Tuesday, October 15, 2013

This Modern World In Which We Live.

   Some years ago, 10-15?, I bought a cheap electric watch, a Casio, for which I paid ca. $10. I'll explain why I bought it a bit later.  This watch continues to operate well and has several features; an alarm (which I can barely hear :) ), a stopwatch, an option to keep time in two different time zones and a choice of either a 12 or 24 hour reading of the time. It's operated well even though I also use it when I'm farming.
   Twice I've had to replace the band and now, needing another new band, I went in search of one.  An internet search led me to Target Stores.  Visiting a local Target a clerk pointed me toward a display and said "good luck".  The display only had bands for Timex watches none of which would work for my Casio.
   However, I noticed a new Casio watch like mine for $19.99.  Because my last band a few years ago cost $10.00 I decided to just buy the new watch and put the old on the shelf until I might stumble on a band and then I'll have two Casio watches I can wear.  Interesting world!
   But then why did I buy a Casio in the first place when I have a Rolex?   The Curmudgeonette and I walked into a Boston Market restaurant one day and the guy behind the counter looked at my watch and said "That's a stainless steel Rolex worth six thousand dollars."  I replied "Yes, and I'd like two pieces of chicken please."
   Actually I was quite taken aback.  Of course I knew it was a Rolex but I had no idea of it's value.  I bought it in 1962 when our ship, The USS Princeton, LPH 5, (the 2nd Princeton built after the first Princeton was sunk by the Japanese in WW II, it had been converted from fixed wing aircraft to carry helicopters thus LHP or Landing Pad Helicopter) visited Hong Kong.
   When I got liberty in Hong Kong I went ashore to go watch shopping and bought the Rolex.  I'd been saving my money to buy a good watch knowing that we'd be visiting Hong Kong known as place to do serious shopping.  It cost me $100. which seemed like quite a bit because my monthly salary was $140. but I wanted a good watch.
   When I came back aboard ship one of the Marines, Cpl.  Derscavage was his name, who knew I was going watch shopping asked if I'd bought one.  When I said "Yes" he asked what kind.  "Rolex" I said.  He replied "Rolex? Rolex? Why didn't you buy a good one, like Bulova or something?"
   So that's the story of  my Rolex which I wore for about 40 years and which now resides in safe storage and how I came to own two Casios.

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