Plants for Everything!

Isaiah took me up into the hills of Brewer’s Bay to show me all the different plants. Some had surprising benefits, like good for washing pots and pans because it made suds. Others were poisonous and to be seriously avoided, like the manzanillo tree. It has apple like fruit and you could be poisoned just by standing underneath the tree during the rain.

Building a Tepee Part Deux

I went shopping in town today.  

After spending the morning going to three stores, I deliberated on what fabric I would purchase to create the foundation for my home. There were several options, but this was an important decision. Not only was it my first purchased possession, but also its purpose was the most basic of all human needs: shelter.

I never thought I would hear my glamorous NYC ears hear that I was about to spend every cent I had on something hideous and boring. It was all practical and not at all about aesthetics. My plan is to beautify it later. It is more important to keep out insects and undesirables than for my tepee to be attractive. Initially.

I bought a blue tarp, rope and needle and thread. It’s even a little boring to write about it right now.

Having said this cannot deny that amazing accomplishment that I created my house in one afternoon! After I returned from shopping,  I sewed the rope to the middle of the tarp and attached it to the tree. I gathered some rocks and pulled out the tarp so that it was tepee shaped. I doubled over a piece of the fabric for an opening. I laid down my sarong as my floor/carpet and slept like a dream.

Calling NYC

I called Eddie today. I came into town to go shopping for my tepee, but was consumed with thoughts of him. It has been three weeks since he left and I had my boating accident and my entire life has changed, but I didn’t tell him anything about that. It was a very dreamy and loving conversation. He was very happy to hear from me. He said he was hoping that I would have called earlier, since it is up to me to call him. I said that I wanted to call him, but I had to call him from Road Town (which was where I was calling him from).

He told me about his project and how well it was going. I told him I was so happy for him and genuinely felt that way. He said he missed me and was sorry that we parted unpleasantly. I took full responsibility for our fight and I apologized, which felt good. It was healing.

He asked about Island life and I shared with him that paradise never changes too much. He asked me if I had been to the Full Moon party or had met anyone else. This thought had never occurred to me to even go to the party or dating anyone here. I told him that my heart belonged to him.  

The conversation turned to sweet nothings as we dedicated to doing our separate passions, but being together. Warmth overcame me and radiated out of my heart. I promised to call more often and think of him everyday at sunset.  

 

 

Working

Working this job surprised me. I was doing what every one does to maintain their homes. I was just like anyone else, yet it seemed different because of the way it made me feel.

This job made me realize the value of possessions. It was worth it to me work at a farmers market for a weekend to be able to buy fabric for my home.

I was a bit nervous while I was setting up the booth (table of fruits and vegetables). I was going to be around many of people and have a lot of interactions.  My other employment in NYC was bellydancing. When I bellydance, everyone asks me afterwards the same few questions.  Most of the time they ask,  “Where did you learn to bellydance?” This gave me pause that I would be asked personal questions and I was unprepared to talk about my current life. It was too new.

There were many booths and the market had a carnival type of atmosphere. There was a band playing music and people danced. All the people tending the booths had nicknames. No one was just Joe. There was Piano Joe, JT Joe, Mountain Matt, and Barbeque John. Many booths sold tourist items, as this farmer’s market had the appeal to locals and tourists.

What happened amazed me. Mostly what happened to me. No one asked about my personal life. They simply asked about the fruits and veggies. Some wanted to know how to eat the sugar cane, others wanted to know what a breadfruit tasted like. It was an island novelty for some and for others, their weekly produce.

 I was thoroughly in the moment all weekend. During the conversations, I was not thinking of the future or the past. I wasn’t asked to think about where I live, what I do for a living or where I came from.  I was completely present and I never felt so alive!  

Building a Tepee

Today Isaiah said I should build a home. Yes, I had one that I had been staying in, but it was the shed for all his tools and it was time he put them back in. It was exciting to see all the possible styles of shelter I could build as he sketched them in the dirt with a stick.

How thrilling to build it from scratch, instead of using a store bought tent!

He said that it was more tropical up where we were living. This means there are more insects and rain and a need for a roof and walls that would keep out mosquitoes, leeches and other undesirables. I also would want a roof that had a slant, so that it didn’t gather rain or moisture.

Most shelters included a frame and a different method of weaving leaves in this frame. There must have been 10 styles. I chose the bamboo frame (if we could find any) because it would collect drinking water, too. Since we were not sure if we could find any bamboo, my first shelter I chose would be a teepee.

Nearly all tepees have angled support pieces of wood that are tied together up top and create a cone shape. Then they are covered with fabric, leaves, hides or bark. There is another way to make a tepee and I found this one to be easy. You find a tree, suspend fabric from a branch, give the sides a steep angle and secure the bottoms to the ground. Voila!

The catch in this option was that I didn’t have the fabric. My sarong wasn’t big enough and it wasn’t waterproof. That’s all I had in the way of material. Isaiah said that I could work for him selling his vegetables and fruits in town at a farmer’s market.  With my earnings, I could buy the foundation of my abode.  It would be strange to be in the “city”, but of course I would do it! I was getting back to the basics.

 

Missing Eddie

I was missing Eddie today.  The morning began with feeling just a little blue. As the day progressed, I was full out pining for his company. At least that is what I chose to focus my melancholy outlook onto.

It was all over the place. I felt like calling him and telling him that I was missing him at one point during the day. At another time, I felt insecure that he left me and chose his work “over me”.  I even had weird food cravings of pot stickers that we used to order at a Chinese restaurant on 7^th Ave in NYC.

I replayed my favorite memories of us down here in the Caribbean. The super romantic moments, in which we stood under the blanket of starlight sky and he declared we were soul mates. I laughed about the time he was imitating me mixing my metaphors. I longed for his touch and kiss.  I wanted him to be impressed with me and with how I have been surviving since he left.

Then I wanted him to be missing me and it really hurt. I felt so sad and lonely. I cried as I tended the sugar peas in the farm. At a certain point I thought that I was not going to be able to go on without him.

Then I recognized the unmistakable feelings. You can escape to an island, but you cannot escape PMS. 

My First Possession

I arose this morning to find this journal at my feet! My first new possession!  I thought it was from Isaiah, but my first belonging is a gift from Mervin. He wasn’t around when I found it. I am sure it is because my boat has not been found and he asked me what I missed most. I told him my log with all my memories and experiences.

Naturally, I cannot replace the previous days entries, but how exciting to start anew! It started feeling like my birthday when Isaiah said it was Jah’s day (Sunday) and I could have to the day to rest!

I am grateful for my “job”, but I am tired!  I welcomed the day off and decided to spend it at the beach writing in my new diary.

I decided to not plan what I would write or style or date or any plans whatsoever. Without thought, I started to write about my dolphin experience. I wrote with the beginning of the day, of how it all happened with all the details and daily facts. I think I wanted to make sense of it. I cannot believe it all happened. 

I feel different. Its hard to explain. Being that scared, feeling like I was so close to death makes this world look and feel different. I don’t feel afraid like I used to (I am not fearless, yet). I also feel newness. I feel like I am looking at things for the first time.

I love my new journal! I am going to continue to write.