Laying It Down

If I've got it right, Christmas is exactly 60 days away.  And would you believe, some people have already put up their Christmas tree, like the T& T Red Cross for example.  It's a beautifully decorated tree. Sometimes, I think that we are running down the Christmas but with most Trinbagonians seemingly have more of a Carnival mindset, I guess we have to start thinking of and planning for Christmas earlier and earlier. Well I eh even start to think about Divali much less Christmas!  Ah just finish about 2 Divali cards and must get those off to the post office if they are to arrive before November 5.    So ah feel ah had better take in front and say Shubh Divali to all my friends of the Hindu faith because the card will arrive late. LOL! All this thinking of holidays of course brought me to that resolutions thing we do each and every January 1.  Have you thought about those resolutions you made at the start of the year? Making resolutions is a practise in which I never i

Good day and a happy week to all!  Yes, I got out of the rut last week-end!  I did a few things that served to enlighten the spirit and stimulate the mind. I took my 'jump-up' in the rain on Sunday in the privacy of my backyard.  The rain felt clean and brisk on the skin and coming from the north it had a bit of a chill on it which lent to the excitement that this child-like exercise brought.  I also attended the Poetry Day of the Writers Union of Trinidad and Tobago. This was on Saturday, October 16, 2010 at the main library of Nalis  http://www2.nalis.gov.tt/ . There were 3 guest speakers - Dr. Walker, Dr. Rohlehr and Brother Resistance.  Their inspiring talks gave many greater incentive to write.  All speakers used examples of various types of poems through poetry readings, some done by members of the audience, calypsoes and rapso. I missed part of Dr. Walker's talk but I did get her notes on the various angles one could take in analysing  or writing poems.  Dr. G

Well although I do not work,my mind-set is still that of an employed individual, so when Friday arrives, I think yippee!  Then I realize that I really don't have much to do on this week-end or any other week-end.  I am getting stuck in a rut!  Call it age, friends too busy with their children and grandchildren to go on the Friday evening lime, little money, the fact is that I need some stimulation!  So I'm thinking hmm... and a few things come to  mind. 1. Return to the days of youth.  Make love in a car!  Actually this idea was given to me many years ago by a couple in their 70's.  They explained that as a couple with children, they often could not go out so from time to time, they would put the kids to bed and go have fun in their car, which would be parked in their garage! 2.  Take a bus ride to some part of Trinidad or Tobago that I have never seen or have not visited for a while.  The Public Transport Service Corporation (PTSC) operates a few guided tours to places

How does one define a mentor?  One dictionary meaning states that a mentor is  a   wise   and   trusted   counselor   or   teacher.   Who are your mentors?    Do your mentors exist  only   in the work environment or do you have mentors in all areas of your life?   We probably all have mentors in our daily lives, ordinary people who take that special interest in us, giving us their best; rising above the muck and mire of everyday life to save another.  Nennie was one of my mentors because for many years of my life, she was like the main current in a river, always there but unseen most of the time Nennie came into my life, at a time, now that I look back, when there was great difficulty.  I was a young woman who returned to Trinidad and Tobago with a brand new first degree and really no place to live and no job.  You see the family and home I knew had dissolved; scattered all over the world.  Nennie opened her home and her heart.  I was treated like family.  She welcomed into her home

For the past year, I've been out of work. I commiserate with all who have found themselves in a similar position. I never imagined that I would not be able to find work for 14 months. It's actually horrifying and showed me that a job is indeed one of the anchors of life. Last week, someone sent me a text in which she said that I was a strong person. I was pleased to receive that message and it got me to thinking about the way that others see me and how I see myself. I've never thought of myself as a strong individual but upon reflection I've survived a lot. True there are times when the going gets rough, I feel that it would be better to commit suicide but then the next day or the next hour something or somebody comes along who makes life seem bearable once more. My musing also got me to look at the things that have kept me on solid ground for the past year. In no special order, here they are. OPTIMISM - believing that each day would bring a job, companionshi