“Find ecstasy in life; the mere sense of living is joy enough.” ~ Emily Dickinson.
After seven days of activities and events here in Jamaica that have produced so many moments of joy, I am not sure how I will report on them in just one post. But perhaps I can tempt your senses with enough images to produce sparks of joy that can spread into a blaze, even in these challenging and worrisome times.
In order to keep my wand’ring mind on track (and with apologies to any who shared in any of these moments and feel I forgot to mention something significant), I will try to go in chronological order. Last Friday began with the simple pleasure of meeting up with friends, sharing good food, good talk, and a point of view that leaves you breathless. Everyone should have a friend whose balcony chair stares out at the Blue Mountains, while in the foreground all manner of birds dip and swoop in and out of their favorite trees. Woodpeckers tease with their tap-tap-tapping, occasionally traveling around a trunk for you to see them. If you are lucky (and we were) a hawk will do a fly by – chased noisily by a cheeky petchary (also known as Jamaican Nightingale; or the Northern Mockingbird). It would be enough without the excellent conversation and food, but then it wouldn’t be the same!
On Sunday we had the joy of listening to the world-famous University Singers. We knew it was going to be an event when the recording of the National Anthem, played at the opening of the show, stuttered and stalled twice and the audience just picked up the line and continued singing the whole thing a cappela, both verses of course. The only thing we couldn’t do was to add the distinctive drum booms in between Jamaica, (boom), Jamaica (boom), Jamaica land we love.
I could write about the show alone for my usual 1200 words, but suffice it to say for quality, professionalism (synchronized outfits, facial expressions and body positions) and entertainment, it could not be beat. From operatic selections to a medley of Buju Banton songs, the range was perfect. And that was only the first half! By the way, if you don’t already know this, some of Buju’s lyrics are deep and profound, worth being sung by a well=choreographed, top quality choir. But it was in the second half they let loose, not in quality but in style. Colorful traditional outfits fit the updated medley of folk songs, male and female ‘challenge’ songs zinged back and forth. This was not a static performance, all songs (both halves) had dance moves and line dancing mixed with their harmonies. After a rollicking, fun-filled, fusion jam session by the band (the musicians seemed to be getting off on each other’s riffs and licks) the show was closed out with Revival. This was a Spiritual, African infused religious experience which carried Rex Nettleford’s stamp on it. In fact I swore I saw him floating above them. The ‘Captain’ (male leader of the Revival church) led the choir in a tightly controlled frenzy, incorporating the ‘whirling dervish’ mode of meditation while uttering lyrics mixed in with snippets of ‘tongues’. All in all a profoundly moving experience.
Monday we were treated to a ‘bath’ in the famous Milk River mineral baths. This healing thirty-minute submersion in miraculous water was followed by an unexpected pleasure. While passing the time (waiting on our personal chef to arrive at Farquhar Beach), we happened upon a typical, simple roadside Bar and Restaurant that sold fish and lobster (free on Tuesdays, pay for drinks only) that unfortunately was out of both, since it was too windy to send the bar owner’s boat out to sea. She could, however, offer us cold beverages of our choice (subject to availability), and a set of dominoes to while away the time. Since only two of our party wished to play, she suggested that her young daughter (maybe nine or ten years old) could join in. Well, said daughter promptly led the game three love! When the men caught up, we gracefully stopped the game and headed on our way, having made strangers into friends. It was such joy to see the pleasure on the faces of all, both players and observers. The young lady not only played intelligently, she also took the inevitable good-tempered ‘mouting’ (teasing, mocking) when her winning streak ended. And she issued a challenge for a return match! By the way, and not for the first time, some advice: Do not follow Waze in Jamaica, you may go places you have never been before, on roads you never want to drive over again!
Wednesday was the reason for our visit to Jamaica, a return to my old Primary School, a place I have not seen for 58 years. The occasion was the graduation ceremony for the 6th graders who were now moving on to High School (in Jamaica High School goes from 7th to 12th grade). I cannot do justice to the experience in a paragraph or two, especially since there were so many moments that inspired joy. The Principal (what a radical) believes that learning should be fun, an adventure! Her students learn lessons both inside and outside of the classroom. They have their own farm, and wish to build a green house. They have a two-time all-island champion Robotics team! And this from a ‘little country school’ that is up a steep, winding road off the main road, unseen from below. But oh, the views from above! Across to the ridges of St. Catherine, down to the Plains of Vere. Overhead a swallow-tail hawk soared, while a swift darted across.
I was there as Keynote Speaker, and sat on the stage beneath a tent, while above the tent that housed the students and family members, the rain clouds gathered and threatened. Sure enough, the raindrops came as I stood up to give my speech. But in that environment, where everyone felt like family, it was a small obstacle to overcome, and it soon passed. I can only tell you we had a good time, the chairperson ensured that everyone was engaged (she even gave out prizes for correct answers to her questions!) despite a program that (as they all do) lasted beyond a normal twelve-year-old’s attention span!). And the ‘pickney dem bright, you see!’ In other words, you leave such occasions encouraged, inspired, and hopeful for the future of Jamaica.
Jamaica is a land of contradictions, so there is a mix of beauty and squalor; efficiency and disorganization. Yesterday we experienced the process of clearing cargo at the airport and witnessed the particular challenge of having a paper-based system (forms, invoices, bills) being logged by security as a gale-force breeze blew in through the loading dock bay, and threatened to send every page flying!
On a day of which Frederick Douglass once asked ‘What, for the slave, is the fourth of July?’ in a country where Sojourner Truth once asked: ‘Ain’t I a woman?’ I am happy to be reflecting on the joy that can be found, if only you look. I am challenged to stay positive as the world looks at the increasingly cruel acts of a leadership focused on power and wealth only. I am encouraged to see seeds of innovation and creativity blooming in many places. I am revived by the arts that challenge our comfortable beliefs and challenge us to sing and dance and paint and write and celebrate this wonder, this joy-filled world that exists at our fingertips. From watching bees busily collecting pollen from zinnias, to gazing at mountains that guard and protect us, our planet is a wonderful place; people are full of generosity and kindness; there is always something to be grateful for.
Have a wonderful weekend, Family!
One Love!
Namaste.
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