The spark went out of her when my father died. She seemed to lose interest in maintaining that little piece of heaven on the hillside in the country. The deep blue Caribbean in the distance, stretching as far as the southern coast of Cuba which we, as children would imagine we could see. The yard filled with every imaginable fruit tree you could think of, and some you wouldnt , especially if you were from town. Our own Eden in the Parish of Portland.

But now the house of our childhood was empty. The children long gone to the far flung corners of the earth. USA, Canada, England. And now my father had also gone away. You can see the emptiness at certain times of the day, an emptiness I can only guess at as I have never been married to anyone for that long. before.

So now I take care of Mama.

The adjustment has not always been smooth, but the struggle has gotten somewhat easier over the years. Mama likes to remind us that this is not my country yuh know bwoy, especially when winter comes. For when the chill is in the air, she will become wistful again. The truth is, so will I.

Despite this, Mama finds some aspects of life in this great country amusing. She is especially amused by American women and the things they find important. Like their dogs, (I never see anything like this, having dog likking yuh face an mout, nasty) jogging (is only mad people me know run up and down road like that) among another cultural peculiarities. Others she finds disturbing like children who always have too much to say, some a dem want a good lick).

Mamas memory is not what it used to be and we all fear for the day when she will not know her children. Until that day we hang on to every precious moment we have left with this wonderful woman. Her endless stories about the Jamaica of another time make you want to cry. She talks about war days (WW II), Busta, Norman, Christmas time. And all our antics we carried on with when we grew up. But most of all she talks about the man she married and lived with for 60 years. And oh she misses him so.

We cant bring him back for Mama but we try and take care of her as best we can until they are together again. We do it because we can never repay her for raising us the way that she did, giving us opportunities she never had, and enduring hardship without complaining because that is what you did for your kids. We also do it because we love her.

So as the holidays approach, remember the older ones. They will be gone soon, never to return. Say all the things you want to say now. Spend a little more time with them tomorrow. Be a little extra patient. And for all that the things that your generation went through for you..

.give thanks.

See you all Monday.