Myrtle Beach - South Carolina 1994

When I was a kid I had the chance to go with my parents on trips to Myrtle Beach , a favourite spot for all Canadians who hanker for a beach , lots of restaurants , and a nightlife to boot.

I always thought about the day I would be able to visit this great beach on my own without having to follow other people around and just be able to do my own thing. Well the opportunity happened after my second contract on the ship when one of the waiters I worked with had a condo in Myrtle Beach. We were leaving the ship at the same time so I got his address and phone number before I left and promised he would see me shortly banging on his door. It seemed like at least he was throwing out an invitation to come down and visit so I took his word.

I arrived and called him but it must have been bad timing cause he and his wife were having a bit of difficulty and having visitors was not a good time. Here it was in June and as you might expect the hotels and inns were booked pretty much everywhere. He drove me around to a few places and then luckily I landed a hotel room two blocks up from the beach and fully equipped.

With a VIP pass to a dance club he gave me and a goodbye , I commenced on a glorious 6 week vacation in Myrtle Beach.

My daily schedule went something like this for 6 weeks.

Wake up.
Grab the morning newspaper.
Have a coffee.
Go for a walk along the beach.
Have breakfast with a big thermos of coffee and eggs and bacon for $2.99
Get ready to go to the beach.
From about 11 to 4 swim and jump in the water and soak in the rays.
Head back to the hotel , change and head out for happy hour.
Hit a restaurant which there were plenty of.
Then hit the nightclub.

For 6 weeks that was all I did. Two things stand out for me that I remember was the World Cup of Soccer was going on in the States at the time and one time when I headed to Happy Hour OJ was making a run for it in his Bronco.

I haven't been back since but maybe one day when the kids are a bit older I will take everyone down there to check it out so that they too when they are on their own will know a good spot to go in the sunny south to have some fun.

You Gotta Love Happy Hours Your First Night

Last Monday I talked about my first job in the Hospitality Industry as a Barboy at the Dorval Hilton Airport. This first experience was a real eye opener for me to what all took place during a hot and heavy night in those disco days and the kind of cash one could possibly make.

It didn't take me long to see if I could start working behind a bar once my bartending course was completed. There was an owner of a pub that was attending the class at the same time and so I started asking him a lot of questions about what it was like at his pub. Noticing my enthusiasm , he piped up during the final class when we were all mixing different cocktails and asked if I would be interested in bartending at his establishment and giving it a go to see if I would like it.

Without hesitation I answered yes and he gave me his number and the best time to reach him to set up an evening when I could come in.

So the bartending course ended and I gave I believe Scott was his name a call to see if the offer still stood. It did , so the following week we picked a slow night for my first big shot at bartending.

Now in Montreal you need to know both French and English and as I only understood English this was about the only place I could work. It was a 50 minute drive from my apartment to get there in a place called Hudson and a pub called The Willow Inn.

I will never forget the first night. It was Happy Hour and the drinks were 2 for 1 so I was serving a whole bunch of beer that night to a number of people. They were certainly not the easiest crowd to get along with on anyone's first night.

As the evening went on I had the great pleasure of having some patrons drink their limit and more. I know that was the case because one of them threw up at the bar! Another time an argument commenced and the people had to be thrown out on their keester. What an introduction to bartending.

When the night was over Scott comes over and starts apologizing for the tough night I had. Then he asked the big question about if I wanted to come back.

When can I start , was all I replied.

I gave my two week's notice as a shipper receiver and left the Hilton on Saturdays to start full time at The Willow Inn.

I was pumped up but it didn't last..........