Sunday, January 21, 2007

If you’re wondering how long it takes for the effect of a vacation to wear off, it’s about two days. However, I did spend a wonderful and memorable week in Jamaica. There’s so much to tell. I don’t think I’ll get it all in this entry.

Since my mom announced that she was having a party to celebrate her 80th birthday, the months flew by like minutes. Before we knew it, it was time to get passports and travel plans organized. That is to say, my wife got passports and travel plans organized for the five of us. The best thing to do in those situations it to get out of the way, do what you’re told and let Five do what she does best, organize.

The day of the flight, I still had a basketball game to coach, so my friend Lisa, who was driving me to the airport had to come to my game so that we could be there the “requisite” 3-hours before the 2:45 pm flight. Of course the flight was delayed. It was Air Jamaica after all. Otherwise, everything went off without a hitch and the next thing I knew we were getting on a plane on to Jamaica.

I booked the flight online. I was trying to join the online age, but I’m more of a face-to-face guy. I selected the cheapest flight, which I guess means that they can do whatever they want to you. We were scattered in the cheap seats. I ended up beside fraternal twin boys, age five, who were traveling unaccompanied. Their personalities were quite opposite. One was very quiet. He was smaller and not very talkative. But his brother is one of those curious, let me push your buttons to find out how far I can go, kind of kids. After a while, the quiet one started to follow his brother’s lead.

It would be remiss of me if I didn’t tell you their names. Are you ready for this? There names are Deondrow and Deondrew. I’ll give you a few minutes to let that sink in... (Ranting now) Yes, they’re twins I get it. No they don’t look the same, so in a way, I guess that make the names clever. Nah, I don’t buy that either. This is a case of parents thinking they have come up with the million dollar names.

If you’re having children and you think that giving your child a ‘unique’ name is going to help them in life, give you’re head a shake. You’re not the ones that have to live with the names. It seems to me that people that give their kids names like this are waiting for someone to come up to them and say it was the name that made me choose your child over all of the other qualified people with ordinary common names.

For those of you that know me, you can understand that I wouldn’t just let the kids run rough-shot over me for 3 hours, nor could I sit passively by if they need help. Right or wrong, I felt obligated to look after them for the trip. Deondrow was the ringleader and I had my hands full keeping him in check. It was a real test of will. Who’s would be stronger, his or mine? At the same time he was a very bright child that needed a lot of attention but also needed some boundaries and direction. The conversation covered everything from a complete recount of ‘Home Alone’ to learning words in Spanish. Keep in mind they’re 5 years old. In the words of my friend Laura, “It’s a good thing God makes them cute.” Unfortunately, that wears thin and eventually wears off.

Anyway, the trip concluded when we touched down in Jamaica and I parted company with my new friends. There’s nothing like getting off a plane to the smell of the ocean air and the warm evening breeze on your face, and being bitten by the #@$% mosquitoes. I can see why people the write “those” novels write like this but words don’t really do it justice. If you ever get the chance to go, I highly recommend it. (except for the #@$% mosquitoes)

We arrived on Saturday evening. My mom met us at the airport with a hired bus as there were six of us all together. My dear friend Laura made the trip with us and it would have been much more complicated to organize enough taxis, and my sister had arrived a couple of days earlier to help with preparations. Dad was home making a much-welcomed dinner for us. It was chicken, rice & peas and dumplings. We chattered away into the evening, and my sister started the first of many Yatzee games. It felt like home.

My parents live in a modest but comfortable 3-bedroom townhouse just outside of Kingston and the beach is within a slow 5-minute walk. The beach is a bit rocky, but who cares. My two boys certainly didn’t. They couldn’t wait to get in the water and let the surf knock them around for a while. My daughter is not quite as adventurous as the boys went in up to her knees and squealed and giggled when the waves hit her. She’s nearly 17 now, but it sure brought out the little girl in her again. The boys are 15 and 21 but you’d never know it sometimes. Laura is also a child of the water and was out there with the boys in the surf. (No, I’m not going to disclose her age.) At the very least it was amusing for Five and me. Afterward, there was just the sound of the waves hitting the shore. There’s something very calming about being by the ocean for me. (especially when I don’t have to go to work the next day)

Anyway, I’m tired of writing and you must be tired of reading. I’ll write more about the trip next time. There’s still a lot more to tell.

TTFN

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