Jamaica Bring Back Love

[Bandana]

Re: Jamaica Bring Back Love

<span style="font-size: 11pt">So I spent the first few hours of 2009 on the beach in Negril, in front of a bonfire, talking with Bossa and making wishes on falling stars...

It was, hands down, the best new years eve of my life

1:28am the phone rings and it is <span style="font-style: italic">him</span>...

&quot;Yes, my new years was wonderful
yes I am fine
no, I have a room full of friends tonight...
we need to talk tomorrow...
it's ok man, everything happens for a reason...
Happy New Year.&quot;

I put the phone down and look out at the sea...

Bossa asks if I am ok... I am better than ok...


I could not have wished for a better evening.

It was 3am before the cold drove us inside...



Good Night Jamaica.

Good Bye 2008.

Hello Hope.




</span>

[Bandana]

Re: Jamaica Bring Back Love

<span style="font-size: 11pt">We are up early and I start the coffee

Barry and Cher are not feeling too well, and they have matters to attend to at home, so they will be taking off early.

I give Alex a big hug
I wonder if the little man knows how he made my night...

Bossa pulls me aside and asks if he can come back tomorrow






</span>

[Bandana]

Re: Jamaica Bring Back Love

<span style="font-size: 11pt">Seveen comes soon after they leave and says everyone is gathering at For Real today. Do I want to come?

Of course I want to come!! I tell Seveen I will meet her down there in an hour or so

Belle50 is coming too, and we share a cab

A quick stop by the ATM and we are soon pulling up at For Real

I step foot on the beach and I see Miss Marilyn straight to her arms I go she has this huge plate of fish that has obviously just been served to her and it looks lovely. I say as much and then just smile to be in her company again...

Marilyn with all that you have been through, from your work with MLK to your work in your community, to the trials on this very board, you stand tall and you shine your light lady. I have much love in my heart for you, and I will always stand by your side my friend.

And I don't just say that because you feed me my first meal of 2009






Thanks for sharing the fish honey, it was wonderful



</span>

[Bandana]

Re: Jamaica Bring Back Love

<span style="font-size: 11pt">Marilyn steals me away and we talk for a while...
She knows the way to my heart and she points out this little one down the beach...



Then she proves she knows once again when she calls this man over and asks what he is eating...

Ice Cream Cake

Lawd, it's a good thing we did not spend more time together

Did somebody say board meeting??

Rasta Stan's veranda is a great place for meetings, and I don't know how long I sat there, but I remember somebody saying something about a 2 drink minimum

I can see why ya'll never leave this place...





The clouds roll in and everyone is going to their rooms... I take shelter under the bar for a while...



</span>

[Bandana]

Re: Jamaica Bring Back Love

<span style="font-size: 11pt">A bar full of boardies



Some better pics I took at For Real the following day...







</span>

[Rasta Stan]

Re: Jamaica Bring Back Love

Man I wish I could write a Great report like this.
It helps to fill in the blanks..

Great photos of your trip, thanks for sharing them.

[Laurel]

Re: Jamaica Bring Back Love

YeeHaa ~

enjoying this ~

[Marilyn]

Re: Jamaica Bring Back Love

<span style="font-size: 14pt"> That was a great day, having you all there was WONDERFUL. I had forgotten about the ice cream cake....I only took one bite, and I knew this was something I needed to leave alone like Fries there, Rice N peas, Patti and Coco bread.

I enjoyed out re-bonding talk Dana....Your pictures are gorgeous.</span>

[23JAM00]

Re: Jamaica Bring Back Love


Great report!

[Bandana]

Re: Jamaica Bring Back Love

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Rasta Stan</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Man I wish I could write a Great report like this.
It helps to fill in the blanks..

Great photos of your trip, thanks for sharing them. </div></div>





Not being a big drinker really helps with the blank parts

next time I will spend more time at For Real and film unno feet pon di floor

Stan

[Bandana]

Re: Jamaica Bring Back Love

<span style="font-size: 11pt">Eventually I head back to the Condo's and my veranda...

Jones411 comes over for a visit and we have a nice conversation. Then she goes and gets her hubby to come over. Lord woman, if that man is half as funny as he was that night I can see why you married him. A man that can give you belly laughs like that is a real keeper... I laughed from the time he set foot on the veranda till the time ya'll left.

Thanks for spending some time with me

I wish Imanni could have been there to play with Madigan...

next time

</span>

[Grandmother]

Re: Jamaica Bring Back Love

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BanDanna</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><span style="font-size: 11pt">The night was beautiful, the breeze kept the heat away, and the music was sweet.

There are fishing boats everywhere turned belly up in the sand, with people sitting on them, drinking, talking, some off on a distant boat kissing.
The stars are so bright, and the neon blue &quot;Leroy's&quot; sign illuminates the sky.

With Rum Cream in hand and smile on my face I pull myself up on a log and proceed to experience what can only be described as speed dating Jamaican style

The men of Duncan's Bay took turns coming to sit by me and tell me about themselves. hehe I listened patiently touching the hands of some, giggling at the advances of others, kindly declining anything more than conversation. Always aware of Bossa's eyes on me and my suitors, watching, making sure I was safe.

From the wood carver to the fisherman they were all kind and humble, never pushy.

The night was very nice, but I as I turned my head I see this Jamaican Lady... the sorrow that was etched in her face was only more pronounced by her missing left eye... I had to look away, the smile suddenly gone from my face... I trained my eyes on the sky and tried to imagine what had brought the current sorrow to her face, I could not picture a life such as hers, and I had to look back on her once more. She is not happy, and she is scanning the crowd. I turn to Bossa on my left and I say to him the lady looks so unhappy He takes a look and agrees The man between the lady and I gets up, and I scoot a little closer to her and tap her on the shoulder. She turns her head, confused that I would address her.
&quot;You must smile missis&quot; I say &quot;Is there anything I can do? Can I buy you a drink?&quot;

Slowly a smile comes to her face, and I reach in my camera bag and pull out $500J I know that equates to a few drinks but I place it in her hand anyway, and I see a tear roll down her cheek. Suddenly I am full of goosebumps in the heat of the Jamaican night and I am crying too. Smiling through the tears...

I pat her hand and look again at the smile I put on her face. That one lady's smile was worth more Jamaican dollars than I can ever count.... </span> </div></div>

This is as far as I have read, but I had to stop to let you know that from the beginning of your report I had a feeling of Serenity from your words begining with the part of missing your baby, to your feelings of meeting Alex, my daughter and I agree he is a wonderful person, kind hearted, and a beautiful spirit. To the above regarding the woman you met.

It was my pleasure to meet you and wish to have seen you a little more, but next time. Be good, you are a Fantastic person and I am happy you met these fabulous people, in this wonderful place.

[Bandana]

Re: Jamaica Bring Back Love

<span style="font-size: 11pt">So I am really aching for some live music tonight...

I am going to see Bunny Wailer alone or not...


I get myself ready, sort out my money, and head to the road. When I stubbed my toe on the way out I should have known to just stay home...

When I get to the road, I decide to go back to For Real and see if anyone is going to the show. The beach is empty, no boardie in sight

Not wanting to disturb anyone, I go back to the road and get a cab up to MXIII. I figure I will see them there if they are coming... The guy outside is still selling the early price tickets and I buy one and go in... The place is empty, I am way too early, but I grab a seat anyway, and just watch people coming in and listen to the music...

The current lack off...

Almost an hour with no current, and no boardies and I am not happy... Add to that the endless amount of lines I am hearing and having to put off... I am polite ya know... &quot;Thank you, no thank you, bless you. I have a boyfriend, I have too much man already... after a while it gets annoying fi real...

So I get a ride back to the Condo's and grab a towel to sit on, some snacks, some bottled water and I go back to the venue...

The power is up and the sound check is over, I go sit on my towel on the side lines and try to give off the don't talk to me vibe

The highlight of my evening was these children...

The video is dark, but you can make them out... the boy danced like no other child I have seen, and the girl too... they kept trying to get the bigger girl to dance, and she would run off and they would drag her back and dance some more...

sooo cool



</span>

[Bandana]

Re: Jamaica Bring Back Love

Now that I look at it through Photobucket you can't see the boy at all

Lord, those kids could dance...


I am going to see if I have a better video, but I don't think so...

[jones411]

Re: Jamaica Bring Back Love



More sunset...


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My, my Miss Bandana...without even knowing it you captured Madigan and his half brother Matthew in this picture!!! Madigan is the one with the goggles on his head and Matthew has the light colored shirt on.

Yes, Mark was in rare form on that porch of yours. We were laughing sooo much that evening.
Wish I could have gotten my butt out of bed to go with you guys to For Real. Oh well, next time.

Thanks for the picture and the conversation