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What I observe, contemplate and remember while walking around the Aventura Golf Course- DATING Irene Yetses

RMJ --- 01/27/2011 --- Blog # TWO

This morning when I walked around the golf course and saw many people walking their dogs, my thoughts went back to the time just after a relationship-break-up.
To rejoin the dating scene turned out to be not an easy process at all.
I have to admit, that things have changed since my teenage years. Internet did not exist and dating sites, where one can put up a picture, profile and preferences were an unknown phenomenon.
Of course I had opportunities to meet women through my work as a realtor. However to frequent bars or single events is not my thing. What sometimes works and less risky, is the help of a friend, who initiates to introduce you to someone that he or she figures might be a match.
One of my co-workers wanted to set me up with someone with -beyond any doubt- the best of intentions.
The lady in question, I was told, was attractive, bright and self-employed in her mid thirties with…… big boobs. My friend was convinced she would surely be my type. Sounded interesting, so I decided to give it a try.
I called my date-to-be, Irene Yetses, and made an appointment for dinner in a cozy Aventura-restaurant.
However, on the same day that the event was to take place she called me back and said that she was going to gather with some friends at a place on the beach and that she wanted me to come there as well.
When I verified why we were not going together to the restaurant that we had agreed upon earlier, Irene replied: "no this is the place I want to go; are you coming or not?" At that moment I had to think of one of my mothers life lessons: “to keep an open mind at all times”; so I gave in and told Irene that I was going to join her party.
When I arrived at the beach place, I saw some alternative looking people at one table with two small dogs and a young couple nearby, visibly in love, drinking wine. I knew nobody, not even my date-for-the-evening and figured that the two lovers could be ruled out as destined company. A young man joined the alternative couple and I overheard that they where waiting for "her" to come, so I imagined that this could be my party.
I had not yet decided to join them when a tall lady with an enormous dog entered the restaurant.
She looked about my age (anyway older than 35), had a not too happy facial expression and as I noticed right away: a striking façade!
So this must be the one, I concluded. When I introduced myself I was invited to their table.
The conversation turned immediately into dogs. The alternative couple had even transformed their hobby into a profession, because they daily walked dogs from Aventura-dog-owners for money.
The young man had no dog with him, but called his dog every half hour on his cell phone at his neighbor's home and had a kind of conversation with the animal. Irene's enormous dog was called "Sweetheart" and I was asked why I had not taken mine to the beach. It was obvious that Irene had not made any mention of me to her friends, let alone the reason for my presence. I considered myself too much of a gentlemen to embarrass my "date" and told the group about our family dog Waldo, a golden retriever, who my late father always called
“the golden geschiewes” and how he died in my arms when he was twelve years old.
After this sad story I was obviously accepted as (honorary) member of their dog society.
Under the motto that “skirts do not pay where pants can” I was also granted the privilege to pay half of all consumptions and the extensive BBQ diner that night. Doggedly I kept upright and friendly during the entire evening and now I can also confirm what is often observed, namely that dogs in time tend to look like their bosses or the bosses are going to resemble their pets.
It turned out to be an interesting night after all with these nice dog folks.
The next day Irene called me to say thanks for dinner and to set up another date, this time with her alone.
I told her politely that I would probably see her again in Aventura sometimes, while I am walking the golf course and she her dog. I mentioned also, that I need a lot of attention and that I can hardly imagine an underdog position in her life next to, or instead of her other “sweetheart”.
She got the message and I never heard from her again.
My friend asked me how the encounter went of course.
I told her that she was absolutely right ………….. about the boobs!

 

What I observe, contemplate and remember while walking around the Aventura Golf Course

RMJ --- 04/28/2010 --- Blog # ONE

Don Soffer, the son of a Jewish immigrant garnered a reputation as an innovator in shopping center development. The first double-decker malls he built in the mid-1960s in suburban Pittsburg returned more than five times his investment. Those malls made him a rich man.

But it was Aventura where Soffer made his mark. Now a vibrant bustling city, Aventura was built on 785 acres of swampland in a part of Dade County once known as “East Ojus”, on land Soffer purchased in 1967. He sketched out the plans for it on a table napkin that year. Over time it would become one of the most affluent addresses in Florida. Years later Soffer said of Aventura: “It’s a pretty well-done city; more like the NYC Central Park concept with a park in the middle with vistas. We don’t have mundane developments like you see in Boca Raton where the golf courses are surrounded by houses, and you drive around the road and all you see is peoples’ homes. Of course, some people say they like it better as a swamp”. He named the city Aventura, which means “adventure” in Spanish. Soffer is without doubt the driving force behind the development of the original Aventura’s residential golf course and country club community. Then he developed Turnberry Isle, which established the jet setter’s gold standard for club live throughout the world. It drew everyone from sheiks to heads of state, celebrities, entertainers, socialites, and underworld figures.

South Florida’s legendary golf resort, a Mediterranean-style property set among 300 tropical acres, recently unveiled a stunning $ 150 million transformation. Over $ 40 million was devoted to the two on-property golf courses that are more beautiful and more enjoyable to play than ever. World Golf Hall of Famer Raymond Floyd completely redesigned both of these championship golf courses from tee to green and the results are nothing but spectacular. It‘s golf unlike any other in the Sunshine State with gently contoured fairways, doglegs, spectacular water features, and more elevation changes than often seen in this part of he the state. Further enhancing the experience, a 64-foot waterfall -the largest in Florida- provides an unforgettable finish to Soffer Course’s 18-hole Island Green, while colorful indigenous flora and tropical trees surrounding each hole serve as a natural privacy barrier so every foursome feels like they’re the only players on the course. The two courses offer combined 36 holes of character and a fair test for all skill levels. It’s self evident that to play there cost a bundle. I was told more than 150 K to become a member and even more than that yearly to remain part of the golf club. It is therefore only affordable for the happy few.

From outside the golf course on the exercise trail, however, one can enjoy the same green, flora, tropical trees, spectacular water features, including the waterfall and more. To run, walk or bicycle around the courses is an absolute pleasure as well! On can enjoy the same and it is absolutely FREE OF ANY CHARGE!

That’s the reason why many people, also from surrounding places like Hallandale Hollywood, Sunny Isles etc. use the trail from the early morning until late at night! Most of them come by car and park near the mall, do their thing, enjoy the relaxing exercise and scenery and drive back home or go directly to work.

I consider myself very privileged -living in The Yacht Club- to be able to walk the 3-mile trail almost daily. I love walking there. It relaxes my body and my mind. To walk the Aventura Exercise Trail is an absolute joy, especially when the sun shines and there’s a light breeze.

I just have to cross East Country Club Drive to start. I always go left, keeping the golf course on my right hand. When asked why going always the same direction I used to answer that I am otherwise afraid to get “lost”… I noticed to meet more or less the same people every time -depending of the hour of the day-. Unlike me, the lefty’s, the individuals that I look in their faces while walking are the ones that go the other way: the right starters!

Unlike Soffer’s golf resorts drew over the years all kind of different jet-setter-elites, the golf-course-walk-around-exercise-trail attracts ordinary people from all walks of life!

One can observe young mothers who walk or run with their baby’s or little children in futuristic aerodynamic strollers (some with duo-or triple-use option). Also the man and woman with their different dogs are always there. Some animals are being carried all the way. In other cases it is impossible to determine if the owner walks the dog or the dog walks the owner. It is also interesting to experience how different people develop patterns in what they do while walking and how they interact (or not interact at all) with each other (like the ones that are constantly talking on their mobile phones!)

Some acquaintances from the golf trail just blink an eye when they see me, others call my name, while I do not know theirs or only lift one finger to say hello. Another way is to give me the high five or their horizontal hand. I know a few individuals who are trying to perform this last routine while bicycling. The trick is of course to catch the other person’s hand “in full swing”! There is a man who says good morning while his body language and angry facial expression discloses that he is desperately waiting for a greeting, that is -unfortunately for him- hardly ever returned. It has happened that he got mad at me and blamed me openly for being consumed with my own thoughts and giving him no attention. Recently his angry, almost aggressive attitude turned frightening when we passed each other. So be it!

With pleasure I also think of the two old man, obviously lifetime friends who every day fed the birds near the Hamtons and interacted in a sympathetic way with everyone they came across. I don’t see them lately and fear that one of them got sick or even passed away. There are also people there that try to find work and hand out their business cards on the trail. One is advertising his handy-man-skills; a lady offered her cleaning services lately and a teenage-girl tried to promote babysitting. I admire the courage that all these people display and especially the efforts of the tennis teacher who often promotes his services very early in the morning next to the tennis-court near Delvista Towers with a written carton sign between his hands.

Last but not least, I want to share the story about a new face that I saw almost daily sitting on the same bench on West Country Club Drive just opposite the Bonavida building a couple of years ago. As a matter of fact at first I did not see his face at all. He was without doubt a poor and homeless soul, guarding all his worldly possessions in a supermarket cart next to him. What made him special was the fact that this old man always covered his head against the sun with a large newspaper.

I considered giving him some money, remembering how my Jewish mother encouraged me early on to do every day a Mitzvah (good deed).
She taught that this could imply a wide spectrum of actions to do well.

All options had been explained to me, between a kind word to a stranger, sending a sick person a nice postcard or to visit a lonely relative and giving up a seat in the bus or train to a pregnant woman. I joked from time to time when my mother asked me about what Mitzvah I had done during a day: “that I helped an old lady to cross the street while she kept loudly protesting and that I was almost certain that I took her across against her will, but nevertheless completed my Mitzvah, because mother insisted me to do so!”

Anyway I strongly felt that I had to do something for the old man with the newspaper.

One day when I cleaned out my closet I got the idea to bring him some of my old baseball caps. For days I carried them with me on my walk, but unfortunately did not see him again. May be -I considered- this guy has moved to another bench-location and therefore I decided some days later not to take the caps with me any longer; in stead to put them in the trunk of my car. For weeks I forgot about the hats and their beneficiary, but one day when I drove by the golf course to go home, I saw him again, right on his “own” bench, as usual with a newspaper on his head.

I pulled over the car up to where he sat and saw that the poor man was fearful of me suddenly parking next to him. He acted as if he was about to be arrested. I took the caps from the trunk and gave them to the old man while saying friendly: “Hello pap’s, don’t be afraid. I have something for you so you no longer have to use the newspaper against the sun”. He reacted very upset and shouted: “Oh No! Oh No! I don’t want them. Go away!” All my life I am used not to take no for an answer, so I tried again: “Don’t you think these are more practical and easy to wear? Anyway you’ll look more handsome with them too. Pap’s. Please think about it; take them anyway or give them to one of your friends”, I tried in an ultimate attempt to get rid of my baseball caps.

“I am used to the newspaper on my head”, the old man replied more softly, “and I have no friends. Please take your hats and go away”, was the last thing I heard him say.

I was beaten and could not think of anything else than to except my loss and to give up and leave.

Back in the car I noticed how the old man waved good-bye to me with a smiling face.

When I drove by “pap’s” later that year the old man always recognized my car and greeted me enthusiastically. I am sure that in spite of his refusal to accept my presents he appreciated the gesture, however still wears newspapers on his head to protect him against the Florida sun.

What I learned from the encounter with this homeless man is that it still “Takes Two To Tango” -in other words- one individual to initiate a Mitzvah and another person to accept same.

I promised myself to walk Don Soffer’s Exercise Trail every day in the future as usual. However I will try to keep my cell phone closed in order to be more tuned to observe, contemplate and remember while walking. In that way I hope to find the time and inspiration to write again about what comes to mind in my life and to share these thoughts periodically with everyone interested.

Thank you for taking the time to read this piece and share in my optimism and excitement for the future.

I am curious to receive some feedback. Your comments and/or suggestions are welcome.

With kind regards,
Robert

Robert M. Jacobs
P.O Box 800418
Aventura (Fl) 33280, USA
Email: robertjacobsusa@gmail.com
Follow me on Twitter/Aventuraliving