacation.
Oh, I’ve got friends in Ocean City.
Verse 2
I know it’s not far, but we pack our car,
With enough stuff to last us a year.
The wheels won’t turn round, we’re scraping the ground,
‘cause we’ve got way too much gear.
But when I change my clothes, and get sand ‘tween my toes,
My troubles just melt away.
It seems that digging a hole is real good for the soul,
And you’re never too old to play.
Chorus
Verse 3
When our week is done, and we’ve had our fun,
It’s time to shed a sad tear.
Because we know, there be lots of snow,
Between now and our trip next year.
When it’s time to run, and we leave the sun,
We pack up our car and then…
Take a last look around as we’re leaving the town and shout,
“Next year, let’s do this again!”
Chorus
Don’t miss my YouTube video!
So remember to check out my YouTube video. Send me an email to bill@quain.com, and I’ll share my grilled shrimp recipe. As I always say, “I’ll see ‘ya in the papers!”
Bill is a Professor in Stockton University’s Hospitality Management Program. He is the author of 27 books, and a highly-respected speaker. Even though he is almost totally blind, Bill is a long-distance runner and runs the Ocean City Half Marathon each year. He lives in Ocean City with his wife Jeanne, and his Guide Dog Trudy. Visit www.billquain.com or email him at bill@quain.com.
