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Anchored in the Ocean
Mist sprays my face then quickly dries in the sun and ocean breeze. Normally I’d feel seasick, but today I’m okay as the fast moving catamaran skims the waves. A couple sits near my husband and me. I smile at them and we start a conversation. Xavier and his wife both grew up in Jamaica and came to the Caymans to work. Today they celebrate 6 years of marriage. When Xavier asks how long we’ve been married, I answer: 32 years. He looks at me more closely and says, I’m 32. He doesn’t expect the 5 kids answer either. They didn’t bring a camera, so we take pictures to commemorate…
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Loss Creates Space
My brother and I stand at the dresser I used as a child. It is covered with sewing notions. Things our mom used to patch levis, stitch quilts, and add badges to scout shirts. Things that were useful when she was around. My brother said: “It’s just a Chex tin, but I remember it from 40 years ago.” I look at the other tin, full of spools of thread and pins and buttons. It takes me to my mom. Actually everything in the house holds a memory of my mom, my dad or my childhood. Our dad’s death evokes our mom, who has been gone almost 13 years. I pick…
