Abe F. March

A Businessman and Globetrotter

----Goecklingen, Germany: 
American "Abe" March has published his memoirs about his years in the Middle East
By our reporter Elke Paretovi (Translation by Dr Duane March)

> How does an American, a man who traveled for years with his family as an international businessman, now live in retirement in the humble village of Goecklingen, near Landau, Germany? "It's quiet" says 67-year-old author Abraham Firestone March, whom family and friends call "Abe", with a laugh. On account of his book, "To Beirut and Back - An American in the Middle East" published in May 2006, he has gained some fame, at least in his home town.

   Just a few weeks ago the York, Pennsylvania native, now by choice a real "Pfaelzer" (resident of the German Palatine), returned from a publicity trip in the USA where he was interviewed by an NBC TV affiliate. In his autobiographical work March recounts a moving series of "ups and downs" from 1969 to 1976 with his wife Gisela, a native German from Waldfischbach, and his children Duane, Christine and Caroline as he lived and worked in the USA, Canada, Germany, Greece and Lebanon as an independent tradesman in the cosmetic industry.

   "I actually just wrote it as a sort of family history," says March. He began writing it in 1976 in the USA just after his family's return from Beirut. He never really thought that his memoirs would ever be published - until his daughter Caroline asked for the manuscript last year and secretly sent it to a publisher who wanted to print it immediately. "At first, I really wasn't happy about it at all," March admits. Within a few months he worked over, revised and enhanced his manuscript. The result is an attractive look back at those times.

   Above all, life in the Arabic world left a lasting impression on him. "A part of my heart is still in Lebanon - it was the best of times for the whole family," he says, remembering his very successful business enterprises during the mid-70s before the Civil War in Lebanon. "I became acquainted with a fascinating culture and uncomplicated, hospitable people who were always open to new business ideas."

   For all that, his book also describes very dramatic situations: how he barely escaped a hail of bullets, lost all his possessions, was abducted and held hostage with his wife, had to leave Lebanon without a cent to his name and begin from scratch in the USA. The current political situation in Lebanon, caught in the cross-fire between Israel and the Hizbollah, recalls memories daily. One message however runs through March's book: everything is possible, never give up, have the will to risk, it's never too late to start again.

   Now the globetrotter and his wife feel right at home in Goecklingen, Germany. March sings in the men's choir, where the 67-year-old is regarded as one of the "youngsters", is involved in the local sports club and tries his best to speak in the local "Pfaelzisch" dialect: "Die Sunn scheint schun schää." His children, long since all grown up, live in Neustadt and Pirmasens (Germany) and in the USA. He does not miss his career as a traveling businessman. "As a result of living on different continents, learning several languages and experiencing other cultures, my family has come to gain a different view of world events," he is certain.