Never Forget or Always Remember?

Never forget for most of us is an individual action so it truly only applies to people born prior to 1999. I include the 2 year old's born to the families of anyone that was lost that day because they will be taught to never forget. Never forgetting is also directly proportional to the effect it had on you personally. What exactly is it that we will never forget? Mostly, every emotion that was seared into our memories & hearts.

SHOCK and disbelief that something so horrible was happening. It's that slow motion break down that occurs when your mind says, "What is happening? An accident, a horrible accident, .... No, it seems more than that."This can't be happening, not here, not to us!"  "WHY is this happening?"  

The people around you start to react as well. Maybe you are in a location with people you need to keep calm. You go into control mode. Keep people calm, hysteria will only complicate what needs to happen. Information, you need more information, distraction, provide distraction with a promise of more information as it is available. But that only last a very short while, because the additional information strikes at the core of all that you know and took for granted about living in a free and protected nation.

FEAR sets in because you see or hear the events unfolding not just in New York, but in Washington, D.C. and Pennsylvania. "Where else is this going to happen?" "Where are my children, parents, family, friends?" "Are they there, will it happen here? For maybe the first time in your life you feel uncertain of the security of the land you live in."Am I safe where I am, should I be someplace else?" You start calling everyone you know, your family first, within an hour the phone lines can not support the load.

ISOLATION in a crowd of people because the people you need & want to be with are your family and you know that's not possible in the immediate future. You immediately start to pray (actually you started an hour ago in whispers only God could hear, but hear he did).

HOW could this happen?  We live in the UNITED STATES of AMERICA. Land of the FREE, .... and very soon the phrase "Home of the Brave" is real, being played out before your eyes that seep tears for the tragedy of it all. Every word of what you have just read was also true for the almost 3,000 people who died that day and the millions that were there, physically, mentally and spiritually. It was true for the people in the planes as they came to the realization of what was occurring. It was true for the people in the buildings and people on the streets. It was true for the people in their homes, at thier work places, in schools, in stores, at the post office, in cars, buses, trains & airports. The uncertainty of continued life, liberty and pursuit of happiness was at the doorstep of this nation.

So what YOU will "Never forget" is one thing. What YOU remember is another thing. One catch phrase I saw was, "Never Forget means  Never Let it Happen Again"  There are countries in other parts of the world that have experienced war in their homeland for centuries, ongoing loss of life and destruction of homes, businesses & lives. Political Wars, Territorial wars,  Drug wars, Mafia wars, Religious wars, Civil wars, Family Wars.

The aftermath of what happened on September 11, 2001 showed America to be what it is at it's best; Patriotic, Unified, and Willing to Protect the very essence of what our founding fathers wrote about in The Declaration of Independence and our Constitution. 

Fourteen years later and our country is more divided than ever and its sad, very sad. I pray unity for our country, I pray for the families of those lives lost in the September 11th attack on America and I pray that every American REMEMBERS and prays with me. 

What is the purpose of history if not to learn by? How do you teach patriotism?  What has 9-11 taught us and why are we not dedicated to passing on to the next generation a better world than was handed to us?

Now I Understand: Simplicity and OCD

As the sun crest the horizon, the only part of my body awake is my bladder. That's usually anywhere between 4:30am and 6am. Once my feet hit the floor, our little canine house guest contributes to  my awareness with a bounty of energy, tail wagging and soft kisses. On occasion I disappoint him by going back to sleep, but the majority of time I am up for the day. Glasses go on my face and flip flops on my feet. Turn off outside lights, let the small jumping, tail wagging beast out & get a tall glass of water and on to the front porch.

The front porch is one of my favorite places. Concrete half way up & screen on 3 sides to the ceiling. Two layers of screen go on porches: Mesh & the heavier square wire for reinforcement. This double layer puts me in stealth mode while on the porch. People walking by can't really see if you are on the porch or not. I like that. I can watch Corozal wake up without being disturbed. It's my quiet time.

While the little energetic canine beast is having his outside time, the other two enjoy a couple hours sleeping heavily on the porch, a reward for having been on watch all nite outside.

There is a stillness that early. It's relaxing yet invigorating as the sun continues to rise, the breeze starts to massage the leaves & branches of the foliage and the sounds of town start to creep in. Tennis shoes hitting the pavement as the early morning runners & walkers course the bay front road, voices in conversation sharing thoughts while exercising their legs & heart. Roosters start to rouse the neighborhood and the waves wash up on the rocks in a rhythmic cadence. In the distance you can hear the bus terminal awaken as the buses start their daily runs, transporting a large part of the population to destinations north and south.

A sound from inside the house and the alert ears plus wagging tails of all the canine family  members, indicates that "Mister" is awake. Treats are issued and the coffee grinder announces that the aroma of fresh brewed Belize coffee is on it's way. The bed gets made, an outdoor alarm buzzes as Mister opens the storage unit (Khan's favorite hang out during the day) and the sound of the Thunderbolt fast water taxi tells me it's 7am.

Mr. Gilharry rides by on his bike to his workplace where he picks up fresh made meat pies that he sells throughout town and the night watchman from Help Age returns to his home. School children will start to fill the streets, walking or riding their bike, backpacks full of knowledge they have learned, are learning or will soon be learning. Mom's, dad's, aunts and uncles escort them safely to the school yard and proceed to jobs or home to start their day.

This existence is simple, but consistent. Seems I like it that way now more than ever. In years gone past, I struggled with the lack of spontaneity in my parents lives and wondered where I got it from, for truly there was a time I lived a life full of spontaneity. The truth is they had it at some point and settled into a reliable routine that gave them a sense of security, purpose & fulfillment. I know this thing, as I have found it for myself. List are made & checked off, chores get done early while it's cool, errands get run and then it's lunchtime. The day has a better outcome when a nap follows lunch and the most productive part of my day is over. Afternoon brings activities I enjoy, be it club meetings or visiting with friends. 

The vast range of pinks, reds, oranges, purples & blues in the sky says it's time to think about dinner and by the time the street lights come on, I am safely settled in, as is most of the town. Weekends have a different flavor and set of sounds, but we'll save that for another blog. 

Suffice it to say, NOW I UNDERSTAND, but even in my OCD driven routine, I generally stop & smell the roses, then pick them and bring them in the house!

Note of credit to Dave Rider who took the sunrise picture.

Does Not Compute, Therefore Does Not Apply?

The other day I was tasked with delivering "Basic Water Safety" instruction to a group of 11-14 year old girls prior to engaging in boating activities during a field trip. The easiest and best one I could think of was the 8 rules established in the Red Cross, Longfellow's Whale Tales. Knowing I was going to be doing this a few weeks ago, I embarked on a search for the posters that come with the program available in the states, so I contacted the Belize Red Cross asking if anyone in Belize had a copy of the program. It dawned on me as I read the reply that indeed this is an "American Red Cross" program. They were not familiar with it.

I finally found enough info & images on line to create a PowerPoint covering the 8 Rules of Longfellow Whale Tales.

• Be Cool, Follow the Rules
• Swim With a Buddy in a Supervised Area
• Reach, Throw, But Don't Go
• Think, So You Don't Sink
• Look Before You Leap
• Don't Just Pack It, Wear Your Life Jacket
• Learn About Boating Before You Go Floating

I wished I could find all the PowerPoints I researched and created for Citizens Against Needless Death In Youth, a non profit I worked for in Mississippi where I delivered a whole host of child safety education in schools to Pre K-6th grade and a modified version for adults at hospitals & civic centers. I thought I could just modify them to be more culturally relevant as I had done for some of my children's skits. Take a common subject, look for the culturally relevant components and Viola! Why recreate the wheel?

Low and behold, I DID find all my old PowerPoints  (actually Papi found them for me - thanks Papi) on a hard drive we brought with us. Cool, I thought, I will get started on re working these for future need! As I went through the list my ambitions started sinking. It was becoming apparent that almost NOTHING was relevant here in Belize.  These kids might get to go on a boat so boating safety will work, Fire Safety will apply, Water Safety, yes, but these kids don't use skateboards, ATV's, or have pools. Matter of fact there is only one pool that you can pay to swim in, in all of Corozal!! This is simplicity at its best, the risk of child injury is at a much more basic level. OK so lets research the top injury risk and work toward that, but where do I get that information, there is no reliable database of information (that I have found yet)

Everyone (just about), rides a bike, there are pedestrians and a fair number ride in cars. This is a start;
Bike Safety - The rules of they road give a wide berth to bicyclist. I have only heard one accident occurring on the main highway, but as I think of the things we taught in bike safety, these folks would probably look at me with an expression of :DUH, who wouldn't know that?" And although bike helmets are available and some use them, they are way to expensive for the average child to hope to own. And if a million fell from the sky, would they wear them? Has this society had experience with brain injury from bike accidents to the point they would embrace this safety device?
Pedestrian Safety - There are no traffic lights, there aren't even lines on the roads for the most part and a lot of the roads are dirt. They do have pedestrian walkways and during the school year they have people to be sure kids across safely. There would be value in talking about wearing light colored clothes when walking at night, look both ways before crossing, but again, because this is part of their normal way of life, I would get the "DUH look".
Car Passenger Safety -  oh yeah, there's a lot that could be learned there but culturally it would be irrelevant to them. On weekends whole families pack up food & people and go to parks & beaches around town. People ride in the backs of pick ups, vans without AC leave the door open so there is more breeze. I cringe when I see toddlers protruding from the rear window in the pickup cab going down the road. They do have a seat belt law but it only seems to apply if you are traveling on a main highway. Child safety seats, yeah those are far & few.

I think I need to think on this some more. Didn;t I say in a previous post, "Don't come here and try to inflict your culture on people"? When is it appropriate to share what years of experience & tragedy has taught you? The answer, "When they ask, ......................"? What do you think?

Looking at this from the opposite direction, it makes you wonder,;
Do we need so much safety education in the states because we didn't think things through in the first place?
Does having so much at our disposal complicate our existence?
Maybe simple is better?

HELP for the AGING

In an earlier post I mentioned an organization here called HELP AGE. It is equivalent to a Senior Citizens Activity Center in the states. Each district has one, the government subsidizes it very modestly and provides a parcel of land for the building. Down in the Cayo district they have a fantastic facility (obviously well funded through benefactors & fund raising).
At one of our Corozal Women's Forum Meetings 2 ladies from Corozal Help Age came to share with us what it was all about. It seems these 2 ladies (both over 60 I would guess), are the entire leadership and doer bees of the organization. With $400 USD per month, they pay utilities for the building the Town Council is letting them use until they can afford to build on the land given to them, they provide food & personal items to over 50 shut ins, and they provide transportation for 20 or more ladies to the activity center twice a week, plus any other programing fees for activities they provide. Each time they come they sit around a large table and do crafts while they chat with each other (in Spanish mostly). 

They have a sewing room where 4 ladies do most of the creation of pillows, clothespin bags, doll clothes and so much more. Everything they make they sell at Art in the Park (a monthly event), or they will set up at other local events to sell their wares. On Thursdays a local yoga teacher comes in and they do exercises. 
They provide transportation to the hospital for Doctor appts and when possible they have a visiting nurse come to do BP checks, etc. Their very modest accommodations has a room set up for "medical". Oh what I would give to have the resources to build them the building they need!!
I started spending time there with my crochet projects, getting to know them. Some of them have some pretty amazing stories. One of the ladies was the FIRST Miss Corozal, oh some 40 years ago. 
The building they are in is quite run down, always needs repairs and has bats living in the attic, but none of that phases them, they are just so happy to be able to get together, enjoy each others company, and keep their minds and hands busy. They are an amazing group of women and I am proud they accept me into their company.

They are currently in desperate need of more reliable transportation. The one they have breaks down all the time. A friend of mine, Victoria Quinn has been involved with trying to help them secure better transportation. Seems they have a bus that is being donated but they need to raise the funds to get it down here. If you are interested here is the website about it. http://www.devxchange.org/BelizeHelpAge.html

Their dream one day is to have a facility that can house live in residents in need, a real kitchen for preparing meals for their shut ins (not just deliver canned & dry goods). A spacious daycare activity center for elders and a medical suite for visiting doctors to exam patients. Their parcel of land is very close to the Corozal Hospital which is perfect for them.

Their current building does not have a working toilet or running water other than a spicket outside.

 They have a stove & a refrigerator and get donations of vegetables, rice and flour that they divide up for the people that come and their shut ins. 

You might think these conditions unacceptable, but they are grateful for what they have and they never fail to greet me with the warmest smiles & love every time I visit. What is really unacceptable is the conditions of some of the shut ins they try to help. Bed ridden elders that often are tied to the bed with nobody home to tend to them or elders that "aren't allowed" to go to the activity center because they are expected to be childcare providers for their children, "or they won't get fed" (true quotes). It's not that way for everyone, many have good loving families that care for them, but it has been noted by some of the elder ladies I talk with that say the respect and culture for elders today is not what it once was. In years gone by the elders were the cornerstone of the family, respected as the wise ones. Younger generations sought their advise and discipline was issued from the eldest down. I believe its not so different from the states in that way. So much wisdom and a wealth of love is missed out on because we have lost site of the value our elders bring to the table. Unfortunately, it's not until we are elders ourselves that it is realized.

Tonight when you are nestled in your home with food on the table and loving family surrounding you, say a prayer for those who don't.

CHOICES, Part III: Today, I choose to notice beauty

Living in Central America has it's challenges, but it also is EASY to do certain things. Take gardening for example.  Having a lush beautiful area full of flowers and interesting things is easy. The cute little shotgun style house we live in has a side yard that is just over flowing with some of the most beautiful flowers & plants. 

This Bamboo Palm serves as shade for the porch in the late afternoon. WEST is to it's left as you can see from the shade on the sidewalk. A very slow grower, but when the bamboo trunks need to be trimmed, they are a very useful building material. Growing just in front of it & low to the ground is a beautiful Asperagas Fern, that I like to use in flower arrangements. 

Most everywhere you go in Belize, if there is a flower arrangement it's done in plastic. It is the tropics and once cut- fresh flowers don't last, but I still like fresh flowers in the house every once in a while. 

Something that still amazes me is the cross germination. Bushes & flowering trees that have multiple colors or different looking flowers on the same plant or leaves that look painted.I think when God made those he was in one of his colorful moods. 
The gardens at my house were put in by the owner and I am so grateful because anytime I'm feeling the least bit ugly (physically or mentally), all I need to do is go inspect the gardens and soon, all is right with the world.







 

Reality and Opportunities

I received word this morning that a friend of mine found her husband dead on the bathroom floor. She had talked to him a few hours earlier and he was fine.The reality is that life is unpredictable and at any given moment things can happen that radically change the remainder of your life. 

I remember a time not long ago, I went next door to see my parents and my father had learned of a friends death. He said to me, "Guess I'm old now, all my friends are dying off."  I felt bad for him, but never imagined I would feel that way too one day. There have been tragic deaths in our family and most of the generation before me has passed. The former is shocking and felt to be a life shortened way too soon. The latter is painful too, but seems to be part of the cycle of life. 

My father used to write notes on the Christmas decoration boxes; who visited or some note worthy comment about that year. I noticed he started listing the friends that passed away during the year on one of the boxes. I guess that was his way of remembering them. Once a year as he would assemble the Christmas decorations he would read through the previous years list and take time to remember them, It seemed very morbid to me at the time. Christmas is such a joyous time, why would you pick that time of year to do this. Now, I think there is wisdom in that, for if you are reading the list, or adding to the list you are also celebrating that God has given you one more Christmas to live, laugh & love.

Everyday, people, places & situations are placed in our paths. What we do with them are opportunities. Opportunities to experience compassion, empathy, generosity, laughter and most importantly love. We might also be given opportunities to experience frustration, anger, hatred, despair and unhappiness. I think the former is a better use of time & energy.

The sad news I received this morning yielded contemplation of; what would I do, what would I need to take care of, how would I manage all the details of something like that? My father was famous for attention to detail. Many years before his death he compiled a folder with all the details and titled it "In Case of Father's Death". Every year he showed us its location and any additional items that had been added. It did make handling the details easier. Charles & my folder is a work in progress, but today's events has us focused on its completion. Everyone should have an emergency exit plan, it seems morbid but well worth the time & effort. It is in fact an act of love for your family, that the "business" side of it drains you minimally so that you can devote the majority of your energy remembering their love and life.

I received a taste of reality today so I believe I will start to look for my opportunities to experience compassion, empathy, generosity, laughter and love, instead of just waiting for them to come my way. What about you?

After the Storm

This blog picks up where Papi left off. (see http://www.aquaticworlds.net/1/post/2012/08/storms-and-spices.html to catch up). 

Hurricane Ernesto was a great exercise in storm preparation and I am very impressed with the folks here in Corozal for taking ample precautions. Those who have them put up their storm shutters, although the hotel next door did not take down the roof top sign like they usually do, so we kept a watchful eye out for that becoming a projectile. Everyone "hunkered" down inside and for at least one night there was no loud music blaring from homes or local bars (the curfew includes prohibiting ANYONE from selling alcohol - SMART!!), no groups of people coursing up & down the bay - it was quiet, ahhhh.  So having everything put away, tied down and stored, we kicked back as the sun went down to await "Ernie" (I think we're good friends now so I can call him that). 

Along about 7pm, we hear an oh so familiar whining at the gate (and I mean whinny like a spoiled child) only in this case it's the whine of an old canine friend who seeks us out when he's scared, threatened or needs shelter. Sam felt the storm coming and knew he could find safe harbor at our house. His owner NEVER lets him in and he has to work hard to find shelter completely void of inclement weather. It was early enough, so attempts were made to encourage Sam to "Go Home", but he was having none of that and as the rains started we let him in. There wasn't a lot of thunderstorm type weather, but I am sure animals can feel the pressure change and it unnerves them. Sam stayed outside the porch under the overhang until the rain started filling that space, so on to the porch he came. Of course by now Khan & Annie have moved INSIDE the house. 

Understand we live in a very small house. Its comfortable for us but it is small. Cross ventilation is good except when you have to shut the shutters due to rain. Eventually (trust me it was after I went to sleep) the porch was not enough shelter so now there are 3, count them T H R E E wet dogs in the house with no cross ventilation.

Each one was given their individual space & a towel to lay on. Annie next to Charles side of the bed, Khan alternated between the bathroom floor and the 4' x 4' space in the kitchen and Sam closest to the now closed & locked side door. By morning when I got up the smell of wet dog was, ..... HORRIBLE. So I went out to the porch. The rains were coming in bands so there was time in between to be on the porch.  As I stood there I couldn't help but notice how clean the screens looked, as dust, dog hair and dirt over time make them quite dirty.  Oh nice I think, my friend Ernie cleaned the screens!

Then I notice were all the dirt went, .... to the window sills, down the wall and onto the tile floor. Hmmmm, looks like a job for F A B U L O S O!! Now we still have 6 more hours of storm weather associated with Ernie, but with everything being all wet anyway, why not start the clean up now!!! I won't even have to bring the hose around, I will just wait for the next band of rain for rinsing. So with bucket in hand of fabuloso with a little bit of bleach mixed in, I start wiping down the window sills, lower walls, remnant items left on the porch that got splattered and then finally the floor. Mops don't work on the tile on the porch it has a rough surface, so the broom is the tool of choice. I felt like Mary Poppins and the all famous "Singing in the Rain" song whistled through my head as I made progress on the porch. Of course I changed the words to be CLEANING IN THE RAIN. As I finished up I was glad nobody was on the street as surely they would enter me in a wet T-shirt contest for the "over fifty" NO, not a pretty site!!!!

As the wind & rain died down, our canine guest were OUSTED from the house and I got to work on the inside. Top to bottom Fabuloso & Me. I can't remember being this happy, to open ALL the shutters, re-establish cross ventilation and by 6pm life returned to normal.

Yes, Sam finally went home about 5pm