Memories Holiday
Pain Passed
Sounds like an epitaph doesn’t it. Holiday pain passed.
I tell no lie. It was a hard month. One situation after another.
The good news is I’m here to tell you about it. All good. All behind me. Ready to ring in a New Year.
More in 2024! The qualifier is…More Blessings.
My story
After a week of disappointments.
Unexpected expenses.
Empty cupboards loomed.
We planned to create a huge feast to share. Upon my return to the Island we bought a 10 pound turkey for the event. Resting in our freezer it begged for the party.
Julia Child always said, “A turkey and two people is eternity.”
The new frig was finally coming.
Frig story
- Existing frig died about Eight months ago
- Marshall was convinced it could be repaired
- Returned home to work for only two days
- Decision to purchase new
- Delivering to house frig falls off the truck
- Another must be imported
- Shipment arrives at the Port right after Thanksgiving
- Business owner breaks his arm
- Must return to India for Medical care
- Shipment needs his signature
- The Christmas happens (every Jamaican business closes for around six days)
Christmas Feast postponed.
Fine.
Me , an American has lived without a refrigerator for nearly a year now. I’ll bet you sense a feeling of despair and entitlement here. You’re right. I think any human that has electricity is entitled to refrigeration.
We limped by plugging and unplugging our deep freeze. To keep big things frozen and less freezable food cool.
I refuse to make a huge Thanksgiving feast without a refrigerator.
The new frig is still missing in action.
Jamaica is waking slowly from Christmas celebrations.
Just in time for New Year’s.
We’ll see that new frig in 2024.
More in 2024!
Six days before Christmas
Our current as they call electricity in Jamaica went off for two days.
I can endure life without current for a few hours. Two days is hard. It’s bloody hot here. The water powered by an electric pump is reduced to a slow stream.
It did give me fodder for a fun Medium story, Hot Lady in a Laundry Tub.
We made the best of it.
Impending doom
A day after the current returned I noticed a small amount of water leaking from the toilet.
It grew larger. Water spilled into the bedroom. We covered the floor in cardboard to navigate slick tile floors.
Mopping, mopping, mopping.
Each day for four days a new remedy was attempted.
A sewage truck pumped out the pit. It had been raining heavy. It could have over-filled the pit.
Evil chemicals are poured in. Horrible fumes release. No relief.
Plunging, plunging. Nothing stops the water. Toilet’s that are flushed from the big house above create new flood waters.
An official licensed plumber comes with a 50' snake. No luck. No blockage found.
The charlatan builder confesses there is no way to clear it. He ran the plumbing uphill then turned it.
??????????????
Even I know the first rule of plumbing is shit runs down hill.
Long story short. It resulted in a new sewer line being cut through the bathroom wall.
The Jack Hammer melted the 20' extension cord.
Furniture came out of the bedroom. All mopped and disinfected. I washed cement dust off everything.
A huge mess.
All cleaning supplies are consumed.
I am reminded that my advanced age has steeled me for disasters. My young husband is beside himself moaning. In all his 47 years he has never experienced a mess like this.
I chant this is life. This too shall pass.
In the middle of the chaos I read an interesting article.
La Buena Noche
Years I have lit candles, creating a window display on Christmas Eve.
The Winter Solstice was happening too.
I had no idea an ancient Winter Solstice act of celebration was to honor the return of daylight.
La Buena Noche is a Pagan celebration that predates the birth of Christ.
Christian or not many cultures on Christmas Eve honor the return of light.
In the northern hemisphere the Winter Solstice brings the slow return of longer days and shorter nights providing more time for planting and harvesting.
More time to create the blessings that light brings.
It is believed we carry this light within us. This inner light is where our work lies.
We must honor the light. We must grow the light.
Candle Lit
Again, this year I lit a single candle in the midst of the chaos of life.
Christmas Eve I sent up an impromptu prayer to any and all Gods who were listening.
A prayer of thank you for all the blessings we’ve been given.
- Each other/good company
- Good health/happiness
- Good food/abundant fruit and vegetables
- Jamaica
A prayer for More blessings in 2024/More in 2024.
More doesn’t have to be alot.
Balance in all please.
Simple things
Christmas Day was quiet and simple.
The parade of repair men had stopped waltzing through the house.
Our mess was over.
A meal of pork and red peas in an Italian red sauce. A pile of white rice, quinoa and cucumbers on the side.
Two shots of whiskey to toast.
Balance returned.
Thanks for reading until the end.
Blessings for your New Year coming.
More in 2024…more blessings
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