Editorial by Anna Proctor

Community,
here and in Jamaica
…feels like home

Happy spring! I hope!

I do see plus zero numbers in the forecast so it seems we are finally on the homeward stretch. I really shouldn’t complain about winter…I got to skip three weeks of it in February and early March thanks to a wonderful trip to sunny, warm, friendly, lovely Jamaica.

Jamaica has been my beloved winter home-way-from-home since being introduced to it almost 20 years ago by dear friends, one of whom is of Jamaican descent and has family still on the island. Since my very first visit, I fell in love with this enchanted “small island”, and especially its warm, friendly, and slyly hilarious people.

Also since then, my friends bought a home down there and live there at least half the year. While there, and even while she is here in Canada, she helps her aunt and uncle manage their three condos, which they rent out through Air BnB.

This year, I rented a two-bedroom condo, which I shared with my friend’s godmother, who is 92…except no, she looks and acts maybe 70. She’s spry, hilarious, (Jamaican born hence the hilarity), smart, and makes me look lazy!

We had a ball. We had a gorgeous two-bedroom condo with a “helper”, which meant all meals, cooking, cleaning, laundry, were all taken care of. My friend came over every day, usually with fresh supplies of delicious fresh produce from the market, wine, ginger beer, Red Stripe, meat from the meat man, fish from the fish man, chicken and eggs from the chicken lady…you get the picture.

We tanned, swam in each of the two pools, watched the cruise ships and yachts come in and out of the harbour, ate, drank, and occasionally went out on excursions and braved the insane (and yet hilarious) Jamaican driving and traffic, at which my friend is a pro!

While out and about, we could still see the effects of Hurricane Melissa’s devastation of parts of this small and beautiful island. Montego Bay wasn’t the hardest hit, yet there were still lots of palm trees and hydro lines down, roofs missing tiles or just plain missing, and lots of garbage and debris to clean up.

It is typical of my friend’s extended family to want to jump in and help, and that’s exactly what they did. Three members of the younger generation…my friend’s cousins’ children…were away at college and university in North America when Melissa hit their beloved home. The very next day, they organized a way to help, through selling merchandise, and more. You can read all about their foundation, Tallawah, in this issue, here. Please help, if you can.

Jamaicans are so resilient, and so love their home. The attitude voiced to my friend from all her Jamaican friends after losing their homes, cars, livelihoods, was: “It’s ok, we still have life.” Jamaicans are rebuilding, but if you have a way to help, they could surely use it.

And if you are looking for an incredible winter getaway, away from the crowds of resorts, to experience a community and a people that you will love, not to mention perfect weather, every day…reach out. I can hook you up!

Enjoy this springtime issue, go out to our local events, shop our local businesses…we are community! Here and elsewhere!