Party – Hearty:
This morning we went for our walk through center town and out the road to Savannah la Mar. (I love the way that name rolls off the tongue. Try it yourself. Pronounce it like Scarlet O’Hara would. Slowly and exaggerated and let the vowels roll around your mouth. It’s kind of exotic, isn’t it? It takes me back to the time when the Spaniards were here – exploiting the people and the land.)
But I’ve drifted way off track.
We were late this morning, not leaving the house until about 8:30 am. Turning the corner from Hermitage on to Redground Road, we heard music coming from ahead. It was the same music I’d heard from afar as we sat on our patio admiring the seascape and the beauty of the morning while having breakfast.
The music was dance hall, blasting from a car that was parked on the side of the road. There was a young woman leaning up against the car. She was sipping on a Red Stripe. The car was parked directly across the road from a small local bar, the ‘Good over Evil’. Lined up in front of the bar were six or seven of the local young men. I recognized one of them as the fellow who used to offer us heroin every time we passed. That stopped when one day I explained to him that I’d given up all drugs and alcohol and was now living totally ital. Not true but I find it stops them cold sometimes.
All of the young guys were drinking beers and holding spliffs. They were hip-dancing to the music. Kind of just standing in one spot buy movin’ an’ groovin’ to the vibes coming from the car. They wore branded t-shirts, bandanas and had their pants hitched down low around their buttocks.
One of them called out, “ Yuh goin’ for an early morning walk, mon? Yeah, mon, dat’s good for da bone.” (Da bone?) He hoisted up his Guinness and toasted us as we passed. It was obvious that this group had been partying all night and were still at it at 8:30 am, Tuesday morning.
Elsewhere, along the road, the morning was unfolding as per usual. Kids were riding to school on the back of bike taxis, people were walking the road down to work. Dogs were sleeping on the side of the road. A lady was hanging out her laundry.
Chalk it up to another Negril moment.
'Sustainable' community development?! Please.
See the images of Nanny of the Maroons and the ackee pods?
This is a cool looking joint.
