I had an e-mail the other day from
a gentleman who got me thinking about the good old days and the richness of
life.
He reminded me of the days when we
were our neighbours keeper and would have completed a day’s work by 9am having
the rest of the day to just enjoy life. I daresay to get up before the cock
crows in the morning would be a bit tricky for folks like me who love to sleep
in but the point made was a great one. And maybe that is the problem.
Maybe we are so tired from the day
before that even though we technically have just had a good night’s sleep, we
are still tired; exhausted even.
But wow the good old days; what a
thought, what a concept. Remember those days when we had to wash clothes with
our hands with a wash board and hang out the clothes on the line to catch the
sun and by 10am they would be dry? Remember when we had to pump water from the
well and heat the water in the sun to take a nice bath in the afternoon.
I remember when my grandmother used
to make coconut oil on the outside stove. Watching her grate the coconut and
pour the water in the pan and squeeze out the juice and then let it set to cut
it out and then fry it down was such a process and one I relished in. Folks
used to pass, on foot no doubt, and stop and chat with her on their way to
town, getting a cool drink in the process.
I just can’t stop thinking about
what made those days good. Do we even walk anywhere anymore and do we even stop
to chat like that anymore or are we too busy living the good life?
I remember waking up early with her
to make breakfast for everyone or sometimes walk to church before the sun came
up for prayer meeting and I don’t remember complaining at all. I now work in
George Town and can hardly remember a time when I was happy about the thought
of me having to walk somewhere a few steps away from my air conditioned office.
I took a wonderful drive to East
End this past weekend and was in awe of how beautiful an island we live in. Did
you know that when you get away from the hustle and bustle of town there are
vegetation and beautiful blue skies and pristine beaches bordering our shores,
just like the commercials say, and there is wonderful air to breathe. I had
almost forgotten. It had been ages since I had done that and I marvelled at how
much beauty and serenity that we call our home and that we miss because we are
too busy living the good life in nice cool offices and luxurious cars and fancy
houses.
And I bought fried fish from a
place across the street from the blow holes and not to make a commercial spot
for anyone, but I almost ate my fingers. When was the last time that you did
that?
It seems that life is getting in
the way of just living and our way of life has confused what is really
important. Good long drives, nice fried fish, sitting and shooting the breeze
with folks just like you and me under a coconut tree far from all the noise and
money making gizmos should rank high on the list.
How many folks remember shopping at
By-Rite, CoMart and Kirk Plaza or buying shoes at Bata and Three Sisters? What
happened to that way of life when we would meet people sitting out by the post
office? Where have all the benches in George Town gone where the older folks
used to just sit and catch up while the younger folks shopped and the children
just ran around and played? Do you notice that what has replaced it are folks
being afraid to even go too far because of the other folks who are robbing the
place left, right and centre? Maybe if we had not moved the benches and the
older folks from sitting and watching, we might not have replaced it with
criminals wreaking havoc as if they own the land and our freedom and wonderful
way of life. Have we allowed progress to tarnish all that we held dear? Progress
must happen but maybe not instead of what is good.
In the good old days kids were kids
and could not listen to grown folks talk and had fun exploring and adventuring
together. Those days the kids knew what guavas, tamarinds, Jew plums and green
mangoes with salt and pepper were. In the good old days we did not have phones
but talked to everyone, we had kerosene lamps and would still read books at
night. In the good old days we burned heaps to get rid of the garbage and waste
and didn’t get reported but today we have the growing Mount Trashmore and yet
report one another for striking a match in the yard.
You know what else we had in the
good old days? We had less imported food and better nutrition, lower bills and
dry clothes, fewer stores and looked sharp as a tack, less money and yet we
were richer than ever. We were at peace with ourselves and had the time to
enjoy the sunset.
Yes in the good old days we were
rich with love and happiness; we praised and loved God, worked hard for what we
got respected one another and most of all we shared with each other!
You know what I think happened to
the good old days?
We happened to the good old
days!
So remember every time you want to
live the good life, let it not be at the expense of the good old days.
And then tell me how your week is
going at [email protected]. Check out my website at www.somebodysmama.com
and pick up your copy of I’m Somebody’s Mama at your local bookstore today.
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