That Sweet Money Tune

About the Book

That Sweet Money Tune Gary D. Owen A couple of years ago after my retirement I found myself in somewhat of a quandary wondering about what I could do to fill all these hours of my new found freedom. After golf and way too much T.V., there just didn’t seem to be anything else that truly held my interest. One of my sisters suggested that I try writing a family history. Hopefully, something that could be passed down through the years as a reminder that we all truly had existed and what life was like back in the old days. I’m not quite sure what happened, but somewhere along the way, what had started out as a family history turned into the semi-fiction story that’s enclosed within these pages. To be honest with you, I had one hell of a good time writing it, and in all sincerity, hope that you enjoy the read. The story is intended as a lighthearted humorous accounting of a young man’s coming home from the Army and his struggle to find himself. The story is based on two separate periods of my life. The actual heart of the book, the bar and restaurant episodes took place during 1958-1961. The sailing incidences for the most part took place between 1964-1968. It should be understood that all of the characters are fictional. The only person whose name I kept was that of Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton. At the time Willie Mae was a good friend of mine and I think she would have wanted it that way. The fictional part of the story is everything and everyone concerning my imaginary diamond stickpin. Everything else should be considered as being almost absolutely true. The young man’s ultimate goal is to return to college but for one reason or another finds himself constantly being sidetracked. After a brief halfhearted, and for all the wrong reasons stint working at the post office, he finds himself through happenstance the owner of a Beach Street beer bar and after hours restaurant. He is befriended by prominent blues singer, Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton. Willie Mae is attracted to the young man simply because of his open faced honesty and his obvious need for a mentor. Willie Mae encourages the young man to allow the local Beach Street Club’s musicians to jam in his after hours restaurant. As a result, his little business becomes a raging success beyond his wildest dreams and the setting for two years of exceedingly funny stories. The story includes his love interest, the discovery of a mysterious twelve carat diamond, good friends, and hours of sailing on Monterey Bay.

About the Author

My family fell in love with and moved to the little beach community of Santa Cruz in 1944. I completed my basic education as a product of the local school system and graduated from Santa Cruz High School in 1955. After high school, I attended college in San Jose. Eventually, I entered the field of procurement where I worked as a Buyer and then, Purchasing Manager for thirty-six years. In order to satisfy my two-year active duty military obligation, I entered the army in 1956 and attended Food Service School at Fort Ord, California. After graduation, I was assigned to an eighteen-month tour of duty in Korea as a member of the First Cavalry Division located on the DMZ. Upon returning home, my intention was to re-enter college the following September. In the meantime, in order to not become obligated to a full-time situation, I found myself working as a bartender at a local Beach Street beer bar and after-hours restaurant. As life would have it, opportunity knocked and by pure chance I soon found myself as the owner of the business, lock, stock and barrel. My relationship with the establishment lasted for two and one-half years and is the background for this book. The name of the establishment was the Stein Club. Keep in mind that even though this book is fictional, or as they say, “Creative Non-fictional,” for the most part all of the episodes actually occurred. The story is told through the eyes of a somewhat naive twenty-two year old young man who was trying desperately to keep an even keel in life while at the same time being surrounded by a number of questionable but lovable characters.