After weeks of effort, sometimes furious, other times half-hearted, our Barbados home is now transformed into an empty house, awaiting its next occupants. We were all in suspended emotion, I suspect. And at the end, the girls were overcome by the hollow echo in a place where they have been so very happy and stable.
It is unlikely that we will be back in Snug Corner, just us bare six again. Life moves on and the young people will move away into their own families. However I hope to be back sooner rather than later to this pretty place. (Thanks Mark and crew, Angie and Stayon).
Getting our last swim on the best beach (Brownes of course), Rais said, for her, Harrison College was her stand out Barbadian experience. And I have no doubt about that. Like the others, she made what I hope will be life long friends in a school, which whatever its deficits, (shared by practically all schools in the Caribbean) gave them options and encouraged endeavours, academic, artistic and civic.
And so I enjoyed every moment of being back in Barbados, the home of my father’s family. I found the Barbadians with whom I worked, marketed and engaged on the street, to be direct and plain spoken. Yes, its true, that Barbadians are past masters at cursing, rh this and that. Yes, they can be abrupt and not necessarily see the humourous absurdity with the Trini rapidity. But they are sincere about their country and proud.
Caribbean people ask me all the time (thinking me to be a Trini, which I am, if only a wannabe) “you like barbados?’ Well, what’s not to like?
Here are my top 10 things in no particular order:
1. The Barbadian concern for fairness in social relations
2. Sense of being at the centre of the Caribbean. It is a hub
3. Small size and accessibility for running, riding, getting around
4. The road network (there are 10 ways to get to any one place)
5. The majestic mahogany trees
6. Beaches, and Brownes in particular
7. Feeling of safety (Rais says “children grow up in a friendly environment”, Safiya says, ‘the easiness”)
8. Views of the east coast and St.George Valley. Barbados is pretty in a pleasant, comforting way
9. The dry Barbadian wit
10. Family and friends. See No. 2. In Barbados, you are likely to find yourself in groups of people where most come from other Caribbean countries.
11. An extra: I especially enjoyed the Ne’er To Meet Book Club. A small grouping of eccentric book lovers who can agree on very little. But how they can cook!
Roberta … I never made it to Snug Corner, yet feel such a connection to all the times shared there. I can imagine all the sentiment in leaving it. I have to thank you for opening your doors to the Tobago crew. It was truly Savannah’s second home. With all that you’re leaving behind, and wherever life leads you all, you take your open arms and big hearts with you. More welcome mats in front of open doors, safe & comfortable spaces, laughter, song, and good memories to make…d journey now start!
Peace & love, Mel
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Thanks Melissa. It was comforting to see the girls settle down in Trinidad, in the same place as Vanna. No doubt, they will have great times.
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Dear Roberta,
Like Cherise, I find that there are too many words I want to write to let you know how I feel about your leaving the region… a place where your strategic imagination gave us a new understanding of the difference the UN could make. But, I’ll be disciplined and say 3 things:
1. Thanks for reminding me about the good things about Barbados (like Doreen, I would add “manageability”. Particularly important for someone of my age)
2. I know a lot about Moving On: it’s not easy; but it helps to know that the heart remains where it belongs. Always. Special thanks for remembering someone who has ‘moved on’, but whose heart remains in the old struggle.
3. Technology helps but is no substitute for hugs. So be sure to look us up in BIM when you visit TNT.
Looking forward to the blogs.
Many blessings go with you,
Safe travel
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Roberta – wow – what an emotional post – I somehow never see you as emotional – not sure why. I never did get to see Snug Corner – but as the name implies – it will always be your corner of Bdos so one day I will.
So now on to Thailand – the Kingdom I love so much – what an amazing experience you are going to have – not just to experience Thailand but more importantly Thai way of life – as well as all the surrounding countries.
Be sure to get a large enough space to accommodate guests as I suspect you will be having quite a few – me included.
Sawasdee Krub!
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I thought you may have already left but doesn’t matter where I catch you.
I never made it to Snug Corner, but who knows… I have special memories of being your neighbour which can never be erased. All the best to you and the family.
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Happy for the lifelong times spent all over, TNT, BIM, Canada, RootsandRights and now Thailand….Dominica yet to come.
It will be all good.
Happy also to have half of the six here who will certainly enhance sweet TNT…
so how shall we dub Dere St?
Travel safe, go”long, vaya con dios,
xoxo
Val
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Roberta..I thought that Charlie and i had missed your departure o/s. Just last pm when we were socialising with out neighbours who live in the house opposite, we learnt that you had not yet left for Thailand. It was a surprise with weeks having passed since we last communicated by e-mail. Had I known I could have called. In the interim, I travelled again..These circumstances can surely stress the family unit even more in the throes of putting the penultimate and final arrangements for school and rental of Snug Corner completed.
The photo is majestic and the garden reflects your green thumb.
We wish you God’s speed and blessings to all of the family. I can’t promise another visit to Thailand, now when you are there. We loved every minute of our vacation there a few years ago. Hopefully we will see each other soon again probably when you are here..
Anne
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Roberta, I was so happy to hear from you. I needed a little boost re: being back in Barbados and here it is! 🙂 There are too many words to sift through to try to find something perfect, today is not the day for that. But I can manage: I think of you often, some weeks, daily. Each time I wonder how you are, wish you well and look forward to seeing you again. Your words carry me through all the tough times, and now, I can add, that I ‘act without hesitation’ nowadays even at the risk of being hasty! It is a good feeling. I miss you being nearby.
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Roberta
I’m really happy to see your blogs again – I’ve been missing them and resorting to re-reading old blogs recently.
This post brings back memories.
On Barbados – I now find lots to love, some I’m still ambivalent about and fewer and fewer things that I am not comfortable with. A previous post on our life in St. Philip really brought out the positive.
On Snug Corner – in such a short time, there has become a hub of togetherness and warmth. I’ll miss you being there and in Barbados.
On your leaving – I envy the new experiences you (and eventually Douglas and Rais) will enjoy. Like Aschille, Safi, Kaila, I will hopefully get that opportunity now that we will have a place to stay!
On your blog – please keep them coming with your musings, stories and pictures and your new experiences.
On you – I’m trying not to think how far you will be physically because, of course, technology makes that distance insignificant.
I love you and wish you a fulfilling new career challenge in Thailand.
Ann
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Dearest Neighbour down at the end of our Lawn,
We missing you already,girl
– an de house down there dark dark!
No chatty teens, no Songbird Dau.
Please come back soon!
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Thanks Roberta. So you! It has been great and a privilege knowing, working and hanging with you. Barbados and many Bajans will miss you too. The new place is lucky to have yuh! Let them not forget that 🙂
Snug Corner will be missed. It felt like family, always!
Hugs
Leisa
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Roberta, you and the family will all be missed. I always enjoyed my visits at ‘Snug Corner’ – such a peaceful home – and I’ve had some good laughs with you and Douglas there. 2012 certainly seems to be a year for change. I am sure that you will embrace and rise to any challenges you may face on this new journey. God speed and God bless you!
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Roberta….wishing you a fantastic experience in Thailand. Will see you again where the Clarke’s, living abroad, to come together to over and over again, none other than Bimshire. Until then keep save and much love to you cousin. Bon voyage.
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Bye, my dear niece, brought tears to my eyes.Moving on indeed!! All part of life’s journey. Be happy, stay healthy and enjoy this part of your journey. Till we meet again.
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it’s a small place and now i will love it less, as trapper john said to hawkeye when he, too, MASHed it. i like to think of ‘the opportunity of barbados’, our own best crack at making the west indies. still, and all, and ever since, bon chance
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it’s a small place and i will now love it less, as trapper john said to hawkeye when he, too, mashed it. i like to think of ‘the opportunity of barbados’, which i see as our own caribbean people’s best crack at making ourselves.
still, and all, bon chance….. bc
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Aw, Roberta, I feel so sad to think of Snug Corner empty and the horrible thought that the six of the Mendez clan will never be there again together. I refuse to believe it and hope it does not mean that you you and Douglas decided to SELL. Anyway, change does take place and one has to go with the flow as life dictates.
You said it well, the good things that came with living in Barbados and I would like to add that for people like me in the ‘troisemme age’ , the ‘managebility’ of the place ranked high and I give a big “ditto” to BROWNES beach as the best.
And about our Zachary..if you can, would you please touch base with Ms. King re some help to his mother to get his uniforms, shoes books etc. to start the new school year at CMI? I am sorry to burden you with this at this time……,I had already sent Ms. King Bds$ 500.00 to cover half the fees for the school year, but then Elizabeth ((Zach’s mother) called just yesterday to ask for help with getting his stuff. As I said, this is last minute that you don’t need, so if you can’t take it on, just let me know and I will try to come up with a plan B.
Send to let me know when exactly you are leaving so I can send you off with my blessings and my prayers.
Much love to you , Douglas , children, as you all embrace this big change. But, my heart is heavy..maybe moreso because storm Isaac is raging outside with heavy rain and winds and I feel so homesick…….
I love you all! A. Doreen
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and barbados will miss the snug corner crew. we look forward to when that site will become a place for reunions, celebrations and extended families.
looking forward also to tales from afar – thailand, canada, trinidad and wherever else the wind will take you all.
stay close from far. x
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Berta, all the best. Allez aypi papa Bon Dieu.
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Reading this brought tears. I will definitely miss you even if we were not in the same place. I will now look forward to these blogs more than ever. God speed my friend!
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Bye dear friend. Don’t be a stranger
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