Entry 4- November 4, 2024
Nov. 4th, 2024 06:29 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
islandchildYesterday spent a long time in MoPo talking to Khem's mom and generally delaying the drive up north. My phone was dead and the only charger was being used by MIL. I figured I would see my parents anyway today.
Mo'Po is so peaceful and quiet. On mornings, the sound of somebody playing the radio or talking is gentle and not distressing. The most you hear is the church, and only on a Sunday. Little traffic.
After helping her put chicken wire around her new garden bed, me, Khem and MIL ate and talked and ate and talked: stew pork, sweet potato, beans, sorrel, cocoa tea with no milk or sugar (MIL makes it with seamoss).
Finally it was time to go.
The ride up North takes about an hour from Mo'Po, only because of the huge mountains in between. From end to end, if you cut with a straight line, the island is only twenty-something miles long.
For some reason the drive felt shorter than usual and was blissfully uneventful. Although the potholes are definitely getting worse. Good thing the outrageous customs duties and taxes are going to a good cause!
And there was an ASTONISHING road sign on the way up.
Image: White guy holding a Heineken.
Text : THE ONLY SAFE DRIVER IS THE ONE THAT'S NOT DRINKING
Subtext: UNLESS IT'S HEINEKEN
Incredible. Wonder how long it will take for this third world government to get out of bed with the distilleries and stop advertising alcohol to an island plagued by addiction...
But the drive was pretty, anyway.
Seeing my parents' house I felt this pit of dread. The gate was open so I brought all our stuff in while K messed around with the truck. The house is sparkling clean.
My dad comes out.
"I NEED TO PUT ON SOME CLOTHES!"
Okay, dad.
He comes out again.
"Hi dad. How are you?"
"TERRIBLE. YOUR MOTHER IS SICK AND I HAVE PAPERS TO GRADE AND NO TIME AT ALL."
He pauses. "How are you?"
"I'm fine."
The receipt for the termite removal people is on his desk. I surreptitiously slide it out of the book. My parents have made a point to never discuss anything financial with me or my sister. The receipt is for one thousand and forty dollars.
I go to see mom.
"Hi Mom, how are you?"
"The doctor says I have an upper respiratory infection and I had a fever of 101. I couldn't breathe this morning so I was intubated. I would have died this morning if I didn't go to the doctor. But don't think I'm that sick! I showed your uncle around the entire garden this morning. Doesn't the hedge look nice?" The room is frigid. She has the AC all the way up and the fan blowing directly at her. She does look very sick.
"You are getting unbelievably skinny," she cries, blinking at me.
"Okay, mom. Can we not?"
" Are you eating at all?"
I am 5'2 and 108 pounds, like I have been since puberty ended a decade ago.
"Do you need anything mom?"
"No. I just need to rest. I would have died this morning if I didn't go to the doctor. Your dad is taking care of me. We need to bring a backhoe into the yard to dig under the pillars because of the drainage. They will have to cut the fence to bring it through. It's a hundred and forty dollars an hour. That's happening next week Sunday."
Between the exterminator, hedge trimmer guy, gardener and now this new crisis the COST multiplied by the deafening noise...I think selfishly of my deadline, and resist the urge to ask her if she thinks between now and next Sunday the house will sink into the earth.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing, mom. Do you need anything?"
"No...Your father is taking care of me..."
K and I go talk on the balcony for a bit. We talk about parents.
We go to the beach after stopping at the grocery store where Kez gets some stuff for the car and I get a couple disgusting pastries and a man selling local juice that K is friendly with hustles us out of $10. Like most local juices made by other people it's way too sweet but it's still ok.
The beach...
There are a few good beaches up North in short distance of each other. We always try to catch the sunset and swim. This one is long, has a lot of coral bits and shells, but lower down towards the hotel it's nice and clear.
We splash around then make out heavily under the setting sun, in the waves. My arms are strong now; I love love LOVE going to the beach every single day we can.
After we climb out and sit on the bed of his truck.
"Baby I am so very grateful to you. You make me so happy," I tell him.
"You make me the happiest I've been in a long, long time," he replies.
Tomorrow (today) is another day...
Mo'Po is so peaceful and quiet. On mornings, the sound of somebody playing the radio or talking is gentle and not distressing. The most you hear is the church, and only on a Sunday. Little traffic.
After helping her put chicken wire around her new garden bed, me, Khem and MIL ate and talked and ate and talked: stew pork, sweet potato, beans, sorrel, cocoa tea with no milk or sugar (MIL makes it with seamoss).
Finally it was time to go.
The ride up North takes about an hour from Mo'Po, only because of the huge mountains in between. From end to end, if you cut with a straight line, the island is only twenty-something miles long.
For some reason the drive felt shorter than usual and was blissfully uneventful. Although the potholes are definitely getting worse. Good thing the outrageous customs duties and taxes are going to a good cause!
And there was an ASTONISHING road sign on the way up.
Image: White guy holding a Heineken.
Text : THE ONLY SAFE DRIVER IS THE ONE THAT'S NOT DRINKING
Subtext: UNLESS IT'S HEINEKEN
Incredible. Wonder how long it will take for this third world government to get out of bed with the distilleries and stop advertising alcohol to an island plagued by addiction...
But the drive was pretty, anyway.
Seeing my parents' house I felt this pit of dread. The gate was open so I brought all our stuff in while K messed around with the truck. The house is sparkling clean.
My dad comes out.
"I NEED TO PUT ON SOME CLOTHES!"
Okay, dad.
He comes out again.
"Hi dad. How are you?"
"TERRIBLE. YOUR MOTHER IS SICK AND I HAVE PAPERS TO GRADE AND NO TIME AT ALL."
He pauses. "How are you?"
"I'm fine."
The receipt for the termite removal people is on his desk. I surreptitiously slide it out of the book. My parents have made a point to never discuss anything financial with me or my sister. The receipt is for one thousand and forty dollars.
I go to see mom.
"Hi Mom, how are you?"
"The doctor says I have an upper respiratory infection and I had a fever of 101. I couldn't breathe this morning so I was intubated. I would have died this morning if I didn't go to the doctor. But don't think I'm that sick! I showed your uncle around the entire garden this morning. Doesn't the hedge look nice?" The room is frigid. She has the AC all the way up and the fan blowing directly at her. She does look very sick.
"You are getting unbelievably skinny," she cries, blinking at me.
"Okay, mom. Can we not?"
" Are you eating at all?"
I am 5'2 and 108 pounds, like I have been since puberty ended a decade ago.
"Do you need anything mom?"
"No. I just need to rest. I would have died this morning if I didn't go to the doctor. Your dad is taking care of me. We need to bring a backhoe into the yard to dig under the pillars because of the drainage. They will have to cut the fence to bring it through. It's a hundred and forty dollars an hour. That's happening next week Sunday."
Between the exterminator, hedge trimmer guy, gardener and now this new crisis the COST multiplied by the deafening noise...I think selfishly of my deadline, and resist the urge to ask her if she thinks between now and next Sunday the house will sink into the earth.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing, mom. Do you need anything?"
"No...Your father is taking care of me..."
K and I go talk on the balcony for a bit. We talk about parents.
We go to the beach after stopping at the grocery store where Kez gets some stuff for the car and I get a couple disgusting pastries and a man selling local juice that K is friendly with hustles us out of $10. Like most local juices made by other people it's way too sweet but it's still ok.
The beach...
There are a few good beaches up North in short distance of each other. We always try to catch the sunset and swim. This one is long, has a lot of coral bits and shells, but lower down towards the hotel it's nice and clear.
We splash around then make out heavily under the setting sun, in the waves. My arms are strong now; I love love LOVE going to the beach every single day we can.
After we climb out and sit on the bed of his truck.
"Baby I am so very grateful to you. You make me so happy," I tell him.
"You make me the happiest I've been in a long, long time," he replies.
Tomorrow (today) is another day...
