Coconut Man - Keith

Every morning, Gary and I get up and walk along the beach and then the boardwalk.  It is such a nice thing and I am not taking it for granted.  I'm trying to enjoy each and every day that I am granted this continued privilege.  Well, today - we are walking along and I almost run into this rope that is hanging from the coconut tree.

 
Notice the coconuts in a bunch at the bottom?  We have met this guy that collects the coconuts each morning along the beach.  Then, I noticed that this same guy was pulling a cart along a streetside when I would take Gary to work each day.  That is when I made the brilliant observation that this guy was collecting the coconuts by our beach and then selling the coconut water to our neighborhood.  So, now Gary and I stop at least once a week and buy a quart of coconut water from him.  Gary has started drinking more of the coconut water instead of diet Cokes which I think is a very healthy food choice.  It is also kind of neat knowing that the coconut water we are drinking was from the coconuts by our beach.

The first time that I bought some coconut water from this guy - he smiled and said - "I know you, you and your husband walk along the beach each morning."  He also said after I paided him "Respect" versus a thank you.  That is very important around here.  In other words, he was thanking me for showing him respect by purchasing the product from him.  Respect is a word that is used often here on the island.

I asked this guy what his name was and he said something like cocolobo....... and I looked at him dumbfounded and said "What?"  He smiled and said, just call me Keith.  So, Keith it is!  Would you like to meet Keith?  Here is his picture from this morning - he was up in the tree at the time that I almost ran into the rope.  Do you see him?

Funny things about the name Keith - the maintenance man here in our condos - same situation, where I asked him his name and he spouted off some long name and I went "huh?"  and he smiled and said, just call me Keith!  :)  So, Gary and I went to the beach this last weekend - and I asked the name of the guy that gives us our chairs and he said, just call me Jerry.  I looked at him and smiled and said is that your real name?  It was. I feel like I might have already told this story in a blog, but oh well - if I have - you got pictures this time to go along with the story.  I need to quit blogging and go answer my emails - UGH!