Negril - rebel style report. The last days.......

[Nanook]

Re: Negril - rebel style report. The last days.......

Rebel, I can't get enough of your stories, they are so well told, it's like being there. That Isla is so precious is apparent too...such a little sweetie! I am looking forward to your last half day, but at the same time, I already feel sad that your stories will come to and end...and the PICTURES!! WOW, they are great!!!!

[grandma2]

Re: Negril - rebel style report. The last days.......

nice rebel, so wat anadda 6 weeks fi de 1/2 a day dat lef DWL

[halfwaytree]

Re: Negril - rebel style report. The last days.......

Great report Rebel!

Glad things took a turn for the better. Very well written!!! I don't know if I can read any more though. Leaving Jamaica always depresses the heck out of me and reading about someone doing the same will probably cause me to have flash backs.

[img]/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

[rebelgirl]

Re: Negril - rebel style report. The last days.......

Going Home

We wake early, there is much still to be done. I make the last pot of coffee, wash out my drip thingy and pack it away. I didn't take Isla to the doctor yesterday like he had suggested, she seems well enough, no fever for days no complaining about her ears, and we have to go so I didn't know what it would accomplish besides costing more money. Grandma comes by for her last cup of coffee and to check on our progress. We wash up and get dressed. grandma returns a short time later, we won't be leaving till 12 but check out is 10, so the office has requested we move all our things into one room so they can clean one before we leave. well this is OK I'm packed anyway. i empty the fridge into a box, and tote all the bags over to grandmas room.

Isla and grandma go down to the Bar for one last cheese sandwich for breakfast. i go back to our room, just to do a final clean up, and double check that Isla hasn't lost some of her special things some where they will get left behind.

I'm feeling awful this morning, that time of the month has come early of course, i get quite sick usually, but there is no time to be sick. I down some Tylenol, and curse under my breath at myself.

I go down to the bar to have a bite as well. I ask grandma if they heard the gun shots last night she say she woke to some noise but went back to sleep. she says she did over hear some young men talking about something this morning, but she hadn't realized they were talking about last night. I don't have time to find out any detail from anyone so this will remain a permanent mystery.

A young man calls me over from the sunset bar as i head back to the room. he asks me if i have been avoiding him. i realize this is Tony's nephew my dad had mentioned he worked at the sunset. I apologize "no i haven't it's just been one hell of a trip with my daughter being so sick ". He is so .... much of an adult now.

I have a picture of him from our last visit when he was 11 sitting on my rented scooter a very cute little boy, now sits before me a grown man that i would never recognize as having been that little boy. he seems like a very nice young man, i tell him i wish i had gotten a chance to talk with him, and it is so nice to see him again but i have to rush off now and finish up helping our family get ready for our journey.

I run back to grandma's room and grab the paper with our address on it i had written up for Ian. I haven't seen him at all since Isla was sick, and i want him to be able to get in touch with us. i also grab the camera. I had wanted to help Ian set up a site on the net showing his carving work, and his location, so people coming to Negril will seek him out, but I never got a chance to take any pictures. We have about 45 minutes left now. His shop is down by Treehouse i think i will have enough time to find him, and deliver the paper.

Out the door down to the bar. grandma tells me to hurry. i will. I do a power walk down the beach to Treehouse. i haven't been to his shop, i know the rough location. however when i get just past Treehouse the little shops are all closed up. Damn! A young man come and asks if he can help me. "Yes i think so, do you know Ian?"
"Ian?"
"Yes he just moved into one of the little shop here, he's a caver. He carves roses and parrots."
" Ian?"
"Yah he's kinda short and has a little head."
"Oh Ian the guy with the likkle head? "
"Yes he is known as likkle head."
"Yah I know him a likkle, he's not here yet."
"Do you think you could be so kind as to give him this piece of paper for me, if you see him today? I'm leaving in 1/2 an hour to go home. I didn't get a chance to give him this."
"Sure no problem."
"Thank you very much. i really appreciate it." And off i run down the beach.

I get back to the bar panting and puffing. it's taken me a little over 10 minutes running in sand to get there and back. I'm sad i didn't get to see him. i quickly run back to the room and make Isla a peanut butter and jelly sandwich to take with us, she has been eating so little, and airplane food is so bad, i figure I should bring something she may at least eat a few bites of.

Shirley comes by to help collect the stuff we are leaving behind. Grandma and Grandpa are giving her the walkman battery charger and speakers we brought. they had brought it with the intention of giving it to one of our wonderful friends. we haven't seen much of Shirley in the past week her aunt had passed on and her health was not so good. again someone i just didn't get much of a chance to see. I bid her a farewell.

i quickly run down to the bar and give Shawn my address too, I'm glad she is working today it gives me a chance to say good bye.

We take all our bags to the front entrance. I sit there while grandma and grandpa go finish up last minute things like returning the key. Isla treks up and down the path.



We are gathered at the entrance . Soloman arrives right on schedule. we stuff the bags in the back, pile in the car, and drive off.

Isla is excited to be going home, she misses all her things and the familiarity of home. I am torn between looking forward to the convenience and comfort, and sadness that we are leaving after having spent so much time in our room, and having seen and done so little of what we had wanted to. I will miss my friends that I hardly got to see, the food I didn't get to eat, and the laughter and enjoyment that I hardly experienced.

We soar down the road. it is a beautiful warm sunny day, the kind that really drives home the point of what we are leaving behind.

[rebelgirl]

Re: Negril - rebel style report. The last days.......

We all sit relatively silent watching the scenes flash past, the Peter tosh tape my dad gave Soloman giving the journey a sound track. I try to commit everything to memory, and constantly click the camera. In some ways it seems like watching a movie one frame at a time

Click


click


click


click click



We reach Lucy. It's hustling and bustling today, and our pace slow to an enjoyable crawl. There is a Market today, and being only 2 weeks till Christmas it seems everyone is out shopping. I wish for a moment I was out in the crowds, perusing the tables, and stands for Xmas goodies to take back to my small house on one of the surrounding hills. But it doesn't take long before we have made our way through the excitement, and begin to soar again. i snap a couple of pictures of the last bit of Lucy as we leave her.

[rebelgirl]

Re: Negril - rebel style report. The last days.......








So long Lucy and all the other lovely little places that come after her. Isla doses on and off, i put the camera away for a while. i just want to look and enjoy through my own eyes for awhile, instead of the eyes of the camera. i pull out the camera again as we approach Montego Bay. this is it.

[rebelgirl]

Re: Negril - rebel style report. The last days.......



The presence of American fast food here bugs me to no end. Like the world needs more KFC's and McDonalds.







*Sigh*

[Kathy-Ann]

Re: Negril - rebel style report. The last days.......

(((Rebel))) that was simply beautiful writing and so poignantly beautiful I almost cried. Your writing transported me to jamaica I could almost feel myself running through the sand with that address, your daughter is a little treasure isnt she. So glad everthing turned out okay. BTW thanks for the headsup on the writing skills in General Discussion - all the best to u and your daughter [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[sistagirl]

Re: Negril - rebel style report. The last days.......

[img]/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] what a wonderful trip report Rebel. Isla is adorable and you have provided her with memories to last her a lifetime. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[rebelgirl]

Re: Negril - rebel style report. The last days.......

One last little bit because i still have a few pictures to use up (cheesy grin again)

We unload. and say our Good byes to Soloman. Sienna you have yourself a good man i wish health prosperity and much happiness to both of you.



"Good bye Soloman, it was totally cool meeting you, I'll be sure to hail you up if ever i return."

Today is a busy day at Sangster, perhaps it's always that way now (I know last time we left it was a ghost town ours being the only flight leaving for many hours), but it looks like this flight back will be full to bursting. Isla has to use the restroom, I wish she didn't the line is moving slow so it's no rush, but when we get in there it seems the people using it previous had a frat party in there. It's a challenge to find a stall that is even remotely usable. Already not feeling well this does my stomach no favors. Isla in a very loud voice starts going on" This bathroom is really yucky. They should clean it up. Why is it so yucky?" i explain that obviously some of the people using it have made a mess. "Well somebody should tell them to not do that" She goes on about for several embarrassing minutes. Mean while the lady has come to clean it up. I just shyly smile at her while i wait for Isla to come out and stop talking. i feel like as the lady "can I have a paper bag to stick over my head please?" Isla washes up and we beat a hasty retreat out of there.

Back in the line Isla fidgets pulls on the ropes that divide the line and keeps darting off to stand in front of the fan. There are several other kids in the line, and mine seems to be the only one causing trouble and making me and others want to strangle her. I'm guessing there are probably a few people in the line thing oh great this kid is going to make this flight a nightmare. finally it is our turn to go up to the counter check our bags and get our boarding passes. all goes smooth. We lug our stuff through the airport to the departure area.

i can already tell that the extra weight of my carry-on's is going to make my body feel 50 by the time we reach the plane. Fortunately we have a little while to rest before doing the mad dash for the plane. Our flight has been delayed by an hour and will be leaving at 5:15 instead of 4pm. air Canada! i tell you never do any of their planes ever leave on time, they are always running behind schedule. At least they leave, but next trip I'll plan on running behind schedule just so i can feel like everything's running on time.

Isla is thirsty and intrigued by all the glittery shops around us. Grandma stays with the bags while Isla and i go to find a drink and peek at the shops. About this time I realize i haven't purchased any post cards of trinkets or anything for most of the people i said I'd write too. I buy a couple of post cards in one of the shops. we find one place that has slushies Isla wants one, a couple of over priced bags of chips and the slushy and back to our seats.

While Isla is drinking the slushy i decide i will give her some Triaminic chewable for her ears on the flight. these i brought with me from Canada for this express purpose, she has always liked them and taken them fine in the past. today however, she chews part of one, next thing I know slushy and breakfast have revisited us. all over her dress and the seats. ahhh, and then they announce it's time to board our flight, double ahhh!! I quickly strip her down except for her under shorts right there in the lobby. Fling out a shirt from my pack stuff the soiled dress in a bag then into my pack and as quickly as possible rub her down with the fist full of napkins grandma has run off to get. i look over while doing this there is a tourist waiting alone for his flight with this look of combined horror and amusement on his face. Mine is probably the same minus the amusement part.

Gack! grab the bags, grab Isla's hand, and move as quickly as possible through the lobby to the stairs. Up the stairs, down the hall, around the corner, down the stairs. "I'm tired mommy i can walk anymore." Patience wearing thin, i as nicely as i can say "Well not much farther now, you have to keep walking otherwise we will miss our plane." She struggles, and slows to a crawl but makes it to the tables where they are inspecting bags. Luckily I get motioned to a table at the end with no line, and after a couple of superficial glances I'm through, we have to wait for Grandma and grandpa though whose bags get a slightly more thorough check.

Boarding passes ID check and we are walking onto the tarmac there's ours plain white plane, that looks so boring sitting next to a brightly colored Air Jamaica airbus.

We climb the stairs Grandma helps Isla, I'm feeling awful, and I'm so loaded down it becomes questionable as to whether i will make it on the plane. I make it, and we find our seats. My eyes are transfixed on the world outside that little window.




Not long after we sit the plane starts to taxi away from the gate. there is no going back now. no jumping out the plane and running into the warm sea.



I find myself asking myself the same question Isla has asked me a few times during this vacation. "Is this a dream or is it real?" I don't really want to know the answer to that.

One thing that is different this time, than the 2 times before on this dreadful day, is my emotions. The last 2 times I've bawled my eyes out as the plane left the ground, and we disappeared into the clouds. This time I'm a bit numb, I'm not sure why exactly, I could guess it was this, or that, but as the wheels leave the tarmac I simply stare blankly at the shrinking land below. One could describe me as mildly melancholy, but there is a sense of relief there too. (I don't actually find myself overcome with sadness until I'm sitting in the airport in TO.) still I'm not happy by any stretch of the imagination.

Isla on the other hand seems to be in great spirits



I take pictures of the last sunset i will see over the Caribbean sea



Good bye Jamaica my friend. I hope i get to see you again.




Outside it fades to darkness, i no longer have to watch the Caribbean disappear into the past. In my future the north, the cold, the rain, and the post trip depression that slides into the winter depression, that will turn into the hopes of the spring.

The rest of our trip is tiring, frustrating and a pain in the rear. (although Isla is an angel and sleeps most of the time) Custom grilling me about my daughter, and why i don't have a court document stating I'm a single parent. My break down in a cafe at the TO airport after a spat with my mom, blubbering in my coffee. the break down of the luggage carousel at Vancouver, that means we don't make it to our hotel until 1 am, only to find out a woman hit a power pole at the corner, and the hotel is pitch black, and we have to haul all our luggage up 3 flights of stairs, in the pitch black, and grope for our room. The 3 hours sleep and the frenzied rush to the airport to catch our flight home.

the flight home was nice though. the weather was beautiful. all the little green islands like jewels down below. we were the only ones on the flight. Our personal plane, only 15 minutes and we were home sweet home. Cold, and clear, happy, and sad, but most of all just tired.

The end

[ohliz]

Re: Negril - rebel style report. The last days.......

THat was great, rebel...thank yo ufor taking hte time to share it all here.

Can i archive it after everyone has a chance to read it?

[grandma2]

Re: Negril - rebel style report. The last days.......

oh (((rebel))) thanks girl the lass hours in your drive was beautiful, isnt it strange we always leave on the best days [img]/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

sorry bout your TO an Vancouver stop ova.

give that dawta of yours my love

[Redj]

Re: Negril - rebel style report. The last days.......

Lordy Rebel.......... what a memorable trip.

We will have to have a double shot of something, when we do lunch.

I bet you can laugh at somethings in your now, right?

Take care, later babes.

[SistahD]

Re: Negril - rebel style report. The last days.......

((Rebel)) Great ending! and great pictures.

[queenb]

Re: Negril - rebel style report. The last days.......

I loved your report! I waited and waited for the pix to load (damn this slow 'puter! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img] ), then all I get is those **** x's!! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img]

Ahhhhhhhhh!!! I went back and they had all cleared up! Great pix!! Super report! Now rebel, start saving up for your next trip! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]