We rolled through downtown and up the West End. Not too far up the road we turn and head up a lane. Sweetie Pie and I had arrangements to stay in a Jamaican guest house. We were very excited about this. We have visions of being in Jamaica long term at some point in our future and had an offer to experience the sort of long term lodging that is available in Negril. We jumped at it. I will offer some advice and considerations involving these types of arrangements a little later. It was an eye opening experience for us.
We get settled in and pay the landlord for the duration of our stay. It’s a nice ground floor one bedroom apartment with lots of room, a full kitchen with a midi-fridge and a nice porch looking out on a well kept yard with three dogs that Sweetie falls for immediately. There are stairs up to the roof above the second floor that provides a gorgeous view of the sea. A nice crib we think.
We walk down the lane to the West End road and flag a route taxi. “200 to Seastar lane?” we ask and hop in. “It’s a long way to Seastar,” says the cabbie. “Long walk, yes,” we say, “We’ve done it a few times.” I give him 500 when he drops us off at the lane. The walk up the lane feels a little like a processional to a life changing event like a graduation or wedding. Remembrances of our last walk up this road a few months ago and huge excitement about what we’re going to walk into tonight. Suddenly we’re at the gate then have our wristbands and are looking around. Seastar has set up tents for the evening and the place looks great. We see the webcast set up and look nearby to see a table of familiar faces.
How many roads have been travelled, how many thousands of miles have passed, how many journeys, trials and tribulations have transpired to bring all of us to this table tonight. We don’t know it yet but I have an inkling. We are about to partake in a ritual of creation, the Genesis of New Family…
We approach the table and raise our hands in exultation!!
