Dad finally got to take us to the farm today. I was very excited about going in the morning but by the end of the day I was almost wishing I didn't have to be there. I was beginning to feel the heat of the blazing sun and we didn't take along enough water. There were a few flies that were buzzing around close to my ears, and when I took a rest during lunch the ants and ticks were crawling all over my arms. I haven't noticed yet if any ticks found a sucking spot.
Overall, I would do it again but. . .
I can be asked to plant the seeds and I would gladly do it. Ask me to clean out the weeds and I would do that too. However, when it's time to harvest and the weeds have formed a sort of carpet over the plants, don't really expect me to hunt for the beans.
What makes me so glad today is that I didn't come in close contact with any scorpions. I only had a spider crawl up my leg but I noticed it just in time and I was quick to shake it off.
Also, while hunting for bean stalks through the vines, I noticed a bird's nest. I took a peep inside and saw the tiniest winged creature! I thought it was hungry since it kept opening it's beak. I hope Mother Bird got some food for it. Instinct was telling me to take the camera today but I ignored it. If the birdie is still there when I go back on Monday to finish harvesting, I will make sure I get a picture.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Thursday, March 08, 2012
Heaven: Horses?
Three weeks ago I asked the kids in Sunday class if a statement was true or false. The statement is as follows: 'There is a book in the Bible which says that there will be no other horses in heaven except horses'.
Sunday, March 04, 2012
Super Early Morning Thoughts
Well, thoughts and memories keep coming back and again, as it usually is, I am going through a mini insomnia phase again. My sisters are out helping out an old friend with her wedding deco, nails and what not's. They were expecting me to go but at the last minute I started having pain in tummy area. Seems like it's gone now. So now I am up waiting for them to get back home while listening to my own thoughts and also to the occasional annoying snore of Mom and Dad. Also, somebody woke up early somewhere in the village booming out some P.U.P tracks. Before I got back here, my sister told me the U.D.P had their rally at the football field [not far from where we live, actually, sort of right across]. Later on in the day it will be P.U.P's turn but rumor is that the other party wants to stop it by hosting a football marathon. Whatever happens, politics will be what it is.
Speaking of which, as I stepped off the bus at dump this evening, Beka pointed out a political sign to me. It made me want to change by blogs' title or page title [whatever it's called]. As I have always said, I write down things and go back to analyze them later, after a few years, months, or minutes, it just doesn't matter. The point is that I do look at them again. So, I started thinking about this 'Enough is Enough' thing. Now I have come to the thought, not a conclusion, that there can never be E-N-O-U-G-H. They just keep coming, whether you are ready or not. Maybe enough for now is more like it. I'll keep thinking about what would look best at the top of the page. Something that says a little but a lot at the same time. I'm not sure I can come up with something like that but I'll see.
Back to the wedding, I don't know why people choose to marry too early. The bride doesn't get her 'beauty sleep', if there is such a thing. The family is up for most of the night running around with flashlights in their hands to light the way. It is safe to say that that is mostly the job of the women since the men all gather to share a few quarts and elephant foot. By the time it is time [8 a.m], people are tired, men are drunk or with goma and some family members end up missing the ceremony. One fact about weddings though, [i don't know yet if all families do it, but here goes] everybody pitches in by donating rice, beans, meat, or whatever they can give. That didn't come out the right way so here is an example. Say there is a family of maybe 5. The first son wants to get married so it is his parent's obligation/responsibility to help out with the expenses. The married son then has to help his younger siblings with their wedding expenses as a form of repayment to his parents. Maybe that example is clear enough.
Moving on, day before yesterday, I received a text message from Anna telling me that a Visiting Man and his Single Son will be here soon. She says mom stressed on the 'SINGLE SON'.
My reply: "I knw mom probably worries dat she won't get 2 c any grandkids, bt he isn't d solution". She says: "LMAO. . ." I say: "dey finish wit Beka, now dey strt wit me". Her reply: "U hav us laughin". If Grandma was still around, she would probably say the same thing. She knew relationship updates in my sisters and cousin's life but never mine. However, she was convinced I was hiding someone.
Anyway, more of Gran next time. I was walking in Cayo day before and there was a man coming behind me with a horse. The dogs were barking and I heard him talking. I didn't pay mind as I thought he was speaking to himself or on the phone. Moments after, I realized he was telling me something. In Spanish, he asks me if I would like a ride. I just smiled and said no. He then asks if I would like to hold the reins. Again I smiled and said no. He also asked if I had ever rode on a horse. When I answered no again, he said it was easy. Thinking back, if it was in another place with green hills and small streams, I would have accepted. That along with the offer being made by a younger man. My fear of horses wouldn't have bothered me then. For now, I will just admire their beauty from far.
Well, I guess I'd better get at least a half hour rest. It looks like my sisters won't be back soon. That means that if they don't, I have to find something to do with the kids in Sunday Class in 3 hours! Yikes! Maybe I'll just continue with Tic-Tac-Know. They seem to enjoy it and it gives me an insight as to what they have been learning. I suppose I won't get a nap after all, since hunger is setting in as the day breaks. . .
Speaking of which, as I stepped off the bus at dump this evening, Beka pointed out a political sign to me. It made me want to change by blogs' title or page title [whatever it's called]. As I have always said, I write down things and go back to analyze them later, after a few years, months, or minutes, it just doesn't matter. The point is that I do look at them again. So, I started thinking about this 'Enough is Enough' thing. Now I have come to the thought, not a conclusion, that there can never be E-N-O-U-G-H. They just keep coming, whether you are ready or not. Maybe enough for now is more like it. I'll keep thinking about what would look best at the top of the page. Something that says a little but a lot at the same time. I'm not sure I can come up with something like that but I'll see.
Back to the wedding, I don't know why people choose to marry too early. The bride doesn't get her 'beauty sleep', if there is such a thing. The family is up for most of the night running around with flashlights in their hands to light the way. It is safe to say that that is mostly the job of the women since the men all gather to share a few quarts and elephant foot. By the time it is time [8 a.m], people are tired, men are drunk or with goma and some family members end up missing the ceremony. One fact about weddings though, [i don't know yet if all families do it, but here goes] everybody pitches in by donating rice, beans, meat, or whatever they can give. That didn't come out the right way so here is an example. Say there is a family of maybe 5. The first son wants to get married so it is his parent's obligation/responsibility to help out with the expenses. The married son then has to help his younger siblings with their wedding expenses as a form of repayment to his parents. Maybe that example is clear enough.
Moving on, day before yesterday, I received a text message from Anna telling me that a Visiting Man and his Single Son will be here soon. She says mom stressed on the 'SINGLE SON'.
My reply: "I knw mom probably worries dat she won't get 2 c any grandkids, bt he isn't d solution". She says: "LMAO. . ." I say: "dey finish wit Beka, now dey strt wit me". Her reply: "U hav us laughin". If Grandma was still around, she would probably say the same thing. She knew relationship updates in my sisters and cousin's life but never mine. However, she was convinced I was hiding someone.
Anyway, more of Gran next time. I was walking in Cayo day before and there was a man coming behind me with a horse. The dogs were barking and I heard him talking. I didn't pay mind as I thought he was speaking to himself or on the phone. Moments after, I realized he was telling me something. In Spanish, he asks me if I would like a ride. I just smiled and said no. He then asks if I would like to hold the reins. Again I smiled and said no. He also asked if I had ever rode on a horse. When I answered no again, he said it was easy. Thinking back, if it was in another place with green hills and small streams, I would have accepted. That along with the offer being made by a younger man. My fear of horses wouldn't have bothered me then. For now, I will just admire their beauty from far.
Well, I guess I'd better get at least a half hour rest. It looks like my sisters won't be back soon. That means that if they don't, I have to find something to do with the kids in Sunday Class in 3 hours! Yikes! Maybe I'll just continue with Tic-Tac-Know. They seem to enjoy it and it gives me an insight as to what they have been learning. I suppose I won't get a nap after all, since hunger is setting in as the day breaks. . .
Story Time!!!
Each time I visit my grandparents in Corozal, Grandfather begins his storytelling. He knows how much I love to listen to him talk so as I finish greeting and giving hugs to everyone, we sit down in the kitchen and the story begins!
Here is one as I remember as he told me as he remembers as he was told by his grandfather. . . [a sort of edited version and pardon me if I get scenes mixed up because this is the first time I'm testing out my skills as a storyteller. Maybe I should say a story writer?
In a land [not certain whether it was far or near but let's settle for not very far away], a woman did her best to make ends meet. She raised turkeys and sent her son to sell them throughout the land. He was not to return until he had some money. So off he went with his turkey. Going house to house and street to street, he realized that no one was interested in taking ownership of the turkey. He didn't give up though and continued walking until he came near the castle.
Being tired of walking around with a turkey, he decided to stop for a rest. While he rested, a young woman approached him and asked what he was doing. He replied by saying that his mother sent him out to sell the turkey but that no one wanted to buy. She became thoughtful and finally told him that she would take the turkey and give him something in exchange. He agreed, not knowing what her bargain was. So, he gave his turkey over to her and waited for her end of the bargain. Slowly, she started lifting the hem of her blouse while he waited in suspense.
He tried to tear his gaze away, but she wouldn't let him. Imagine his surprise when he saw what she was showing him! She then told him that each time he gave her a turkey, she would show him more. What he was looking at was the first color on her navel. By now he realized that he wasn't going to get any money for the turkey so he returned home.
When he got there, his mother began asking him how the sale was and demanded to see the money. He told her that it was stolen from him. Upon hearing that, she began to worry for she didn't know how else to get through. The turkeys were all that she had left to sell. He tried to cheer her up but his conscience kept nagging him.
The following day, he took another turkey and went straight to the place where he met the young woman, as they had planned. There, she showed him the second color. For the five days that followed, he returned home with the same story of someone robbing him of the turkey. On the seventh day, she told him not to return because she didn't have anything else to offer him. Not knowing why she showed him the colors of her navel, he returned home, puzzled about the last seven days.
Soon after, word spread that the ruler of the land was in need of entertainment and seeking young men who could guess the seven colors on his daughter's navel. The people at the castle prepared for the festivities and the young men came from all over. For days, one by one each young man started choosing which seven colors he thoughts of and presented them to the ruler but none came close. Finally, the ruler got bored.
Meanwhile, the turkey guy saw that there was a lot of excitement in the land. He set out to find out what it was all about. When he heard, it dawned on him that the young woman he met was none other than the ruler's daughter. He smiled for he knew exactly what the seven colors were. So, what else was he to do? He made his way into the castle and faced the ruler. One by one, he began telling which were the seven colors. So surprised was the ruler when he heard the colors being named. In the end, he couldn't believe so he asked the servants if they had seen him near his daughter at anytime and they said no.
Since no one could prove that they knew each other, the ruler had no other option but to give his daughter as wife to the turkey guy. The wedding was celebrated and the mother was finally happy that she could now forget about her worries of making ends meet.
Here is one as I remember as he told me as he remembers as he was told by his grandfather. . . [a sort of edited version and pardon me if I get scenes mixed up because this is the first time I'm testing out my skills as a storyteller. Maybe I should say a story writer?
In a land [not certain whether it was far or near but let's settle for not very far away], a woman did her best to make ends meet. She raised turkeys and sent her son to sell them throughout the land. He was not to return until he had some money. So off he went with his turkey. Going house to house and street to street, he realized that no one was interested in taking ownership of the turkey. He didn't give up though and continued walking until he came near the castle.
Being tired of walking around with a turkey, he decided to stop for a rest. While he rested, a young woman approached him and asked what he was doing. He replied by saying that his mother sent him out to sell the turkey but that no one wanted to buy. She became thoughtful and finally told him that she would take the turkey and give him something in exchange. He agreed, not knowing what her bargain was. So, he gave his turkey over to her and waited for her end of the bargain. Slowly, she started lifting the hem of her blouse while he waited in suspense.
He tried to tear his gaze away, but she wouldn't let him. Imagine his surprise when he saw what she was showing him! She then told him that each time he gave her a turkey, she would show him more. What he was looking at was the first color on her navel. By now he realized that he wasn't going to get any money for the turkey so he returned home.
When he got there, his mother began asking him how the sale was and demanded to see the money. He told her that it was stolen from him. Upon hearing that, she began to worry for she didn't know how else to get through. The turkeys were all that she had left to sell. He tried to cheer her up but his conscience kept nagging him.
The following day, he took another turkey and went straight to the place where he met the young woman, as they had planned. There, she showed him the second color. For the five days that followed, he returned home with the same story of someone robbing him of the turkey. On the seventh day, she told him not to return because she didn't have anything else to offer him. Not knowing why she showed him the colors of her navel, he returned home, puzzled about the last seven days.
Soon after, word spread that the ruler of the land was in need of entertainment and seeking young men who could guess the seven colors on his daughter's navel. The people at the castle prepared for the festivities and the young men came from all over. For days, one by one each young man started choosing which seven colors he thoughts of and presented them to the ruler but none came close. Finally, the ruler got bored.
Meanwhile, the turkey guy saw that there was a lot of excitement in the land. He set out to find out what it was all about. When he heard, it dawned on him that the young woman he met was none other than the ruler's daughter. He smiled for he knew exactly what the seven colors were. So, what else was he to do? He made his way into the castle and faced the ruler. One by one, he began telling which were the seven colors. So surprised was the ruler when he heard the colors being named. In the end, he couldn't believe so he asked the servants if they had seen him near his daughter at anytime and they said no.
Since no one could prove that they knew each other, the ruler had no other option but to give his daughter as wife to the turkey guy. The wedding was celebrated and the mother was finally happy that she could now forget about her worries of making ends meet.
Saturday, March 03, 2012
To What Purpose?
Sometimes I think that it would be better to trust a stranger than the ones who are as close as our family members. Yet that doesn't really make sense because those who get close to us were once strangers. While I was away, something happened that has me wondering. I knew there was a reason unknown to me for not tolerating him but there was nothing I could do about it. Even if I tried to make Sister see, the decisions are hers only. In time, the truth is no longer buried beneath layers of lies and deception. I know I was waiting hopelessly for the news she finally told me during the week, and all I can say is that I am sorry it had to be that way. What was he thinking? I cannot even begin to imagine! He considered himself part of my family so why would he do what he did? Really, what would spying on us gain him?
A week ago, probably around this same time, Dad went behind the house to lock up the storage room. I suppose he wasn't even there yet when he heard footsteps in the dark. Someone was running away! The person ran into the neighbors' yard but not before crashing into a pole my dad placed behind the matchbox of a house for my cat to climb in the ceiling. The neighbor heard his dogs barking and came out to see what the hassle was about. It was he who recognized the person fleeing. He said the person also crashed into something in their yard.
The runner knew that if he went en route to his home, the school, or in the center of the village he would be recognized from far so he opted to go up the hill, away from the light, into the hibiscus bushes planted by the uphill neighbors. It was a good choice but in his haste to get away, and also because of being unfamiliar with the state of the neighbors yard, he ran into squishy mud and BINGO! His tennis got stuck and he didn't have the time or the chance to try to get it out. The neighbor got it out and recognized who's it was but Dad didn't. I wasn't surprised at that part since he never really notices what a person wears. [There was a time when he didn't even recognize his own daughter! How bad can it get? Oh, and birth dates and ages.]
The following morning, Dad walked around the yard and he saw where Sister's X walked. Mom says she saw a light by the 'sambo' trees, probably from his phone, and I am guessing that was at the same time he sent my other Sister weird text messages. We still don't understand what he meant. Anyway, from there he must have used the pigpen as cover and made his way through the front yard no one really walks through. The footprints led to the corner of the kitchen, where he could peep through the cracks for as long as he wanted, unnoticed.
What all that was about? Who am I to say? All I know for sure is that it bothers me and I keep thinking that that wasn't the first time he was spying on my family. He tries anything else, I'll be right here waiting. Sister says he knows I don't like him and I always catch him looking [sort of starting] at me. He probably tries to figure out what lies beneath a cool, uninterested surface.
A week ago, probably around this same time, Dad went behind the house to lock up the storage room. I suppose he wasn't even there yet when he heard footsteps in the dark. Someone was running away! The person ran into the neighbors' yard but not before crashing into a pole my dad placed behind the matchbox of a house for my cat to climb in the ceiling. The neighbor heard his dogs barking and came out to see what the hassle was about. It was he who recognized the person fleeing. He said the person also crashed into something in their yard.
The runner knew that if he went en route to his home, the school, or in the center of the village he would be recognized from far so he opted to go up the hill, away from the light, into the hibiscus bushes planted by the uphill neighbors. It was a good choice but in his haste to get away, and also because of being unfamiliar with the state of the neighbors yard, he ran into squishy mud and BINGO! His tennis got stuck and he didn't have the time or the chance to try to get it out. The neighbor got it out and recognized who's it was but Dad didn't. I wasn't surprised at that part since he never really notices what a person wears. [There was a time when he didn't even recognize his own daughter! How bad can it get? Oh, and birth dates and ages.]
The following morning, Dad walked around the yard and he saw where Sister's X walked. Mom says she saw a light by the 'sambo' trees, probably from his phone, and I am guessing that was at the same time he sent my other Sister weird text messages. We still don't understand what he meant. Anyway, from there he must have used the pigpen as cover and made his way through the front yard no one really walks through. The footprints led to the corner of the kitchen, where he could peep through the cracks for as long as he wanted, unnoticed.
What all that was about? Who am I to say? All I know for sure is that it bothers me and I keep thinking that that wasn't the first time he was spying on my family. He tries anything else, I'll be right here waiting. Sister says he knows I don't like him and I always catch him looking [sort of starting] at me. He probably tries to figure out what lies beneath a cool, uninterested surface.
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