James Michener

I read all genre of books, new titles and rereads. But memoirs have been favored recently. Maybe it’s a sign of getting older. I recently finished “Michener and Me: a memoir” (1999) by Herman Silverman. It’s a read prompted by my recent viewing of the movie South Pacific and reading “Tales of the South Pacific.”
It’s a very personal account of a decades long friendship between Doylestown’s James Michener and Herman Silverman, owner of Sylvan Pools. A lot is revealed about Michener’s life and personality.

Part of my Michener fascination, besides the fact that I’ve enjoyed his writing, is his lifestyle. After his success with South Pacific, he traveled the world writing epics about places, could be the Chesapeake, Texas, Mexico, Hawaii, Colorado, or Afghanistan. He frequently lived in the area of research; sometimes buying a house. His memoir is titled, “The World is my Home.” Maybe I have a copy to reread.

For decades Silverman and Michener built a friendship. Jim and his second wife, Mari, often live at the Silverman house when visiting Bucks County. Eventually Michener bought a house Bucks County. In 1987 he wrote:

“We had in our town the county jail where mysterious things happened, and the two great Mercer castles, which made Doylestown distinctive. It was a lively place for a boyhood and it enhanced whatever propensities I had for study, for scholarship and for a life of the imagination. I grew up believing that I lived in a town which was enormously superior to more reckless towns like Lambertville across the river in New Jersey and Lansdale, almost a metropolis, to the west. We were also much more stable than Easton, far to the north, but we were perpetually seduced by the really major city of Philadelphia to the south. That we could easily get to its fine stores, theaters, concerts and museums made Doylestown not only a rural retreat but also a participant in the grandeur of the world.

As I look back upon those exciting days I’d say that fifty-five percent of my character was formed by what happened in Doylestown, forty-five percent, including my attraction to the arts, by my experiences in Philadelphia, and that’s a heady mix for any young fellow” (Bucks County Herald). 

Mitchener tended toward conservative Eisenhower Republicanism. Silverman was more liberal. Over the years Mitchener slided. He campaigned for Kennedy and made a liberal run for County Commissioner. 

I didn’t know that it was Michener and Silverman that invested in the New Hope Aqua Club. We lived not far away on Old York Road for several years. It was a financial disaster. 

Silverman was a promoter and backer of the James Mitchener Art Museum in Doylestown. I’ve been a member for years. The museum collected and promoted the Bucks County Impressionist school that had formed in New Hope in the early 1900s. It’s amazing how little was know about these artists — Redfield, Lathrop, Garber, Folinsbee, Spencer, Coppedge — before the Michener. Bucks County or Pennsylvania Impressionists are among my favorite painters. James Michener is a favorite novilist.

Yes, Bucks County.

Spring 2024

April 3, 2024. Three days of steady rain. April showers bring May flowers. Chilly but Spring is on my mind. Easter Sunday we had a brunch with the Kwaits at the Golden Pheasant in Tinicum. Sunny ride up river. A delightful afternoon. We pass forsythia and clusters of daffodils. All spots of yellow. Eli just back from a baseball week in Florida. The main room at the Golden Pheasant is so bright and open. Nice being out with people. Nice seeing the Kwaits.

I started with their Golden Pheasant Manhattan — Dad’s Hat Rye, grenadine, bitters. Grenadine I learned is a nonalcoholic syrup made with pomegranates. Ordered a dozen oysters and Eli got an octopus app. It was small but tasty. My entree was Moules Frites (mussels). Very tasty large bowl with baguettes. Diane had a duck hash. Bottle of Savaginon Blanc for the table. Steak, chicken, salmon, bass for others. I had an Expresso Martini; ice cream for Eli. A memorable Easter brunch.

One of my most memorable Easter’s was 1968 or 1969. We drove our gray 1955 Sunbeam convertible to Cape Cod National Seashore. Probably Cahoon’s Hallow since that’s the beach where Smith’s went. We slid down the dunes and enjoyed a beautiful afternoon. Returning to the car; I’d lost the keys. There must have been a pay phone. I called the local fire company and a guy came. No problem. The car was easy to jump start; in fact there was a crank on the front. He crossed some wires; turned the crank; we were on our way.

This past Saturday I harvested bok choy, arugula and mustard greens. There is more arugula, bok choy, spinach and kale. All planted in October. Amazing Spring crop. I planted seed, spinach, radish, lettuces. kale and peas. All getting watered with the rains. Last night I thought about starting a bit of a flower garden. Maybe in the back adjacent to Diane’s flower/herb garden.

Spring, a time to renew, organize, clean. I have plenty to do. We speak cautiously about moving. What an undertaking. We (I) have so much stuff. Books, records, stamps, coins, clocks, tools, postcards. Then our furnishings, wall hangings, and crafts. I thought about an elevator. Maybe we don’t need to move. It’s also a time to enjoy the flowers, warmer weather, longer days.

Some Spring trip would be nice. Washington DC is a possibility. Last year we went Cape May with Jenny in early March. Later in the month we went to Williamstown, MA with Taylors. Even day trips would be nice, need to look at museum possibilities, any theatre, movies at the County. Getting that spring feeling.

Technology

Sure I’m hooked but I also get easily frustrated. A few weeks ago our internet, phones, tv went out. We have Comcast. Reestablished fairly quickly but I began to get suggestions that I should upgrade my modem. I responded and within a week had a new modem through the mail. OK how difficult was this going to be to set up. After a few days I took the plunge. But I had to call Comcast (Xfinity) for help. I was on the phone about 2 hours setting up the new modem. In the down time the rep asked about my services. We were paying $180 to ATT for cell phone. She could do better. $40 for two lines for a year. Bonus cards from VISA for signing up. We took the bait and tried to establish the new account. Tried is the key word.

Days later we went to Xfinity. My phone was locked so they couldn’t transfer the number. What was my pin? What pin? The tech called someone up the line and an hour later had my phone on Xfinity. Not so easy with Diane’s phone. It too was locked, meaning the number couldn’t be transferred. Our rep tried, tried but couldn’t get it unlocked. So we went to the ATT store. Diane’s payment of the last bill hadn’t been received. Phone locked. No clue why they allowed mine to be transferred; it’s the same account.

I’d try to call ATT and they didn’t recognize either phone number. What? Several days ago Diane’s phone went dead. She spent 1/2 hour but couldn’t get an answer to the question if they had received payment. What was our pin, security code? Don’t know. Oh, can’t provide info without pin. But we don’t know any pin. I called back later and screamed. Finally this rep after taking Diane’s social security and account number, telling us the FCC required the pin since 2014, told us the account was closed (why she didn’t have service) but still owed last month (takes days to process a check ). So we need to wait a few days and see if the Xfinity new SIM card will work. Stay tuned.

I went to print something. Nothing. An hour, many tries later I found a paper jam. So simple. Yes but . . . It still won’t print. Finally realized that the modem, hence the Wi-Fi was changed. No longer Holmes but Sherlock. Quick Look on the internet and I was able to charge the modem designation. Easy.

For over a year I’ve been scanning slides with a small easy to operate Wolverine slide scanner. I do 1,000 a shot. They are loaded on a scan disc. I was putting the disc in my small camera and an app was used to transfer them to my phone, the cloud, onto iPad and Mac. Then it didn’t work. The photos on the disc were not recognized. I put the disc into a port on my Mac. A folder came up with an option to share it with Apple Photo App. Easy. Only this week it didn’t work. It would share photos to an email but not the photo app. After some deep thought I realized I could drag the folder to a new folder in pictures and from there load them into the Apple photo app. But why doesn’t the camera option or the share photo option work?

We believe our ATT bill is clear. Diane’s phone should be unlocked. We should be able to activate the Xfinity account on her phone. Maybe a trip to Xfinity ?