Sunsets, Rum, Sand and Gizzadas 97 Days in Negril

[Jenn]

YEAH!! I am so happy to hear you are returning! Looking forward to your observations and pictures! Keeps me warm until we arrive in a few weeks!

[chris55]

That's great! Just told my girlfriend about your book and how jus hi enjoyed your writing. Looking forward to reading more. Who knows...maybe we will run into you somewhere along the way..

[Kahuna3]

Yeah, mon! Back on de beach. “Now that’s better,” as the little redhead says - no, not Danika 

I arrived late last night on a direct flight; Frozen Bullocks direct MoBay. Four hours, ten minutes. Nice. Except the guy beside me had some kind of overactive bowel problem – I won’t regale you with the details, suffice to say the overhead air vent was put to good use.

I went down to the beach this morning and I managed to sneak up on Shrek from behind and put him in a headlock. I pushed him towards the water and he started to fight me off. I can only imagine what was going on in his head. Anyhow, they were all happy to see me, but, except for Shrek and Doc, they all had a suspicion that I was coming back.

On my ride in from MoBay last night (late - 11:00pm) the taxi dude started in on the whole Bob Marley celebration and ‘Attractions’ spiel. But soon after we started talking, he got that I was an ‘old timer’. So naturally, conversation ended up on the subject of my recent unfortunate encounter with a tief. Naturally. Right?

I related to him what happened and he said, “Yuh know. De next time you come to Jamaica, bring a spear gun wid you. The gas powered type, not the rubber band. Cause de gas powered is more powerful, yuh know. An’ yuh can bring one spear wid you. Dat’s legal. Den make some more once you are here.” Presumably from wood, I expected.
“Yah, mon, Me keep one wid me in the house all de time.” He looked over at me and nodded. He tells me he lives in MoBay and says when he comes home from work late at night he calls a friend of his who is a cop to provide an escort for him to his house.

OK – not trying to bring anybody down or cast a dark shadow on things here. I’m just callin’ them as I see them. Because that’s how it has to be. If it flies, it flies. If it doesn’t – au revoir.

Get me straight here – I love Negril. See – I’m back. I had a wonderful afternoon on the beach today. But, reflecting, I feel like a good friend has a problem, and I’m not in a position to help him, I’m helpless. A wiser person than me put it this way; “It’s like having a once–wonderful boyfriend who has gradually turned to drugs and crime. And you’re heartbroken and don’t know what to do.”

That’s pretty well captures how I feel. Except for the boyfriend part, not that there’s anything wrong with that. I feel like a relationship that I cherish is in jeopardy.

However, it was a great day today; there was rain in the afternoon, but even that was good. I’m happy to be with my friends. Really happy.

I asked them what was up and this is the first thing I got: There was a tragedy on the beach yesterday afternoon. A man died while swimming into shore from a boat moored about 80 yards off shore. He was first observed bobbing near the buoy line just off the beach in front of White Sands. He’d been snorkelling with several of his friends when they noticed that he was in distress. They pulled him ashore and started CPR. Two of my crew, Cappy (a fireman) and Shrek, relieved them and performed chest compressions on the man for about forty minutes but their efforts were in vain, the man did not revive. He was believed to be in his mid-forties. Speculation was that he had a heart attack or a stroke or drowned. It was his second day. Very sad.

The police showed up and an ambulance was summoned but never arrived. His friends were understandably distraught. Eventually efforts to resuscitate the man were stopped. They removed him from the beach on a chaise lounge. He was placed in the back of a pick-up and driven away to the north. As the truck pulled slowly away the man’s friends were seen still performing chest compressions in a last attempt to bring him around.

Here’s a weird thing that Cappy’s wife, (no-beach-name) related to me. I thought it was iconic on a subliminal-Negril level. She was watching Cappy and Shrek do their best to revive the man. The man was surrounded by people at the verge of the water. She heard the patty guy approaching from up the beach a short distance, “Coo-Coa bread! Coo-Coa bread!” He called out as he drew closer and closer. “Coo-Coa bread!”

They he came abreast of the crowd and realised what was happening. He continued calling out but in a subdued voice, “Cocoa bread. Cocoa bread.” After he had passed a respectable distance he raised his voice and continued on as per normal, “Coo-Coa bread! Coo-Coa bread!”

Do bad things really come in threes?


I’m just call em as I see em.

Likkle more – maybe.

[juls]

Holy mackeral! that poor man..and his friends. I can't imagine what they must be going through. I am so glad you are back there...I am glued to the screen again! Have a great time with your friends..will be waiting...patiently..for the next installment.

[chris55]

For the record I am not telling my husband any of these stories..he was hesitant about traveling to Negril because of crime etc.. I keep telling him it will be fine..He is not a worry wart or anything but unfortunately Jamaica doesn't have the best rep...

[Bluez]

So happy you returned It's like the downtrodden hero has returned to triumph over evil. Congrats to Bea on her job and glad you are with your buddies on the beach.

[ackee]

jus use lots of common sense..and be vigilant, Chris55

[ackee]

leave your "rose colored glasses" at home..Chriss55

[chris55]

I wasn't planning on packing those

[ackee]

kewl!