"The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill"

 The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill is the third cycle of my life which started in 1991 and went through 2008. In cycle 2, I played Buffalo Bill so I thought the title was appropriate. Here are some of the highlights from the third cycle of BJ's easy life.

Since I was living at age one again for the third time, I decided I would try new things in my life that I have never done before. Here I am, at an ENSCO picnic, pouring my first beer from a keg. Okay, let's just say I never remember doing it before, because after 12 cups, I start to forget...

In my second year, our west ski trip was to Jackson Hole Wyoming. That is Corbet's Couloir behind Jim, Galen and I. Picture taken by Ron, the fourth in our small group. Tom did not make that trip.

My coworker Peter owned a sail boat and we would do day trips in the Indian River. This is the Dragon that use to be at the end of Merritt Island. Sadly, it is no longer there.

Later in the year, Pater and I sailed the boat to the Bahamas. This me petting a kitten at a small store on Man-O-War Cay.

I was also in a Bowling League for a while and in 1992, we won the league. That is me on the left with my girlfriend Diana. Gaylen is in the center. The other couple is John and (not Diane). Give me time to think of it.

Siana and I did a cruise to the Bahamas on the Big Red Boat.

In my third year, we went skiing again in Utah, one of our favorites. Tom, Melinda, Ron, Me, and Jim skiing Solitude.

Also in the third year (1993), I went to Palm Springs with my boss John, and we happen to golf a round. In the distance id Bob Hope's house.

Also in 1993, I made it to Vermont with my Mom. Here we are visiting the famous ice cream plant.

On New Year's Day 1994, I went to my first Citrus Bowl. It became an annual event for many years, organized by the late Fred Arnold. Here are ENSCO co-workers Gaylen and Ron.

In year 3, we skied at Lake Tahoe. This was taken from the slopes of Heavenly Valley, near the California-Nevada border.

Also in 1994 I went Spring skiing with Tom at Killington in Vermont. If you are going to ski in shorts, I advise you not to fall since the spring snow is very abrasive.

Tom and I took my Mom on a three night cruise on the Big Red Boat out of Port Canaveral. On the last morning, Tom said we should buy mom a Bingo card for her luck. We did and she won the cover all, another three night cruise. This is Tom and Mom with our favorite bartender

Another year, another trip to Lake Tahoe. A different view, from Alpine Meadows (now part of Palisades Tahoe), where our friend David Paquette worked.

The 1995 cruise. My mom invited Aunt Ellie to room with her, Tom and I roomed together, and Tom's boys Josh and Brandon had their own room.

The 1996 (age 6) ski trip was out of country but still in the West. We flew to Vancouver and stayed at Whistler-Blackcomb in the province of British Columbia.

The torch for the 1996 Olympics came through Brevard the day after Mom turned 68, or I should say completing her first four cycles. Hard to see the torch but you can see a replicate on the van passing mom.

My first year as a head football coach was in my sixth year. The kids were 8 to 10. I could be in the huddle during the game. Here we are debating the next play.

In 1998, Tom and I took Mom to the races in Daytona.

Also in 1998, I became a season ticket holder for the Florida Marlins Spring Training. Early on my seats were high up but I had a great view of the game. I usually took Mom or a co-worker to the games.

Summer of 1998 I made it to Vermont. Here we are at Karen's home in Bridport. That is brother Tom, Jerry Atkins, and the late Mike Rizner.

I went for the first time to Fantasy Fest in Key West Florida. Let's just say, for being only eight on cycle 3, I saw a lot of things, and took photos of some, that I won't share here. That is Ed and Lois on the left and John and Jeannie on the right.

Mom and Dad watched Tim Wakefield (right of the pole) play baseball at Eau Gallie High School, and then he played at the Florida Institute of Technology. They were naming the baseball field this day so I took Mom down to see it. Tim threw out the first pitch to Andy Seminick with his coach Les Hall watching (on either side of Tim). The field is now called the Andy Seminick-Les Hall field. Tim pitched many years for the Boston Red Sox. I even got Mom to go down and get an autograph from Tim. I wonder where that is at now?

In 1999, I flew to the Exumas to join Peter on his sail boat. Here we are hiking on Waderich Wells Cay.

In June of my ninth year, I went on a trip to Vermont to see Israel graduate. His cousin Courtney also graduated that day. That is Tom, Me, Mom, Izzy, John, Pepe and Jared.

 At ENSCO, a group of us got season tickets to the Magic. One game I bought an extra ticket at the end of the court to see San Antonia play the Magic. Ours seats were in the upper circle.

Orlando got a WNBA team named the Miracle; I ran into Magic star Darryl Armstrong while getting a beer.

I even took sister Pat and Mom to some of the games that the Miracle played.  My seats were about 8 rows from the court.

At the end of 2000, Mom fell and broke her hip. We found out she had stage 4 cancer. With Hospice care, we were able to get her out of the hospital and back into the trailer. Here is Jared and I getting out picture with Stella, at Christmas. She died in mid January 2001. She was 72, four years into her 5th cycle.

We had a funeral for mom in Vermont where I met Jared's girlfriend Sarah. Here they are with brother John.

In June of 2001, I flew to Marsh Harbour in the Abacos of the Bahamas. This trip we sailed back to the USA. I was having trouble with my hair getting stuck in my snorkeling mask, so Captain Peter shaved my head on the side of the Excor. I was drinking rum because beer was too expensive.

My last ski trip West was in 2002 at age 12. We are at Steamboat Springs in Colorado. We went into town for a parade on snow. You can see the ski area in the background.

In 2003, my Spring Training season pass seats had moved down to the dugout. Here I am with ENSCO coworkers Doug, Tom, and Dustin. I have my camera. I took over 16,000 pictures of Spring Training Baseball.

A visit to Mom and Dad in Vermont...

In 2004, my niece Lori married James in Jacksonville Beach. It was leap day!

In February of 2005, I went to the Daytona 125s with Jose and brother Tom.

In March of 2005, actor John Goodman was at Spring Training to see the Cardinals play.

Also in March of 2005, I celebrated 25 years at ENSCO. That is my boss and fiend Al giving me my plaque.

In December of 2005, Tom and I went on a RCL cruise to the Bahamas. Tom was buying some rum cakes from this young lady in Nassau.

I was still going to Magic games in 2006, Start of game of Heat vs Magic. That is Shaq tipping off against Dwight Howard.

The former Montreal Expos became the Washington Nationals in 2005. In spring 2006, the manager was Frank Robinson.

In June of 2006, I joined some friends on a 3 day fishing trip out of Key West. Yes, that is Andy Griffiths Charters, but not the sheriff guy. Although, a few of the guys acted like Barney Fife. Here are Al, Aaron, Mike, Jeff, Stephan, and I with our catch. One of those Mahi mahi was one I brought in.

In the fall of 2006, headed to Vermont to see Jared marry that girl Sarah from an earlier photo. Here are Sarah, sucking down a large drink, and husband Jared with his brother Izzy.

At age 16 of cycle 3, I got a visit from Becky and her three daughters. They got to try out my bar.

I also decided I needed to start playing rugby. I had just turn 50. No, no, no! I was asked to take a team photo of the Ole Red Eye rugby team from the local area. They had a scrimmage against Miami that day.

I started 2008 watching Tim Tebow and the Gators play Michigan in the Citrus Bowl.

Also in 2008, I made a investment of a restaurant in Middlebury Vermont. The entrance...

And just before I hit 17 again for the third time, I went to Vermont to see Tanner and Lindsay get married. It was a wonderful way to end the third cycle.

Only one more cycle to go...was not as busy as Cycle 3. Plus, we had COVID....

About Title

"The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill" is a song written by John Lennon (credited to Lennon–McCartney), and released by the English rock band the Beatles on their 1968 double album The Beatles (also known as the "White Album"). The song was recorded at EMI Studios on 8 October 1968 and was completed (including all overdubs) on the same day. (The group also began and completed the Lennon-composed "I'm So Tired" during the same recording session.) In addition to Lennon's lead vocals, there are co-lead vocals by Yoko Ono; this is the only song recorded by the group to feature lead vocals by a non-member.

 

Lennon later told his version of the story in a Playboy interview, stating that: "'Bungalow Bill' was written about a guy in Maharishi's meditation camp who took a short break to go shoot a few poor tigers, and then came back to commune with God. There used to be a character called Jungle Jim, and I combined him with Buffalo Bill. It's sort of a teenage social-comment song and a bit of a joke." Mia Farrow, who was also at the ashram during the period, supports Lennon's story in her autobiography; she writes, "Then a self-important, middle-aged American woman arrived, moving a mountain of luggage into the brand-new private bungalow next to Maharishi's along with her son, a bland young man named Bill. People fled this newcomer, and no one was sorry when she left the ashram after a short time to go tiger hunting, unaware that their presence had inspired a new Beatles song – 'Bungalow Bill.'"