My cousin uploaded a Carleen Davis “Stealing love on the side,” song on her Facebook.com wall and one of her friends replied “My mom used to love this song….hmmm wonder y [why].” I laughed because growing up I loved this song and replayed it over and over or may have even called the radio station to replay it. Music for us at one point in our lives was a mere form of entertainment consumed in the moment. We enjoyed the rhythms, for some music relaxes us and we do not delve into the deeper meaning of the song. The music when composed is a mirror into the songwriter’s enigmatic life or proxy to whatever situation.
As we get older, we listened to what the songwriter was saying hence discovering the tender pleasures of his epiphanies. I recall when I first met my husband he said: “Brenda, you sure love white music.” He must have forgotten about his U2 and Radiohead CD’s. Admittedly I love some Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, Jim Reeves, Air Supply, Billy Joel etc. but I was taken aback as I do not see music in colour, for me it commands my attention and I enjoy the vibrant melody. Most of all I appreciate the lyrics i.e. the words of the song.
For example the lyrics in Jim Reeves song ‘We Thank Thee’ I enjoy teaching it to my daughter and she loves singing it on her way to school every morning. For me it is like passing on a legacy as my grandparents taught me this song. To teach her the song is like giving her something meaningful to take with her on life’s journey.
There are mornings when I get up and listen to the radio and the Arrow song “Proud to be a Montserratian” comes on. The lyrics evoke a sharp feeling of patriotism, resilience, pride as I bask in the sweetness of the melody. Other songs I hear conjure images such as the pulse of the street, the smell of food, the cool balm of friendships, weathered eyes etc.
The Song ‘You’re beautiful’ by James Blunt I love this song but until recently after watching the video I got sucked in by the complexity, sheer mystery and density of the lyric. The lyrics were clearly coded in the narrative of confession; it was all about suicide suffice it to say. Before then I just enjoyed the song but the visual of him committing suicide left me dazed.
So now my cousins’ intelligible friend who is now much older and sees life through a different lens now came to understand the meaning of the words as she unpeeled the layers of the meaning of ‘Stealing Love on the Side.’ She now sees the song through an adult lens and feels she can now have a confident dialogue with her mom (I would really like to be a fly on that wall). I am sure when her mother first stated that she liked the song it did not reflect her life. I am certain that it was just the seductive rhythm that drew her to the song. What about you, do you listen closely to the lyrics of songs? If so, which songs have impacted you most in your life?
Have you ever been in awe about something then something comes up to remind you where you came from? I can not believe I partied and feted with millions of people due to the emergence of technology.
On the weekend all Montserratians around the globe and thousands of people from all walks of life tuned into Montserrat via the world wide web (internet) and radio to view and listen to the farewell activities for Soca King of The World – Arrow. I sat by my computers from eight o’clock Friday morning to after one o’clock Saturday morning. Montserrat had a link up live with the radio/television station Antigua Barbuda Broadcasting Services (ABS). Through Radio Montserrat (ZJB) we were able to view the casket, attend the Thanksgiving Service and be entertained by a Concert. ” More than 10 radio stations throughout the Caribbean and in the United States carried the service live.”
I intently tuned in as I viewed and listen to it all from my home in Nassau, Bahamas. I had my laptop on the live video streaming and the desktop on radio Montserrat. As we say back in Montserrat ‘nothing pass me’ (I did not miss a thing). During all of this I spoke to former class mates, family and friends in Europe, North America and the Caribbean. I kindly demanded photographs via Facebook from the media team in Montserrat.
As an aside something can also be said about the beauty of the collaboration between the Antiguan and Montserratian Governments, they spoke on each others behalf, they sang, partied and mourn together on the weekend as it was match made in heaven – the support, the camaraderie, jokes, the humor.
I woke up Saturday morning with endless pains as if I was actually in Montserrat during Christmas festival in December at Sturge Park. Only this time electronically I could have turn to anyone in the world that I was connected with via computer or several telephone calls to express how we were feeling and to get feedback from others as well. Additionally, I did not have to wait on the bus or friends to ‘catch me yard’ (go home) I just got up and slide into my bed in the wee hours of Saturday morning.
Then on Sunday on the television show Amazing Race there was a part of it where the contestants had a detour on their planned path. It reminded me of the time when we had a television antennae secured on our house roofs and we had to go outside and turn the pole in various directions to get a television image. I do remember the days even if it was raining or if a wind passed you had to go and try get back that signal. We used to turn the antennae in various directions ‘ north east south and west’ waiting for someone to shout to us they have picked up a signal. We have come along way in the communication era.
Many of us no doubt has missed being in Montserrat for such an occasion, in spite of our geographic location last Friday we partied and feted as if we were on our own soil giving Arrow a ‘joyous send-off’. We did Arrow proud as we were enamored by his magnetism even in death.
To put it in the words of another great son of Montserrat Sir Howard Fergus “the volume and quality of his [Arrow's] work will constitute an ever living monument with global resonance”
About a month ago I decided to vacation on a sparsely populated Bahamian Cay. It was impossible to go outside because of the buzzing mosquitoes at most hours of the day. The reason for the mosquitoes is that the environmental officer went on vacation and was not there to spray the Cay. The vacation property where we stayed had no modern day communication system (telephone, cable, internet). I did not mind because I had planed to maroon myself on the island with books and spend my free time with visits to the untouched waters (beaches). However after about a day there I was curious to know what was going on in the world; so at six o’clock in the afternoon everyday I would religiously perch myself at the dining table listening to my AM/FM radio with short wave frequency. This was reminiscent of the days when I use to watch my grandparents listening to news via radio. My friend Stephanie at this point would say ‘poor soul!’ because it was rare for me to listen to national news. On the Cay I could only pick up one English speaking channel and that was ZNS 1540 Bahamas. My ‘smatterings’ of comprehension of the Spanish language did not permit to me to engage the several Spanish language radio stations that were available. In spite of being hemmed in by the mosquitoes, and the use of the endless supply of OFF (insect repellent) there was an amazing quiet peace. One author once said “the peace that comes from being out of the confusion of getting ahead isn’t a dead peace but very alive” When I first read this quote I saw the beauty of being at peace but this week challenged that thought.
In the Bahamas headline news this week it was highlighted that copper was stolen from a transmitter site and as a result ZNS 1540 is down and may take about a month to be back on the air. Well, at this point I know that you are gasping. My heart is with the residents of that Cay. I can just imagine the residents visiting the few homes that have satellite services just to ‘keep up.’
In life we are blessed with so much and take for granted the simple things. Today I hope you can take time out and be happy for what you have and be thankful for what you about to receive.
About ten years ago I met a gentleman who was visiting the Bahamas from United States but was originally from Plymouth, Montserrat. I introduced myself to him. I said “I am Brenda from the North.” He laughed uncontrollably and wanted to know what was so special about the North that I had to introduce myself that way. Let me tell all of you the significance of being from the North of Montserrat.
My village of St John’s is located in the north. Prior to the Volcanic eruption we in the North were considered to be ‘country,’ which may meant to some ‘backwards.’ Being from the North garnered an instant dismissal on certain occasions. Back then we had to go the capital for everything. It was a thirty five minute drive and for me it meant putting on your ‘best’ to go to town.
There is a rich history about the North and the list of individuals before my time who made an impact is extensive and range further away from St. John’s to include all of the North. I have read books to learn about people like Thomas Noel Kirnon whom provided both professional and intellectual leadership in Education. There is Hodge Kirnon a scholar and literary critic. There are others like our first Anglican Bishop, Bishop Harold Daniel who now resides in Jamaica and is the Suffragan Bishop of Mandeville Jamaica. Many others include George Irish and our longest serving politician and leader in the Region former Chief Minister John Osborne. We are deeply appreciative for all of their contributions.
From my own perspective, as a young girl growing up in The Village of St. John I saw the some of the brightest and most influential people of Montserrat living all around me. Starting from St. John’s pre-school I always remember my grandmother telling me about the lady who was responsible for its genesis. While growing up I saw a different side of her. To me as a child looking at her there was something special about her. As we would say, there was no one who could have spoken the “Queen’s English” better than her. One day I must talk about the difference between the Queen’s English and the King’s English. In the North there was her family; The Lindsey’s we called them the Peales. They were singers, songwriters, potential comedians, calypsonians they were a talented bunch and they were our rising stars. My other pre-school teachers were teacher Mary Dee, Hilda Fenton and Lynette Hobson all provided a nurturing and stimulating environment.
There were my primary school teachers like Valarie James, Mary Sweeney, Evan Brade, Ruthlyn Meade all took a prominent position in our lives and ensured you got the best of the basics that prepared us for our educational advancements. At Secondary School there was Kelvin Tabu Dubery a multi-talented artist and a calypsonian and an all around dedicated teacher. I recalled the first time Mr. Ivan Piper taught us to convert a electrical plug. He taught us technical engineering skills that I still possess and practice. We called all of our teachers, Teacher and their first name. We dare not call them by their last names.
Recently, I saw a picture of Wallace Fenton (Radio) to me he was eccentric. I felt so proud when I saw that someone from Plymouth wrote that he is ‘one of Montserrat’s brightest minds.’ He composed some well written songs and he sang them as well. He also taught at the Secondary School (before my time). Then there was the Emanuel Galloway a savvy contractor and business man known for building some of Montserrat’s finest houses.
There was also Vereen Thomas-Woolcock St. John’s a leading trade Unionist and a well dressed lady. It made such an impression on me as young girl. I recalled young ladies such as Valarie Daly, Yvonne Daley, Lauretta Daley, Glendora Lindsey very well clad all worked at the bank and exhibited such professionalism and very well respected. They guided us and encouraged us in a physical, spiritual and emotional ways. It gave us the feeling that we could accomplish anything that we wished to accomplish.
Then there is our Principal Miss Lucy Fenton. She was from our very own village. As a teenage girl growing up she was a model lady and a teacher who has exhibited the marks of true leadership. Today I learned that Miss Fenton has passed away. We say goodbye to my former Principal Miss Fenton who has touched many lives and significantly influenced so many others. Thank you Miss Fenton for inspiring me while young and for even now still inspiring me even now to recall your great legacy and all of the other luminaries of Montserrat.
When one thinks of heritage words that come to mind are: inheritance, birthright, custom or tradition. Today our national holiday is a day that we Montserratians cannot help but think of our Irish heritage which dates back to 1630; when the Irish Catholics came from nearby St. Kitts to colonize Montserrat. Other Irish settlers came directly from Ireland and Virgina, USA.
In terms of our heritage we have struggled. In 1768 the slaves tried to free themselves and met with tremendous adversity. The slaves’ efforts to gain freedom will not be forgotten and the spirit of our ancestors still prevails in all Montserratians and as such is the essence and the foundation of our celebration. The parallel is that we the people of Montserrat have today come to terms with the past; as we now struggle with a virulent volcano.
Traditions of our Irish past were preserved in many ways, for example:
Places/villages – such as St. Patrick’s, Rileys Corkhill, Kinsale, Farrells, Banks, Sweeney’s, Estates; Gages Estate, Farrell’s
Estates – Galways, Blakes.
Names of mountains – Reids Hill, Hodges Hill
Shorelines – Carrs Bay, Bransby Point, Trant’s Bay
In our social graces; for example we still never pass someone on the street without speaking to them.
Today we will make a special effort to literally connect the past to the present by serving Irish dishes: stew yard fowl, duckna, salt fish and johnny bakes, mackerel, goat water, pig feet souse, cassava, stewed pigeon peas and dumplings. We will be visiting homes, writing poetry, reconstructing slave huts as we dance with “an infectious syncopating rhythm.” We will be drinking bush tea, wearing our National Dress, exhibiting local arts and crafts, engaging in folk rituals and singing with a spirit of self-determination and celebrating our freedoms. St. Patrick’s Day would not be completed without the ritual dances of the Masquarades. “The Masquarades are the richest expression of African folk art.” Today we honor the past in a new idea is being considered, to dedicate this time of year to heroes and Montserratians who have done great and useful service to the country.
We can still abandon us in our hearts yet we choose to live with Montserrat in our natures. We are living, eating and drinking history every day.
I can see her now, an old friend who is deceased; her blue green eyes which seemed to take the color of what she was wearing along with her spider like body leaned forward toward me trying to grab my attention as she starred into my eyes as she was telling me about her travel experiences. She said “If you have not been on a cruise you have not lived a life.” It has been a week and I can not shake this conversation out of my memory.
Last week the Oasis of the Seas made its inaugural voyage to Port Nassau. It was raining heavily, to me the heavens poured down in celebration as the people harmoniously gathered by the thousands. The attendance was abundant as they crowded the western coast of Nassau to get a glimpse of this wonder; The Oasis of the Seas is considered the largest cruise ship in the world. My daughter and I also gathered at the nearest vantage point as it left Nassau after spending seven and half hours in port with its 6500 passengers. The ship literally made a 180 degree turn in what seemed like 200 yards in front of me. Tears filled my eyes as I remembered my homeland of Montserrat.
Montserrat 1989, Hurricane Hugo had severely damage Port Plymouth Wharf. A Dutch company by the name of Interbeton was contracted to construct a new Pier/Wharf/Jetty. As Sir Howard Fergus puts it “The British responded generously, in the islands rehabilitation. Shortly after it was completed in; 1992 Montserrat was booming.” I can vividly remember that hundreds of Montserrat flocked to the shore line and hundreds were stationed at the Taxi Stand to get a glimpse of two Cruise Liners (Renaissance 11 and Freewind Cruises) We all felt good and it seems as if we were served a heavy portion of the economic pie relative to our fellow OECS brothers and sisters.
It has been 15 years since the discussion about not living if I have not been on a cruise. It has also been 15 years since Port Plymouth has hummed her lonely chorus as the harbor is now buried in ash. The Jetty that Interbeton built is still there. It smiles as fishermen sail swiftly by, meanwhile my friend’s words reverberate today and memories of Plymouth lives on. I have since looked up information on cruise ships (Ocean Liner Exclusive Luxury Resort, The Queen Mary 2, Cunard Lines, Monarch of The Seas etc. ) and upon reflection, perhaps she was right maybe I do need to go on a cruise and see the world from the sea.
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