Day two on Catalina was just as nice as day one. Maybe nicer if such a thing was possible. I went out on the balcony and just stood there and took it all in. Bright morning sun, nice ocean breeze and sail boats playing far out in the bay. Just like a picture post card except I was part of it.

I'm sure that many people will view some of my recountings as some what childish and over done. What I'm trying to do is relate from memory the experiences of a eight year old boy that finds himself in a new and different world. Please remember, the year is 1948. Most everything we take for granted today was yet to come. At this point I've yet to have seen my first television or even "soft" ice cream.

We had arrived on Catalina in mid-April. The tourist season had just started so everything was relatively calm at this time. Not many people around except for the island residents. A perfect time to explore and get to know your way around.

Catalina was, like the rest of the nation, coming back to normal after the Second World War. That war had pretty much curtailed the tourism that was Catalina's economy. There was a military base on the island which helped to bring in some revenue but nothing that compared to the tourist trade. Even the steam ship SS Catalina was pressed into military service. It was used to transport military personel up and down the west coast of the States. The ship held the honor of transporting more people than any other single ship during that time period. Make you wonder how she stayed in such excellent condition. She was a great old girl staying in service from 1928 until 1978. Finally forced into retirement by more modern modes of travel.

Cousin Shela took us on a walking tour of Avalon that morning. Everyone walked on Catalina. Except for three tour buses and bicycles no traffic was allowed through the town. Residents that owned cars had to drive and park in certain area's so as not to inhibit walking traffic.

During all the sight seeing I went without a shirt. Everyone came back to the hotel for lunch. After that break I went back to playing outside still san's the shirt. Come the end of the day I had unknowingly got the worst sun burn of my life. I kid you not, this was the "mother" of all sun burns. I was in sheer misery for a solid week. I've never forgotten that experience. I always wear a shirt no matter what.

A little FYI for those that are wondering why an eight year old wasn't in school. When my family left Alabama, the school year was within three weeks of being over. My second grade teacher, Mrs. Smith, promoted me to the third grade early. I was not due to start back until the new school year which would start in September 1948.