So here we are, at the end of one story and the beginning of another. They are separated by mere moments and the lengthy span of eight months. They are the same story and entirely different. They are fleeting moments that will last forever, or at least a lifetime…
We live, each of us, in the pinch of an hourglass. All of our history has led to this moment and the vast expanse of our future lies ahead. Time and history pass through the pinch but we, forever, are stuck there. Sweetie Pie and I have found a group of folks whom we’re so very grateful to be able to say, “We can rely on in a pinch.” To paraphrase the classic Stealer’s Wheel, ”Clowns to the left of us, Jokers to the right, Here we are, Stuck in the middle with you.” Let’s be honest, though, there may be the occasional clown and joker right in our midst.
Saturday was a special day, a sacred day. It was spent almost entirely at Catcha in the company of angels. The blessed were about, Marley Madonna and Ninja the Archangel, St. Markus the Evangelist and Daisy and her weeping statue, The Ethereal Sweetness. Later in the day the Apostle Brasi would spend a long stretch and we were visited by Gerry the Resurrector, along with his sidekick SuzieQ. Coco and her husband arrived Saturday as well and we got to spend a little bit of time with them. Lovely folks.
I have never really planned to write a whole lot about Saturday. It was a very personal day for me. I know that’s kind of strange from someone who’s put a lot of personal stuff out there over the past year, especially about some of the folks I don’t want to talk about now, but that’s how I feel. I do have a few photos that I think give a little bit of a feel for the day…
All the cane fields on the island must be barren because this morning at my breakfast table I have all the sugar in Jamaica. Sweetie Pie and Sweetness! Quick, get me some insulin!
This was a big chunk of the afternoon. The ladies set up shop at Ivans. Brasi in da house. Clown Robber Clarity actually tries to hold people up with a blender drink all day. It wasn't very effective on anyone but me, she took me for a benjamin. I'm so embarrassed...
Sweetness captures Brasi and me hanging on the cliff edge, Marley is snorkeling behind us.
Playing Ninja myself, I sneak up on Hubbity to find Markus sketching Sagi.
Gerry the Resurrector stops by and literally raises the dead. I'm duly impressed, for a fool. I love this picture of Gerry.
Sweetie Pie, Ninja and Marley look absolutely smashing.
And we wrap it up together at Ivans, One last epic Ty and Kevin show. The last photo of the trip...
We have our goodbyes, they have a strange feeling. The sadness of departure but also the joy of discovery. We know a future awaits us together. Daisy is an absolute mess...
The gang is headed up to Seastar but we're staying in. Percy will be picking us up at 5am. Tears and hugs and foot shuffling ensue for no short period of time. Eventually we head up the path under the flower arch for our last time together. We move really pretty freaking slowly. At reception we pause, teetering on the edge of running through a whole other series of goodbyes. I want to, I want to never leave this place with these incredible people. "That's it!" I say, "Can't take it again. Go have fun. One Love!"
The reply, from each of them, in all it's simplicity captures the essence of the past week. It chokes me up thinking about it.
"One Love!"
