Early Rising

4am and I’m in the yard collecting water from the tank. The intensely serene and cool, calming air penetrates my eagerly flared nostrils enticing me to slowly inhale. The light breeze gently caresses the leaves, causing them to gently flutter seductively and stately all in one.

Overhead, the large expanse is that ocean with light silent waves emitting that restful effect. The mood is perfect for taking me to that blissful place of quiet rest. I can’t help but drink in all that warmth . I stand transfixed, awed and elated all at once. I just want to remain here in the yard, in the open space, enveloped by this comfort. I totally appreciate this Garden Vibes.

From a Mother’s Heart.

A first-time mom at 23, I was excited, nervous, anxious, but ready. My Princess, my cute little brown girl meant the world to me and I spared nothing in ensuring her safety, protection, education, nurturing, discipline, health et al. When my first son came along a few years later, I was again bowled over with an intense devotion to be the best mother to my First Prince, my little white boy. The trend continued as I managed mothering my two fruits. Scheduling work and play time, devotion, sleeping hours, recreation, was the order of the day. Awarding stars for excellent grades and work duties was trending. Oh the joys of motherhood!

Imagine then how challenging it was as I needed to leave them alone for Study abroad. I missed them so much and shed many tears. Daily phone calls became the norm and anxiety about whether they were coping with me being gone, although I knew they were well tended to . Oh the jitters of motherhood!

My return back was a welcome move. My babes and I were back together again. Pretty shortly I was elated at having my third bundle. My Little Prince, My Little Black Boy was the bouncing addition to our home. Variations were required in some aspects of parenting and expectedly so. Oh the cycles of motherhood!

My fruits, my babes, my three young adults continue to be my heartsrings, the wax that will ever melt my candle, the glue that bonds my sensibility. Nothing can dilute the concentration of unconditional love I have for them. Oh the confessions from the Garden! Garden Vibes Moments!

What is it?

Confused, curious, unaware, uncertain as to WHAT, WHAT, WHAT?

Positively confident, certain, assured as to WHAT?

What is it that possesses a Grown, “had tone” man to completely abandon his responsibility of child protection, support and leadership to instead “lime on the corner” pssting the juvenile females passing by, hang around the rum shop/ bar becoming lost in drunken stupor, chill by a padna, brodda, buddy, jostling with that control, playing video games or even frolicking on the beach with his sidechick. What is it, Really? Do we know?

What is it? The question asked to us when we refused to open up about an issue; When we found something strange while out playing with friends in the neighbourhood or in the bushes. Was our curiosity satisfied?

What is it that keeps you grounded when all around there is chaos, family have become silent and distant, fear has gripped the populace because of the rapid spread of that Covid-19 virus?

What is it that titillates you, satisfies your amorous longing, propels you forward for succcess, keeps you sane when your mind is on the verge of an implosion, explosion, breakdown?

What is it that makes you smile when you wake up in the morning, lay your head down at night, take a bath, enjoy your favourite meal, appreciate the sunset?

Are we ever completely satisfied with the responses, the reasoning, suggestion about what it really is?

What is it about other humans that ennerves you, draws you to them, makes you warm up, act in utter disgust?

Whatever it is or isn’t, the question needs an answer. Will we truly know?

What’s it about The Garden Vibes that has attacted you here?

What is it?

I Don’t Know

I was born and raised for the first 17yrs of my life on the beautiful, lush, verdant-green island, The Nature Island of the Caribbean, Dominica. Officially, the Commonwealth of Dominica, not to EVER be confused with the Dominican Republic, part of Hispaniola.

It was unacceptable to answer “I don’t know,” to mommy if she asked where was a particular item even if we had no clue where it was. We were expected to understand she meant “go look for it, and thoroughly search too. Her favourite response if an item was not found was, “search thoroughly,” said Portia. Nowadays a child is allowed to disobey, break a rule, not follow an instruction and simply be allowed to declare, “I don’t know,” when asked why he or she did it. And of course no accountability is required in many instance., Rather,counselling sessions are hastily set up.

I don’t know why the heart does not always follow the head in amorous tangles, I don’t know how we came to the place where “handwashing, mask-wearing, sanitising and isolation are new normals. I don’t know how, but did Covid-19 throw our skirts on our faces, exposing our fears, arrogance and ire and exasperation? I don’t know!

I don’t know how it is that the Carribean is Nature’s Garden of Eden yet a large number us fail to appreciate that.

I don’t know but I love the garden scene. Garden Vibes it is! Join me in the Garden.