Jennifer and Queen's Park on Christmas Morning

First, let me say that God is so good!  It continues to amaze me at how God works in my life.  The people that he has weaved so beautifully into my life are so very special to me.  I want to tell you about one such person here in Barbados, whose name is Jennifer.  I am just now writing this blog entry even though it happened two months ago at Christmas, because I was waiting for a time that I could devote to writing the blog up right.  Because this event merits my full blog effort and not something that is hurriedly posted.  I hope you enjoy this.

I had started going to a workout center called Garfield Sobers Complex with my next door neighbors, David and Tonya.  That is another blog story to tell on how I met David and Tonya.  But for now, suffice it to say that David and Tonya were very gracious to me and offered to pick me up each day and take me with them to work out.  I immediately was drawn to a 9 o'clock class that lasted for one hour.  David and Tonya preferred to work out with the machines and weights and they also loved to walk outside around the complex.  So, sometimes my class would end before David and Tonya were through with their walk and I would wait for them on the front steps of the gym.

So, one day I was waiting on David and Tonya and I heard this lady behind me talking with her coworker about her son who had just been diagnosed with ADHD.  She was so distraught and was talking and wringing her hands about how this could be and what was she to do.  I just listened, I doubt they were even aware that I was sitting there.  My heart went out to this woman - I hurt with her - because I knew what she was going through.  You see, my son James, also has ADHD.  And we discovered this when James started 1st grade.  It was a very hard road for James and for his parents.  Lots of struggles that we went through over the years - but, I am happy to say that James finished with a Global Supply Chain Management degree from Texas A&M with an emphasis in Finance.  James has done well and he learned how to manage his life and to make the most of it.  During those first years with James, I did a lot of research on ADHD.

So, when I saw David and Tonya leaving the gym - I got up from the steps that I was sitting on and for some reason, felt very compelled to give this lady some words of encouragement.  So, I did.  I turned around and told her that I too was a mother with a son that had been diagnosed with ADHD and that I wanted her to know I understood what she was going through.  And if there was one thing I could tell her, it would be to give him a lot of attention and love.  This lady thanked me and I turned around and left.

About a week later, I was again waiting on David and Tonya and this time - I waited out in the parking lot away from the front steps of the gym.  I was sitting on a curb by the parking lot with my back to the gym.  I heard this voice behind me - asking how I was doing - and I turned around - and it was this mother.  Her name is Jennifer.  We talked for a while about everything.  She started telling me what she was considering doing with her son and I started telling her what I had done.  And that was that - instant friendship was made.

One day, I don't remember the exact conversation - but, she said something about church or something and I looked at her and asked "Are you a Christian?"  She said yes and then I realized how come we were both so instantly connected to each other.  I realized that God had put us together.  Isn't it amazing how he works in our lives, when we are the least expecting it?

Around Christmas time last year - 2010, Jennifer asked me one day if I was interested in going to a very special event that happened in Barbados on Christmas morning.  I was ecstatic.  Yes, of course, I was interested.  To do something that was a true custom in Barbados and wasn't connected to the tourism industry.  I love to experience the life, people, places and food of all the places that I have lived in the last 3 years.  I have learned so much through these experiences.

Jennifer, started building this event up to me every time I would see her at the gym.  She told me that I needed to have a hat!  Oh boy, for all of you that know me, I like to blend into a group and not stick out and be noticed.  I have never, ever worn a hat (except maybe when I was a child at Easter).  She told me I needed to wear a nice dress and to be prepared for something totally awesome.  She kept telling me this event was at the park.  I had no idea at the time, where she was talking about.  It was what they call Queens Park.  Jennifer told me that I would need to get up early - like at 5 am early on Christmas morning!  Yikes!  I knew that we were picking James and Ali up at the airport on Christmas Eve night at midnight and I knew by the time we got their bags and got home and got settled, we would not be in bed before at least 2 am.  But, I wanted to go so badly, that I was determined to do it.  I asked James, Gary, Ali and Alisha who would like to go with me - and Alisha said she would.

I had a dilemma though - I didn't have a hat!  I was mentioning this to one of my lady friends with my church small group time and she said she would loan Alisha and I two of her hats.  And that was that!  She loaned me a red one and Alisha a black one.  Jennifer said she would meet us at the front entrance to the Queens Park at some time - I actually can't remember when it was now - let's say 6:00.

I successfully found Queens Park and parked the car and was on time with Alisha and our hats!

Jennifer was right.  It was like nothing I had ever seen or experienced before.  It was enchanting.  It was magical.  It was fun.  It was uplifting.  There was excitement and electricity in the air.  The Barbados Police Band was playing in the carousel.  The water fountain was beautiful and the grounds were well manicured.  And there were people coming into the park very nicely dressed - with their hats!  It reminded me of the olden days in the South where the ladies would come out with their hats on and the gentleman were walking by their sides.  (Gone With The Wind?) It was wonderful.  The police band played lots of Christmas music.

A mother strolled in with her daughters by her side, all smiles.  Adorable little girls with frilly dresses on and then the ribbons in their hair to match and the tiny little bracelets on their arms to match.  And their fathers carrying them so proudly.  Beautiful, stately women walking with gorgeous satin dresses.  Men, dressed in tuxedos - all different colors - and so very proud.  Whole families dressed in the same colors.  Everyone was happy.

I had asked Jennifer if I could bring a camera and take pictures.  She said "yes, of course."  I asked did she think people would mind if I took pictures of them and she said, "They WANT you to take pictures of them!"  So, I did.  I'm not a very good photographer.  Most of the pictures that I took - for some reason - were of peoples backs.  But, I hope you can get a feel for what the morning was like.

Jennifer invited Alisha and I to her home after we had strolled around in the park.  She served us several different kinds of delicious cakes and our first ever taste of a sorrel drink (which now is one of my favorites).  This is a custom in Barbados to have lots of cakes and sorrel made for people to come and go out of each other's homes.  Just fun and visiting all day long.  A week later, Jennifer invited Alisha and I to see a singing Christmas tree - no cameras were allowed - but, it was also just an awesome experience.  The church was packed with standing room only.  When I arrived at the church, I asked a gentleman outside if he could tell me where to enter the church.  He said, "I'll do better than that, I'll take you to a very special seating area."  He took us to the very front of the church!  The program had not only the singing Christmas tree but also dancing and drama.   Very well orchestrated.

I will forever have it in my memories of how God brought two friends together, if only for a season, to share in life and all of its ups and downs.  And how very fortunate I am to have been given this opportunity to sample Christmas morning traditions in another country far, far from my own.

THE HATS!
    

THE CHILDREN!

THE HAIR!

THE PEOPLES!

Sam

Saturday morning, Gary and I head back out to our favorite beach - Bottom Bay.  Forecast for the day was scattered showers, clearing as the day wore on.  A lot of times it will rain everywhere on the island, except on the east coast - where Bottom Bay is located.  So,we were hoping for a miracle of sunshine, but we didn't get it.  It stayed cloudy all day, but we still had a great time and ended up getting to experience something new.  It was quite different from the normal, and I have discovered that I enjoy differetness (new word I just made up).  I don't enjoy doing the same thing over and over.  We enjoyed just sitting in the chairs with the wind blowing on us from the ocean, eating our picnic lunch, talking about what we thought the future might look like for us, helping tourist take pictures of themselves on the beach, walking in the sand, etc.  When we were packing up to leave, Sam came up and asked us if we wanted to see a new beach that we had probably never seen before.  Sam is one of the local guys that hangs around the Bottom Bay area making money off the tourists.  He can climb a coconut tree in no time.  He sells jewelry, and as we were about to discover is also a tour guide on occasion.  We have talked with him many times in the past and so we felt comfortable letting him ride with us to this new beach.  Here is a picture of Sam walking on the beach at Bottom Bay and I was taking the picture from the cliff above.

So, Sam rode with us and showed us the way to another beach, and he was right - we had never been to this beach.  Truthfully, I'm surprised - because I thought Gary and I had found them all.  I don't think there would be any way that we would have found this beach on our own.  We had to go through pastures and go between houses, cows, and sheep.  But, there was a nice set of steps leading down to the beach - and folks, it was awesome!  It was low tide and there were shells everywhere.  I can not wait to go back and collect a bunch of them.  I want to make some shell Valentines, art work, and picture frames with these shells.  This is the first look at the beach after we walked down the stairs. Sam said that he comes down to this beach fairly often to bathe in the mornings.

Here is a picture of Sam and Gary:

We walked up on this pile of shells.  Sam said it is from people breaking open the conch shells to get the meat out of the shell and then the people leave the shells behind.

Up close picture of some coral and small sea shells lying all around

Here is an upclose view of a shallow pool where we could get into the water without fearing a wave crashing down upon us from the very harsh waves of the Atlantic Ocean.

Here is some kind of critter that Sam said was really good to eat.  I can not remember the name he called it. But, yes, I would try it after it had been cooked if ever offered to me.

Age is just a number!

Here are some black bellied sheep that I passed on my way to the gym this morning.  Thought it could give you a little more flavor for this island that I currently live on.

There were actually 3 babies behind this mother

I titled this blog entry "Age is just a number" because my gym instructor said it in class today and it just sounded good to me.  He was actually trying to motivate the older ladies in the class that they could be just as fit as the younger ones and not to give up.  I really liked the expression.  I want to remember that one.  Another one he said a few weeks back was, "You have to keep working, ladies, you do not want any unwanted guests."  Everyone started laughing - unwanted guests meant extra fat in unwanted places.  :-0!

There is an agrafest this weekend being held at the Queen's Park - where the local animals will be on display as well as a lot of good vegetables/fruits from around the island.  I would like to scope out the vegi's and fruits - but, I don't really understand the need to go see more sheep and cows.  Do you?  

One last thing I will mention today is from a conversation at my Tuesday morning ladies bible study.  There were two ladies referring to their childhood days.  One of the ladies grew up in Barbados and the other one grew up in St. Lucia.  They were laughing about the fact that towards the end of the summer, before they could go back to school, they had to take senna in order to clean out their bowels really good.  And the one from Barbados had to also drink some type of chip that was put into water - said it tasted awful - but was to get rid of any worms.  They were laughing about it - but could never really understand why they had to clean out their bowels really good before they could go to school.  Interesting isnt' it?  

Low Tide

Low tide is a good thing.  I have finally found a website that accurately posts what times the tide will be low each day.   We went back to Harris Smith Bay/Beach on Saturday when it was low tide.  This was such a good thing, because I was able to find many, many colorful sea shells!  I want to collect these shells in order to make gifts such as valentines or picture frames.  I have just gotten this bright idea - and we may be leaving in May, so I need to start collecting them!  The problem is - that there are only certain beaches where you can find the shells. I think it has to do with the reefs that are off the coastline.  But, Harris Smith has some great sea shells.  The picture above was taken at low tide - you can see all the brown coral in the foreground - that coral is not visible at high tide.

Most all of the shells that I was finding were small shells, but as I was returning from the beach - walking with my feet right at the edge of the cool splashing water - out of no where this shell just landed right in front of me - it was my gift from the sea.  It is the biggest one I have ever seen and it is perfect - no chips or broken parts.  It is my treasure and I just wanted to share it with you:

This is a small shell that Alisha and I find when we go to Port St. Charles on the west coast.  I am hoping to find enough of them to make her a bracelet (shh, don't tell her :-)).









Back to Harris Beach, anyway to my surprise, we also had some company at the beach this last Saturday.  This was the first time that Gary and I had visited this beach during a low tide, but there were four other Bajans there.  A husband and wife were collecting sea eggs and sand roaches.  Both of which are used as fishing bait.  They were very proud of what they had caught that morning and were very happy to show me their finds.  Two other older ladies were walking towards me with buckets as well - I thought maybe they had more sea eggs, but no - they had mussels and clams - one of them described to me what she was going to do with those mussels.  She was so happy with her catch - you could just see her eyes dancing - she was also toothless!  She was so pretty to me and she explained to me how she was going to boil them and then she made some special pickled relish to go with them.  Yes, I bet that was a fine meal indeed - no tourist will ever get that sampling of food on this island - can not be found in the hotels or markets.  I really enjoy anytime that I can get into the country side and talk with the real people of the island - they are very lovely, special people.

This is a rare shell that I have only found 3 of so far - but, it is purple!













This is the typical shells that I am finding at Harris Beach, but they should work very well on picture frames and some valentines.








Well, the tide started rising and the rain came down - so, we left Harris Beach and went next door to Bottom Bay to spend the rest of the afternoon.  Turned out to be a great day.

I will make a side note about one particular local Bajan that is always at Bottom Bay - Gary and I have nicknamed him Grouch.  He seems to always be in a bad mood.  But, he also seems to be the owner of the beach chairs that are down at the bottom of this bay.  He offers the use of these beach chairs for 20.00 BBD (10.00 USD) which we always gladly pay him.  It is his way of earning an income.  But, funny enough on Saturday, Grouch was at the top of the cliff overlooking Bottom Bay, and he was giving the what for to someone standing at the bottom.  And the tirade went on and on and on, I didn't think he was ever going to stop yelling.  Something really bothered him that was for sure.

Gary and I had a good laugh as well - watching some newbies to the island - trying to get into the waters of the Atlantic Ocean.  There is a specific way that a person can make it past the wake and into the ocean waters, but just walking in and bracing for the onslaught of waves - is not that way!  There were 6 of them - they looked like Southern Americans (you'll have to ask me offline - why I think that) and they marched down into the water.  Two of them crashed immediately and after being rolled over and over with the waves that are harsh and the sand going everywhere - they crept back up to the beach and didn't return.  The other four braved it a while longer, and I'm sorry to say that we laughed at them - but, it was quite funny - because we knew exactly what was going to happen to them before hand.

One last note for today.  I went this morning to my morning workout class and was hugged by one of the ladies - Sidi.  I can not tell you the feeling of gratitude that came over me for getting that hug.  So, if anyone is out there that is single and feels like you need affection from a spouse - let me tell you, having gull friends is quite nice as well!  Have a good day, my friends!  Love, Vickie