The Rolex

This morning my parents and I woke up early so that we could get a celebratory breakfast from Iris’ in Dunedin for my graduation tomorrow. I was very excited since my parents have never been there and Iris’ food is delicious, but first we had to make a quick errand stop–or so I thought. Where we went to was the Certified Clock and Watch Shop, the one with the really quirky commercials on TV.

So what were we there for? Oh, just to pick up my Dad’s late ’60s Rolex GMT Master. I thought nothing of it since he has been talking about getting it cleaned and the crown fixed for years, but when we walked in my Dad introduced himself and my Mom to the guy, then he introduced me and the guy smiled and said “Ah! Very well”. He came out with the watch all polished and cleaned, and asked me which wrist I normally wear my watch on. I just looked at the guy and told him it wasn’t my watch by my Dad’s, that is when my Dad just smiled and told me it wasn’t anymore. To say I was flabesgasted by such a gift is an understatement. I was touched, honored and that feeling that I am finally walking and getting my B.A. finally started to sink in. It took a watch that is nearly valued at $7,500 dollars to get me to that feeling, but it was finally there.

Rolex GMT Master on my left wrist

We went home to eat breakfast and what awaited me was this note on the stove with my name on it and it says:

A Legacy for Carlos

How wonderful that you are the proud owner of me, a unique time piece conveyed to you by your father, for he and I have experienced a life full of exciting adventures that include, but are not limited, to the following:

• In Germany we have gone to the Oktoberfest, drive through the Black Forest, shopped in Wiesbaden and drank in Heidelberg
• In Ecuador we drove and climbed the Andes Mountains, dined in Quito, drove from Quito through the Tierra de Los Indies Rojo to the Pacific Coast
• In Austria we drove though the Grossglockner and drank at the Hotel Franz-Josephs-Haus in the Alps, climb the Almen and walked Saltsburg
• In Italy we traveled the canals of Venice, stayed in Cortina, enjoyed Florence, and drank wine under the Leaning Tower of Pisa
• We drank Sangria on top of the Hotel Nacional in Havana, saw Hemingway’s La Finca, visited friends in San Francisco de Paula
• Sailed the BVI’s, drank in Virgin Gorda, anchored at Norman Island and all the coves on Tortola, and visiting the Old Copper Mine
• Had a ham and cheese sandwich and a beer at the Monte Carlo in Monaco
• Traveled 49 states including Hawaii and stayed in Kauai visiting Fern Grotto and Hanalei Beach
• Drove through Mexico with visits at: Island of Holbox, Valladolid, Uxmal, Campeche, Vera Cruz, Posa Rica, Tampico, Merida, Villahermosa, etc.
• Raced Bermuda, crossing the Gulf Stream, saw whales, encountered storms, and drank Dark and Stormy at the Royal Bermudian Yacht Club
• Skied Haystack, Mt. Snow and Brody Mt., crossed country skied by Mt. Pico
• Traveled all the Providences of Canada from the Atlantic to the Pacific
• Sailed the Historic Hudson River and anchored in the Great Salt Pond at Block Island
• Sailed the East Indies crossing the fetch between St. Lucia and St. Vincent anchoring in Admiralty Bay at Baqua Island
• Collected Nutmeg in Granada, purchased in Georgetown and had Christmas dinner with two poor English children
• Drove through Schnook Pass on Mt. Rainer and then drove down to hop farms

All of these things we have done and more–and now I am your Rolex GMT Master–ready for new adventures.

Its safe to say that I cried a bit and gave my Dad, my hero and who I aspire to be half the man he is, a heartfelt hug.

I hope to add to the legacy and amazing adventures that this watch has been on, and that one day I can sit down all tell my son where this watch has been and that its ready to take on more adventures with him.

The The Rolex by Hits Snooze Twice, unless otherwise expressly stated, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

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