And Still I Rise

I woke up this morning to the smell of my apple conditioned hair. As I
lay in my cotton sheets,I noticed the beautiful outline of my vessel.
It came to me...I Am a resurrected vessel.... Beautiful.Moving into another level of wholeness. I think I ought to love me this morning.
Pardon me... I'm just lovin me for a moment this morning.

I woke up this morning to the pattern of my own shadow. No matter where I
turn,I cannot separate what I reflect in my shadow. Whilst someone else may not
see the intricate details that God has put into my shadow,I can not only see it,
but I appreciate it.If a perfect God can take that much time in molding
me,loving me,cherishing me,reshaping me...then surely I Am worth loving me.
Pardon me... I'm just lovin me for a moment this morning.

I woke up this morning alone but not lonely.I got tired of waiting for
someone to put ice in my soda, milk in my tea, jam on my biscuits, peas
in my rice, and soap on my back. I am not alone,I have me.... I have
me..I have me... and then I have an omnipresent God who has me...When I put
the ice in my soda... He stands there silently observing me... ready to suggest
creative ways to set my table.
Pardon me... I'm just lovin me for a moment this morning.

I woke up this morning and beheld the beautiful reflection of a 5ft
something frame, a soft smile, a pointy nose,curly hair, olive
skinned complexion,and a Bible book perfect shape.I leaned forward and kissed
the mirror....I love you girl!!!

Not because of your external beauty..Not because mama said you were
beautiful..Not because a man told you that you were beautiful.....
No...Because God values you..Because God loves you...When I look at all
your attributes, and I think about what God has predestined you to
become...I can only say that I love you. For all the battles you've
conquered...For the tears you've shed...For the negative words that you shot down...For the pain you've overcome...For the growth you've sustained.
I love you girl!
Pardon me... I'm just lovin me for a moment this morning.

Last night I watched this movie for the umpteenth time. And each time I watch it am swept away by the despair,love,anger and the struggle just to survive.Some of the scenes are just too painful to watch,like when Nettie and Celie were separated by Mister after Nettie refused his sexual advances.Then there are the scenes where Mister treats Celie little better than a slave.Who can forget him slapping her down for "talking back" as he put it.Poor Celie, beaten down by life from the onset( pregnant by her father twice and separated from the babies) accepts it as just another chapter in her sad life.

In the end you can't help rejoicing with Celie as she is reunited with Nettie,the only person who loved her and her long lost children.Additionally,she is able to find her freedom,her voice, as well as recognise her worth as a person and a woman.I just love the scene where the new Celie curses Mister and walks out the house for the last time.The look on Mister's face is priceless when he realises he no longer can dominate her.Vainly,he tries to regain his power resorting to his proven threats.This time they have no power as Celie tells him "The jail you plan for me is the one you will rot in".

Really great performances by Danny Glover and Whoopi Goldberg.I also liked Oprah Winfrey's portrayal of the fiery Sofia who is not about to be dominated by her husband Harpo.It is a movie worth watching.

It was 25 years ago today that this island was given its independence.To much fanfare the Union Jack was lowered and in its place the flag of the new nation was hoisted.Like most persons who are 25 years old ,this young nation is still in the process of becoming.The challenges are great as it seeks to chart the course forward.But,in the words of the national anthem "whatee'r the future brings our faith will see us through". There is still a lot of work to be done but on the other hand there is much to be proud about.

Happy Independence Day,SVG

"Twas down in Mississippi no so long ago,
When a young boy from Chicago town stepped through a Southern door.
This boy's dreadful tragedy I can still remember well,
The color of his skin was black and his name was Emmett Till.

Some men they dragged him to a barn and there they beat him up.
They said they had a reason, but I can't remember what.
They tortured him and did some evil things too evil to repeat.
There was screaming sounds inside the barn, there was laughing sounds out on the street.

Then they rolled his body down a gulf amidst a bloody red rain
And they threw him in the waters wide to cease his screaming pain.
The reason that they killed him there, and I'm sure it ain't no lie,
Was just for the fun of killin' him and to watch him slowly die.

And then to stop the United States of yelling for a trial,
Two brothers they confessed that they had killed poor Emmett Till.
But on the jury there were men who helped the brothers commit this awful crime,
And so this trial was a mockery, but nobody seemed to mind.

I saw the morning papers but I could not bear to see
The smiling brothers walkin' down the courthouse stairs.
For the jury found them innocent and the brothers they went free,
While Emmett's body floats the foam of a Jim Crow southern sea.

If you can't speak out against this kind of thing, a crime that's so unjust,
Your eyes are filled with dead men's dirt, your mind is filled with dust.
Your arms and legs they must be in shackles and chains, and your blood it must refuse to flow,
For you let this human race fall down so God-awful low!

This song is just a reminder to remind your fellow man
That this kind of thing still lives today in that ghost-robed Ku Klux Klan.
But if all of us folks that thinks alike, if we gave all we could give,
We could make this great land of ours a greater place to live.

Bob Dylan

This morning I was awoken by my neighbour to read a note her 6 yr old daughter had in her reading book.The note read Damian f*ck Chelsea (her daughter) and Shameira.Naturally,I was taken aback by the language and the context in which she had written it.So both of us questioned her trying to find out exactly what she understands.All we were able to gather was she does not know what it means and that Damian had not done anything to her.

But it is worrying to say the least.This is a 6 year old child being extremely graphic and seeming to suggest that she knows to some extent what she is writing about.The mother insists that she is going to beat her but am not sure beating of itself will solve anything.I suggested that she sit her down and explain to her in language that she can understand why she should not be writing such things.I suppose she also has to try and find out what the child has been exposed to.

This parenting thing getting harder and harder.Whatever happened to the little notes that said "I love X".Now,these little children taking it to new scary levels.In retrospect I am glad we saw it because it means there is an opportunity to give her guidance or help.

Ouch.Get well soon

broken leg ?

When Runako Morton concocted the story of a dead grandmother as a pretext to leave the ICC tournament in Sri lanka in 2002 it appeared to be curtains for his promising careeer.The WICB realising that they were at the receiving end of a hoax then imposed a one year ban from all cricket under its auspices.

It was yet another blemish on a career that had its share of disciplinary problems starting with his expulsion from the St Georges Academy.The details of his 2001 expulsion were not given but it was rumoured that he first turned up late at the academy following his wedding and then went home to Nevis without permission to visit his wife.Subsequently, he was one of those along with Best and Benn who were fined for misconduct on the 2002 A team tour of England.

During his absence from cricket Morton was offered psychological counsel by Dr Linda Banks and was cleared to play in the 2003 RSB even though the psychologist thought he needed more work.Morton,no doubt would have been looking forward to the 2004 Carib Cup series to restart his FC career.However,controversy was to follow him again when news broke that he had stabbed a family member following an altercation.He was then left out of the Leewards squad named for that year's tournament due to an unfavourable report given by his doctor who had continued his evaluation during the RSB tournament.

Morton,who moved to Trinidad earlier this year has started this year's OD tournament with a bang.To him goes the honour of recording the tournament's first century,a fighting 101* that was instrumental in bringing the Leewards to within 20 runs of Jamaica's 245.His talent has never been in doubt but it is his infractions that have continously derailed him and stalled what appeared at one time to be a certain test cap.

The ball is now in his court to sort out his problems and build on a FC career that has seen him score 1736 runs including 3 hundreds and 13 fifties in 34 games at an average of 33.38.A continued good showing in this year's OD tournament and next year's Carib Cup can only help his cause if he wants the selectors to once more take note of him.


Over to you,Mr Morton.

Another grouping discovered (Asexuals?)...interesting. I can hear someone saying-now I know what's wrong with me. On the other hand I can see a lot of people being treated as if they are some three headed monsters for daring to admit that sex is not a turn on. And for sure they will be looked at as weird beings because after all this is the sexually liberated age and people as a rule have a hard time dealing with differences that are outside of the main stream.

One per cent of adults 'asexual'

Around one per cent of adults have absolutely no interest in sex, a surprisingly high figure that is not far from the estimated three per cent of the population who are gay, according to a new study.

The analysis reported in New Scientist magazine looked at responses made among 18,000 people in Britain who were interviewed about their sexual practices.

One per cent said they agreed with the statement: "I have never felt sexually attracted to anyone at all".

That study, conducted by Anthony Bogaert, a psychologist and human sexuality expert at Brock University in St Catherines, Canada, is published in the latest issue of The Journal of Sex Research.

The British survey was carried out in 1994 as part of a study into sexual practices.

"If asexuality is indeed a form of sexual orientation, perhaps it will not be long before the issue of 'A' pride starts attracting more attention," New Scientist said.

Plucky activists have already started campaigning to promote awareness and acceptance of asexuality, it reports.

One such group, the Asexual Visibility and Education Network has an online store selling T-shirts bearing such slogans as "Asexuality: it's not just for amoebas any more".

It has been drawn to my attention that Rommel not in the Windwards OD team this year. I have not even seen the Windwards team so I don't know who will open with Smith- probably Emmmanuel. Anyway I heard Currency declared himself unavailable because of his studies. Am not 100% sure but I think he is at UWI. I can't say I blame him because at this stage education comes first.I wonder if more FC players attend UWI if it will cause WICB to rethink their omission of the UWI team.Well I suppose not necessarily because the players may still choose their island team.

They bring smiles to our faces, tears to our eyes, and sometimes both at the same time. Losing a loved one, someone we have shared a special relationship with, can be devastating. Our memories - and the little things that bring them to mind - are often the only things we have left after that special person is gone. They are a gift; with them, our loved ones remain a part of us forever.

For one my best friends who lost her grandmother on the weekend. Keep the memories alive.

Lately I have noticed a number of television shows like Extreme Makeovers where people undergo what I consider radical surgery to alter their bodies. What is it that really drives a person to undertake such drastic measures to achieve the body perfect? Let me make it plain that am not talking about corrective surgery that is needed medically but more about the ones to make the nose a little straighter or smaller, facelifts, tummy tucks etc etc.

It may start out with doing a relatively simple procedure and it escalates into wanting more and more stuff done. Or take the case of Michael Jackson who went too far and ended up looking grotesque.Makes you wonder if this is the ultimate in self love or self hate? One thing about this cosmetic surgery "fad" is it tells you how obsessed the world is with looks and youth. Everyday women in particular get bombarded by ads promising to give younger smoother looks,reduce wrinkles etc.By now most people would be familiar with the word botox which is this new treatment designed to remove frown lines. Then there is the weight obsession that says a person should have a specific body size , breasts that defy gravity or just larger breasts for that matter.The pressure is great because there is the feeling that if it gains you a competetive edge in the dating/relationship world then why not just go along and do it.

I admit to being comfortable in my physical skin so I can't say cosmetic surgery holds any attraction for me.Not that I consider myself perfect but I like to think the imperfections are what make me natural.Like most people I have agonised over some body part but not to the extent where if I had the means and the opportunity I would do something drastic. The key I think is to be comfortable with who you are and accept yourself in what ever shape or form you are in. I can't help but feel too that a not so subtle message is being sold which is change how you look physically and life will automatically get better.Nothing could be further from the truth though because physical looks of itself is no guarantee of a happily ever after life.

Hey people..am still alive.Was kinda under the weather though and I took off over the weekend and came back to find Net Service was down.Hopefully I get that sorted out soon.However,In keeping with my promise to feature things Vincy in this Independence month am going to take a look at Hugh Mulzac. Mulzac was born in Union Island in 1886 and was educated at the St Vincent Grammar School.His father wanted him to be an engineer but Mulzac had love for the sea. Upon leaving Grammar School he got a job on a schooner captained by his brother John and thus began his journeys on the sea.He sailed on several ships in the Caribbean before moving to the US to take up residence.While there mulzac became the first black man to obtain a shipmaster's licence when he did so in 1920.In his biography "A star to steer" and by he speaks of the struggles he faced as a black man facing racism and how satisfying it was to finally achieve his dream of captaining a ship that was non racially segregrated.In SVG he is one of the persons tipped to be named as National hero following the naming of Carib Chief Joseph Chatoyer.

Pirates 2 is going to be filmed in St Vincent and the Grenadines.This is great news for our economy -guest houses are going to be filled,service workers will get increased employment and not to mention the tourism boost.With Wc 2007 we would have had to spend millions upgrading Arnos Vale Playing Field for what is more than likely going to be a once in a lifetime event without any guarantee you going to break even. All we have to do here is present SVG as is and enjoy the benefits.Welcome back to the Pirates of the Caribbean crew.

Last week was my week of visiting doctors so you know I was definitely not in the best of moods. It was a case of when it rains it pours ( the story of my life) but somebody reminded me I have a lot to be thankful for still. That was a very timely reminder because we sometimes focus on what is wrong and we forget what is right.So look for the bright spots in life and emphasise them no matter how simple they seem.

Can you see, hear or speak? Do you have a job? Do you have clothes to wear? Is there someone who is gonna love you no matter what you have done? Is there someone you can turn to for help if you need it? Can you walk and dress yourself? Do you have a home and a bed to sleep on? Can you breathe freely? Do you have friends to laugh with?

Give thanks for every yes and remember that things could be a lot worse.

Someone once said that the key to immortality is first living a life worth living. On that note I salute SVG's national hero Paramount Carib Chief Joseph Chatoyer. Chatoyer loved this land so much that he paid the ultimate price. In recognition of this great man we honour him every March 14th, the day the of his death.

The Caribs taking advantage of the densely forested mountainous interior were able to resist European settlement for nearly 200 years, longer than any other Caribbean island. Joseph Chatoyer led his island in the Carib Wars against the French and the British starting in 1772/73. during the first Carib war the British were forced to sign a treaty which was the first time an indigenous people had forced them so to do. In 1795 a second Garifuna/British war broke out in response to British failure to honour the treaties. This time the French joined the Garifunas to fight the British. Sadly Chatoyer was killed during this war in 1797 at Dorsetshire Hill.

Following his death the Caribs surrendered and were imprisoned for eight months on the island of Balliceaux (Grenadine Island). They were later shipped from their homeland to Honduras where they would later make their way to Belize and other Central American countries.

The Garifuna people forced to migrate have never forgotten their homeland St Vincent. Indeed there is linking of villages in Belize with Carib villages here.Oral history has many stories of the homeland and today many Garifuna people travel back to SVG to pay homage to the land of their origin.

Arnos Vale

It is Independence Month In SVG so from time to time over this month am going to post a few things Vincy.Here is the beautiful Arnos Vale Playing Field which hosted its first international game in 1972 when the New Zealanders toured. Since then the Playing Field has been refurbished and has hosted several ODI's as well as having the distinction of being the first ground in the Windward Islands to host a test match. Arnos Vale has been a happy stomping ground for the West Indies as they have only lost one ODI game here to Pakistan and won about 14(rough estimate). The inaugural ODI was played in 1981 against England and Vincentians could not ask for a better game.Batting first west indies were skittled out for 127 with only Everton Mattis 62 and Desmond Haynes 34 making any score of note.England were then bowled out in the 49 th over for 127 ( Botham 60) with Croft (MOM) getting 6/15 off 9 overs. Amazingly earlier this year chasing Bangladesh's 144 the West Indies limped home in the 47th over with one wicket to spare. Another thriller I guess you can say or continuance of good fortune on this ground

In days gone by whenever there was a death in the family villagers and clergy would gather at the house of the deceased to have a "wake". These wakes which consisted of prayers,singing and scripture verses were normally held on the third, ninth and fortieth nights. After the wake cocoa tea and buns were served.

These wakes were a significant part of the culture in that it was an opportunity for persons to show support for one another in their time of loss. It was really community bonding as simple as it seemed. Nowadays, the tradition is dying so today I was rather surprised to hear a co worker talk of having one for her grandmother. I don't recall going to any ( we did not have any when my grandmother died)so I may take this opportunity to experience one.

There is a new phenomenon that has really taken off with respect to Vincentian funerals too. Instead of the wakes there is now an after funeral "party". I know in North America when there is a death friends and neighbours bring food as the bereaved may not be up to preparing any thing. In SVG and I assume other Caribbean countries the trend now is for the mourners to converge usually at the deceased's house to dine on food prepared by the relatives.And believe me am not talking finger foods here.Things have really changed.