August 30th, 2017
“I have had a good life.” john merryman, III…Those were my late husband’s, John, words a few days before he passed away on August 31, 2013. I will keep this post short as he did not want his family to dwell on his passing. He wanted us to move forward and so we have, one foot in front of the other. I always say that 10% is what happens to you and the rest 90% is how you react. It does not matter how prepared we are for a loved one’s departure eternally from our side, it is still an adjustment.
Our friends mention him a lot. He was hard to forget. A dry sense of humor, quiet, and a true gentleman. My good friends are always at my side. Tomorrow they will be there, as well. We will have dinner and remember the good times we had with him. He was a foodie when the word was not even in the dictionary.
He loved Michael and John above all else. John is 33 and Michael is turning 30 on 9/4. Getting together with friends was priceless.
 
Our friends, Annie, Cathy, and Ron he would be so thankful for all the help they have given me.
One person that he would have enjoyed immensely would have been our granddaughter, Sophia. She is something else.
“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning how to dance in the rain….” So, life continues, as it should, one step at a time.
Note: Close to my heart is the research currently under way at Temple Health for Pulmonary Hypertension. If you have someone in need of help please contact Dr. Anjali Vaidya, MD, FACC, FASE, FACP, Advanced Heart Failure and Cardiac Transplant 215-707-7636 or write anjali.vaidya@tuhs.temple.edu. If you would like to contribute, please contact Katie Beddis, Senior Director of Development, Medical Education and Research Building. 215-707-9459, or write Kbeddis@temple.edu. Ask for information and mention my name, Gloria Merryman.
November 24th, 2014
It is a time of the year to give thanks….shouldn’t we be doing this every day? I try to but at times, I do forget. Giving thanks to Lane Builders is something that I will never forget. No way. Lane Builders is located at 1009 Kings Highway in Lewes, Delaware, 19958. Tel. 302-645-5555. Website? http://www.lanebuilders.com.
On AboutMyBeaches I have posted about Lane Builders. It is my story and my relationship with this caring builder. Jeff Burton, Keith Hastings and their staff at Lane Builders made sure that the process of building the House on Parkwood Street in Bethany Beach went smoothly and on a timely manner.
Besides Lane Builders offering custom homes, renovations, and anything under the sun that could be done to enhance your property, they also have 4 Preplanned Homes: Mission Bay, Sunset Bay, Tidewater, and Berkshire. When you open the above mentioned website, you can click under the heading of Preplanned Homes.
Then, if you click on Tidewater and scroll down a bit, you will also see that this home is in memory of my late husband, John Merryman, III, who owned Tidewater Realty, Ltd. in Bethany Beach. Lane Builders and John designed this home to fit just the right lot in beautiful Bethany Beach. You can also read and check the photos of my testimonial.
 
The Tidewater, along with the other preplanned homes are designed with the Delaware coast in mind. Energy efficient; careful detailed has been given to them just like they would give to any custom home, just like Tidewater was.
 
I am in Bethany Beach every week. I drive at times by the house. The last photo was taken a few weeks ago. I have seen the new owners’ car there…..They are making their own memories in The Quiet Resort. John would have been so proud.
Again, thank you Lane Builders. Have a Happy Thanksgiving.
October 24th, 2013
Today I celebrate John’s life. My husband, John, passed away peacefully on August 31st. All the emotions are there; sadness, anger, and even relief for him.
John’s birthday was October 24th. This date is also our anniversay. I did not want him to forget it. He also would be mortified to be featured on my blog. This post is for me. He was private, conservative in his dressing and views, and had a very dry sense of humor.
John and I met in Puerto Rico in 1973 and nobody thought we would last. They would say “Gloria is dating a gringo”. No kidding, they never thought it would. The funny part is that we did and only a few that married at the time stayed together.
Life was, definitely, simpler then. John and I were so young; no worries, no responsibilities, and practically, no bills. This photo says it all. It was taken in 1975 in St. Thomas.
John lived in El Yunque, way inside the rainforest in Puerto Rico. The house was designed by a student of Frank Lloyd Wright; all open with the jungle staring at you all the time.
 
We used to spend time with Louie who also lived even deeper into the rainforest, in a thatch roof hut that was out of a novel, collecting rare orchids and anthuriums.
When we moved from Puerto Rico, we chose the Delaware Beaches to live. We never lived away from the ocean. We really enjoyed it. Plus, we were just a few hours drive from Baltimore, Maryland, where John was from.
 Bethany Beach, 1977 We, actually, have 2 anniversaries; In Virginia and in Puerto Rico, married in different years.
Family, business, and responsibilities, then followed. And, plenty of friends along the way. He loved to hunt, golf, fish, ski, and the beach. John was the original “foodie”, when that word was not even part of the vocabulary. We showed Michael and John how to work the blue crabs early.
His passion was real estate and the company he founded in 1988, in Bethany Beach, was his baby. Tidewater Realty, Ltd. was a boutique style real estate firm catering to customers who appreciated personal and individual attention. He sold a lifestyle that was also his own.
John loved good craftmanship and one of the last things he wanted was a box to be made for his Mariner’s Compass, circa 1885. Scott Angelucci of Angelucci’s Fine Woodworking in Milford, Delaware, was commissioned by John to make the box.
 
The main wood is Tiger Maple. The dark trim and the dark wood on the compass rose is called wenge and grows in the Congo River. The lighter wood on the compass rose is yellow heart and grows in South America. The repeated inlad design is cherry, maple and walnut. Inside, the box is lined with velvet on the bottom and the rim is zebra wood, which grows in Africa. The box is gorgeous and John would have loved it.
I opened one of my Kind Notes and it said: “Gone from our sight, never from our hearts.”
I can close my eyes and turn the pages of my personal album. Forty years together is a lifetime. And John always said he had a good life. He had his family’s back and I had his back.
 
And, until we meet again…for now, it is one foot in front of the other.
March 28th, 2013
In the 1900’s getting to Bethany Beach was a traveling adventure. First you had to take off for Rehoboth Beach by railroad, continue by boat; crossing the Rehoboth and Indian River bays, keep on going to the Assawoman Canal, then by a 2-horse drawn bus. It was exhausting. Later on, in 1910, it was made a little easier with the dredging of the Loop Canal. You could then, travel by boat from Rehoboth Beach and be dropped off right in town.
In 2010 the Loop Canal celebrated its centennial. Hopefully, when you visit Bethany, you will have a time to stop and reflect on how easy it was for you to get there; the others took the long trip to this coastal town that since those days, still maintains that family atmosphere.
I think I can talk about Bethany Beach because from 1981 until 2000, I lived in Bethany. My children’s playground? That’s right….Downtown Bethany Beach!! The town was a little different then; no alcohol, no pharmacy, and one grocery store; Gerald’s. We, the residents did not know how to act when some of those things you take for granted made their first appearance. Guess what? It was not missed. We either went to Rehoboth Beach or Ocean City, Maryland.
Bethany Beach and Fenwick are considered quiet resorts. I must admit that in the winter they are a bit quieter than Lewes and Rehoboth Beach. Come summer, these towns are popular resort towns at the Delaware Beaches.
Living at the Delaware Beaches is living stress free. It is definitely a care free lifestyle. It is enhanced by the fact that Delaware has low property taxes and no sales tax. The weather? Actually, it is pretty good too.
Tidewater Realty has had a presence in Bethany Beach since 1988. Broker of Record, John Merryman, has been selling Bethany and Delaware since the mid 70’s. Tidewater Realty is located at 32892 Coastal Highway (Rt.1) in the Starboard Center. Plenty of parking with easy access from Coastal Highway (Rt.1). Tel. 302-539-7500. Website? http://www.tidewaterrealty.com
Tidewater Realty takes pride in the personal attention they give their clients. The lifestyle they sell is priceless!
One of the few lots available for sale in Bethany Beach is located at 313 Parkwood St. This is a 40 x 125 lot. It is $599,000. The future owner of this lot could build a 4,000 square foot home on this lot. It is not in a flood zone and only 2 1/2 blocks from the beach, the shops, the restaurants, and the center of Bethany Beach.
The street is quiet and it is a semi-dead end street.
Let’s walk to the beach!
Parkwood Street looking east. Beach is at the end.
Crossing Rt. 1. To the left is the town.
You are almost there.
At the end of Parkwood..the ramp to the Boardwalk.
Parkwood Street is also the end of the Boardwalk.
Now, where should we park ourselves?
To the south of the Boardwalk?
Or, should we just place our beach chairs on the north side? Decisions, decisions!!
Tons of beach, or, just walk the Boardwalk.
The Bandstand in Bethany Beach is the life of the town. Summer concerts, gatherings or just people watching. Ice cream, French fries..the works, is all there within walking distance.
From the Bandstand, the beach continues; never ending. Looks like fun, doesn’t it? Nothing better! Even as I write this post I remember sitting at the beach all day long with the kids.
All streets in Downtown Bethany Beach lead to the beach…At this time of year…surprise, surprise!! Who do we have here going to the beach?
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