The Wedding Report

[Pepper]

Re: So wi still a wing it...

[ QUOTE ]
The first leg of what really ought to be the last time we ever dare travel American reaches the halfway point in Miami. We get off, and much to my surprise we don’t have to walk more than 30 seconds to get to our connecting gate.

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American Airlines...Miami...oh I can already imagine what you went through. That place is a zoo!

But yes Rudemonk, La Catereta (sp) has the best food.

[jamaica_dreamin]

Re: So wi still a wing it...

I've never flown American to Jamaica. I flown Air Ja out of Miami a couple of times and had no problems. But, I came back once after a hurricane ( [img]/forums/images/graemlins/70402-thinking.gif[/img] Francis maybe/ it was a week or so before Ivan hit Jamaica) and customs was a NGHTMARE [img]/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif[/img]. The airport had been closed the day before. ( [img]/forums/images/graemlins/70402-thinking.gif[/img] why couldn't I have been stuck in Jamaica [img]/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]) It took a couple of hours to get out of the airport [img]/forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img]. I've avoided MIA since [img]/forums/images/graemlins/70400-talktohand.gif[/img]

[Soul Hunter]

Welcome to Jamrock!

Things Done Changed

I wake up about 10 minutes north of Cuba in time to catch someone’s kid raising hell behind us. Fortunately we are on the ground soon, and as we await the mad rush to get off the plane, I’m gathering myself for the momma drama that’s sure to come soon. None of our flights this morning have been full, but the Miami to Jamaica leg has the greatest number of people onboard. A group of young people traveling down for a wedding are being obnoxious and basically shouting across the aisles at each other, despite being less than 6 feet away from each other! The weather looks good outside, and we watch the hustle and bustle with amusement as we make our way to the front of the plane.

Now let me digress for a minute and talk to y’all about something. When I was a kid, I hated walking up and down the stairs to get on and off the plane in Jamaica. Walking down those stairs while lugging the 15 pounds of rice and flour moms had managed to stuff in my carry-on bag for mamma was not the lick! That was third world stuff! I got a feel of the airport system in New York and Miami, and became foreign-ized. Now, as an adult, I look forward to those stairs. It’s the only time I look forward to absolute heat in Jamaica. Getting off that plane, feeling the blast of the heat from the engines and that raw Jamaican sun immediately enveloping you…as my girl Martha would say, it’s a good thing. Well we get off this plane and no sun buddy. The jet way is rolled up and we make our way into this crazy long tunnel. I’m talking the walk to customs in Miami long… We were here, at this very same airport in August of ’05 and we were absolutely amazed at how fast they had put this stuff up. I’ve seen fences in Jamaica take longer to make…I think about Aunt Marilyn as well. No sign of the ladies singing. No sound of live music. I’m not sure if we just missed them, but this new tunnel business seems to have bypassed them all together. I like the progress, but I hate it at the same time.

First stop, immigration. You done know how dat go already. Is like di people dem no believe inna AC brethren. Fortunately, the lines aren’t too long and before we know it, it’s our turn. Get this; the same woman who is stamping us in, stamped us in on our last reach. She recognized us the minute I signed my name (my signature is so simple, I might as well write a X…) She congratulates us on our pending nuptials and send us on our way. Another decent wait for the bags follows, and then it's into the line for Customs. We’re not carrying anything, but approaching those folks is like being stopped by Babylon. Even when you naah carry nuttin’ you still paro! Fortunes smiles on us again. Despite the somewhat grumpy attitude, she waves us on and we step out into that warm Jamaican sunshine.

[Soul Hunter]

Re: Welcome to Jamrock!

Waiting…

We walk outside and I’m looking around for a familiar face. Nothing doing. At the same time, every cat with a car is approaching us with the “big man, you need a ride?” routine. “No brethren, wi hav a cyar a come.” “Alright big man” they reply and Napi and I make our way out of the terminal and down the sidewalk to the big waiting area on the left. We’re waiting, and we’re not seeing anyone, and I can tell Napi’s frustration factor is rising with every minute. A guy asks if we need to make a phone call and I instinctively say no, though it’s probably the best move right now. On a whim, I pull out my Treo on the WHACK Sprint network and wouldn’t you know it, I’m getting a signal. It’s roaming, and it’s in Jamaica, which means I’ll probably need to sell Peanut to pay the bill next month, but I dial Aunt Metty on the off chance that it will actually work. Imagine my surprise when the phone not only rings, but Aunt Metty answers! Gotta love the GREAT Sprint network! She tells us that she’s dispatched Stone to pick us up, and that she’ll call to check on his 20. I call her back in a few minutes and she tells me that he’s actually been sitting in the airport and he’s on his way out of the parking lot. Within a few minutes Stone pulls up and we load up his car, which is about big enough to hold the 4 suitcases and the three of us for the ride to Ochi.

Stone is a curious fellow. Napi probably has a better description of him than I do. I’ve only met him once before, when he drove down to Spanish Town to pick up my grandmother, and then did double duty by returning to Spanish Town to ferry passengers to my Aunt Tula’s funeral last year. He’s a short youth, doesn’t say much, and like most of the either shy or rudeboy Jamaicans, pretty much mumbles when he speaks. He’s good peoples though…no crazy driving, reliable car, polite and just a friendly youth. We make our way out of Montego Bay and I engage Stone in small talk, while Napi looks about ready to start round 2 of her sleeping match. We’re almost out of MoBay, approaching the outskirts of Rose Hall and we decide to stop at the hotel and check out the wedding location. We tell the guard we are there to see our wedding coordinator, Ms. Janice Means (more on Janice later), and within minutes Napi and I enter the large lobby of the Wyndham Rose Hall and inquire as to Janice’s whereabouts. Janice is nowhere to be found, and given the already long day, and hunger starting to creep in, we continue on our way towards Ochi.

[Pepper]

Re: Welcome to Jamrock!

[ QUOTE ]
Now let me digress for a minute and talk to y’all about something. When I was a kid, I hated walking up and down the stairs to get on and off the plane in Jamaica. Walking down those stairs while lugging the 15 pounds of rice and flour moms had managed to stuff in my carry-on bag for mamma was not the lick!

[/ QUOTE ]

Oooh the memories....I share these memories as well. I don't know which was worse, the luggo luggo of goods in, or the luggo luggo of cooked goods on the way home.

[Conaway]

Re: The Wedding Report

This is great reading SoulH. I guess we can't call you hunter anymore. You have found what you were hunting for in Napi. My very best to you. I'm a believer in love and the love flows out into this virtual world when you speak Napi's name. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/70377-loveeyes.gif[/img]

[Laurel]

Re: The Wedding Report

[img]/forums/images/graemlins/70365-flirt.gif[/img]Enjoying this - just as I knew I would!!

[Gen]

Re: The Wedding Report

sorry to interupt yuh repoat but a wah di neckback a gwaan een yah...mi come back and find out seh unno married [img]/forums/images/graemlins/bannana_purple.gif[/img]

Congratulations to you both...from reading Napi's posts ...she is one sweet girl.. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/70409-waytogo.gif[/img]

sweet story overall.. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/bannana_purple.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/graemlins/bannana_purple.gif[/img] come wid more...

[Vi]

Re: The Wedding Report

(((Soul Hunter))) you are doing a fantastic job relating your and Napi's special day. I'm loving every word, description and childhood flashback!!! BOAL...rice & flour in your carryon..poor baby!

((((Napi)))) babygirl I remember having to eat to keep from getting sick at the most embarassing times. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] It HAD to be something I craved, not just "food"...lol...hang in there and keep those bags handy [img]/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[Conaway]

Re: The Wedding Report

[ QUOTE ]
(((Soul Hunter))) you are doing a fantastic job relating your and Napi's special day. I'm loving every word, description and childhood flashback!!! BOAL...rice & flour in your carryon..poor baby!

At least you ladies could eat. I must be the only woman who lost weight during the pregnancy. I also had a pre-mature birth by 2 months. So, eat away, eat all you want and make that baby fat and healthy.

At least you ladies could eat. I couldn't, I must have been the only woman to lose weight while pregnant. I also had a preemie. So eat away and make that baby fat.

((((Napi)))) babygirl I remember having to eat to keep from getting sick at the most embarassing times. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] It HAD to be something I craved, not just "food"...lol...hang in there and keep those bags handy [img]/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

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I must be the only woman who lost weight during pregnancy. And I had a preemie. So eat all you want and all you can. Never mind the weight gain. Make that baby fat and healthy. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/70371-jump.gif[/img]

[Soul Hunter]

Traveling, Traveling, Traveling, Traveling!

We’re Traveling On!

The pace is nice and easy as we make our way towards Ochi. Stone tells us that the island has been experiencing heavy downpours over the last two weeks and parts of MoBay and Ochi (around the Moneague area) have experienced significant flooding. I’m not trying to hear anything about rain – the wedding is outdoors and rain would…well…soak up our plans! The streets are still wet, but we haven’t had any rain (other than a slight drizzle between Flankers and Rose Hall) so I’m optimistic that the weather has changed in preparation for the big day.

At this point, hungry a buss we shut! We’re debating food stops, and while Napi and I are already leaning towards our regular spot – Yow’s – Stone insists he has a better spot. I’m blanking on the name of the place, but the food was indeed better than Yow’s. Some of you might be able to figure out the name of the place if I gave a brief description. I believe the main part of the spot – the bar, if you will – is a circular shaped pagoda looking thing, with some black paint, though I’m blanking on the colours. The jerk pit is set up to the right of the bar and as is the case in most places in Jamaica, you order at the bar then take your ticket to the pit to collect the food. The entire setup is on the left side of the road as you’re heading towards Ochi from MoBay. Plenty of locals and very few tourists, signals good food in my food goodness rating book. I hardly ever see any locals buying food at Yow’s.

Anyway, the food is right and though the view pales in comparison to Yow’s, we sit down and devour the lot. I had my usual jerk chicken with some friend dumpling, while the Napster had jerk conch with rice & peas, and Stone had jerk chicken with festival. I'm relishing the fact that Peanut has just had his/her first taste of yard food, on the rock! In the words of my man Alton Brown – Good Eats!

We are on the road again with Napi dozing off and the long day finally starting to sink in. Just as I’m about to pass out, I spot the polo field where my dad used to mingle with his friends. Almost there... Pass Dunn’s River; pass the dolphin spot and Stone decides to make the left by Island Village and go through the town. I almost protest and then decide, what the heck, might as well get our first glimpse of the town. It’s almost 1700 hours (5pm Auntie M!) at this point, and Ochi’s version of rush hour is well underway. There’s an old man who is certifiable, standing in the middle of that traffic circle in town, pants down almost to his ankles, rummaging through the garbage. In all this beauty, there are stark reminders everywhere that poverty persists. Nothing much has changed since our last reach, and we make our way out of town and up the road to Tower Aisle.

[plv23]

Re: Traveling, Traveling, Traveling, Traveling!

I know that food place Soul and have eaten there many times but could not tell you the name of it. Have to admit the food is delish.

I hope that there will be pictures posted of the big day? [img]/forums/images/graemlins/70384-praying.gif[/img]

[Soul Hunter]

Prelude to Trouble...

Touchdown

We pull in the gate and I can see Momma Soul hasn’t arrived yet. That’s good – a little more time before the drama can’t hurt! The housekeeper, a new addition to the Tower Aisle posse seems nice enough and ignores us for the most part as we drag the bags into the house. She has food waiting, but we’re stuffed and at this point I’m more focused on how things are going to go when la mujer de la casa shows up. As if on queue, she pulls into the driveway. Fate again smiles our way. She doesn’t say much to me, greets Napi with love, and then launches into the housekeeper about various tasks/chores to be dealt with the following day. Napi goes into the bedroom and I’m stuck in no-man’s land with moms. We don’t talk much, and being in a room together, alone, is a quirky deal for us both. It’s as though we both don’t quite know what to do or say during those moments…it has been like that since high school… I quietly make my way into our bedroom and Napi is knocked out! I weigh my options – either hang with moms, or fall out beside Naps, and jump right into the bed, and with the clock approaching 1800, we’re both out like lights. Four hours will pass before we drag ourselves out of bed and rejoin moms in the living room.

I dive into a slice of jackfruit, while Napi and moms catch up. Mom takes one look at Napi’s tummy and declares that Peanut is a boy!. This has been an issue of ongoing debate, and I would once again direct you to the blog for the details. We chit/chat for a few more minutes, and then Napi does the “I’m going to bed” walk again. I say goodnight to moms and we hit the room – though not without a bit of drama.

Mom has DSL service in the house, and I’ve been catching up on our blog and making my nightly post – an effort I take very seriously, much to Napi’s chagrin. I’ve already been working her nerves with questions regarding her folks’ arrival tomorrow in MoBay. I’m driving out there tomorrow to pick them up, but we don’t have a clue as their arrival time, something that apparently wasn’t worked out in advance. In an earlier post on the blog, someone had asked whether I would be going through with a wedding at this point had Napi not been pregnant...

[Soul Hunter]

Disaster!

Oh Boy…

Now admittedly, I didn’t pay much attention to the question. My answer was frank and honest. I said no. The problem with my response was that Napi didn’t fully appreciate the scope of my comments. My response was framed around the following logic: My mom, in my opinion, only offered to host/pay for this ceremony for one/maybe two reasons. The dominant reason is that she wanted us to be married before the baby was born. Can’t say it any clearer than that. This has frustrated the heck out of me, because I myself am the product of a single parent. I knew my dad all my life, loved the man to no end (as he did me), and admire my mom for raising me when ultimately pops could no longer provide financial or physical support. But that doesn’t change the fact that my mom has always been a single mother. So the notion of her having some sort of moral complex with us having a baby out of wedlock didn’t quite make sense to me. I suspect she may have had experiences that helped shape this belief, but nonetheless, people get married because they love each other – not because they find themselves pregnant and society says you better get married. Others might, Napi and I don’t. Love drives this relationship – not societal convenience. I am almost 100% sure that had Napi not been pregnant at the time we got engaged, my mom would not have made her offer. She would have offered to help out with whatever we were planning to do later on, of that I’m certain, but there would not have been an offer to fly down to Jamaica a month after our engagement and have a ceremony.

At the same time, I’m the only one employed on the day we get engaged. Napi begins her new job in two days, but with one salary, we are watching our funds. So without mom’s offer, we wouldn’t have had the financial means to carry off a ceremony so soon. In my mind, and based on what I’ve seen with my friends (I’ve been to about 6 weddings over the last 3 years), there would have been a 1-year period between the engagement and the actual ceremony, thus allowing for proper planning and for lack of a better term, stacking of dough to pay for the wedding. So in my response I basically said, “no, we wouldn’t be getting married now, because we probably would not have had the financial means to carry out a wedding the way we would want it until probably a year later.” What I didn’t make clear in my response, and where I think Napi made the wrong assumption, is that I would not have proposed to Napi at the time that I did. The truth of the matter is Napi being pregnant played only a small part in my decision to propose on 10 December. I knew within a day of meeting her that she had my heart. I had no doubts by the time she moved down to DC that we would be married and she would have my children, otherwise I wouldn’t have asked/agreed to her moving. So the only thing holding up the proposal would have been the necessary ring money. Other than that, it was a done deal. The baby only accelerated my plans, and only slightly. I was already on the way to gathering the ring money, and I knew she was feeling some pressure from her parents and society about being pregnant and not being married. Allow me to explain (and further get you all up in our business…).

Napi’s first prenatal visit to the doctor didn’t actually involve the baby. She was sick, and I mean dog sick. With the evidence strongly suggesting she was pregnant, she made an appointment to figure out what meds she could take so as not to screw up Peanut. While in the waiting room, she got the clear sense that the staff of this place had taken one look at her, heard “pregnancy” and observed no ring, and immediately placed her in that category of young black women who are pregnant with no father in sight, and destined to a life of mediocrity and government dependence. Had I been there I would have probably leveled the blasted place. It started to wear on Napi, and I think it eventually caught up to her. In any event, the money worked out right, I got the ring, and the rest as they say, is history.

Now back to our regular program…Napi reads the Blog, sees my response and lets out a joint gasp/sigh that immediately indicates “oh hell no!” in about the same tone as the young lady on that show Girlfriends likes to say it. I don’t think my explanation above was relayed effectively and she hits the sack ticked off! Not the way to end our first night on the rock... [img]/forums/images/graemlins/70367-help.gif[/img]

[ohliz]

Re: Traveling, Traveling, Traveling, Traveling!

This is GREAT you guys!!