01 January 2013

First Day of the New Year


I've traveled to Tobago, the sister Island to Trinidad, to spend ten days with my Honey and the grands to give my daughter and her husband a rare break from parenting. We're staying in a lovely house with a pool and next to a beach.

It's 4:00 in the afternoon, the day is sunny and fine with a breeze off the sea. Our house sits on a promontory of land that juts into the Caribbean and feels like the end of the world since no other houses are within sight. My Honey is swimming in the pool overlooking the beach with the grands and their friend. I sit in the blue Adirondack chair with my feet on the brick colored tiles still warm from the sun that is just leaving this section of deck. Sounds of Marco.....Polo, Marco.....Polo fill the air, broken by squeals as one or another is caught or becomes the fish out of water and is caught. My Honey is laughing: "You went right under me and I didn't even know it!" The child culprit is thrilled. The wind feels soft against my skin.

Last night we had a little ceremony with the kids to mark the New Year. They lit some fireworks that flew up and made a loud crack at the top of their flight. We had sparkling peach drink to welcome 2013 and talked of what we want to do in the coming year. My six year old granddaughter immediately said: "I want to make a potholder with my new loom." I smiled at the concrete nature of her goal. My ten year old grandson wants to make a bomb. His friend was impressed and murmured assent to this worthy goal adding it should be purple. I only raised a daughter so this is new territory for me but will pursue it later to understand more.

My granddaughter comes to me to beg me to come swimming and since she's the only girl in this group I comply although the wind is picking up enough to keep the swim short. One of the boys is on the autistic spectrum and circles the pool with a smile but not venturing in. Soon he starts to dig in the dirt around a palm tree and seems content. The others call to him but accept his need to be on his own while in their orbit. Sharks and minnows is the next game called, rules explained and new strategies devised with new squeals engendered. Is there any sound more delightful or sight more instructive than children throwing themselves into a game wholeheartedly?

The sun is down now, setting early at 6:00 on this island close to the equator. Even as the days lengthen, sunset is only one half hour later in this land of 12 hour days and nights. The children find quieter games to play and I come back to my writing to post my first blog entry for the new year. Even as my heart feels full I acknowledge the niggling need around the edges of the present to set my own goals based on my heart's reassessment of where I am and where I wish to go. The stirrings are there, the time is right, the year is new.

Blessings of growth, discovery and love be yours in this New Year.

18 comments:

  1. Oh, I do hope you will post some photos of Tobago!! Please...what a wonderful place to spend New Year with family.

    New Year is always a good reason to reassess where one is and where one is going; so enjoy the goal setting.

    Glad to see you back in the blogosphere!

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    1. I just have my iPad and am having trouble downloading photos from my camera. As soon as I do you'll see some gorgeous shots- this is a beautiful spot!

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  2. What a fabulous way to start the new year! Enjoy the children and the beauty of the surroundings, and good luck with the garnet dragon!

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    1. It's my birthstone dragon so I must get it. I was able to breed all the past dragons I missed as of last night so I'm excited!

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  3. So glad you got to enjoy your grandkids and lovely weather. I have no goals for the new year; none! I'm taking each day as a sign I'm still here.

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    1. Sounds wise. My father (age 96) says that each day he reads the paper and his name isn't in the obituaries is a good day!
      p.s. I'm glad you're here.

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  4. Lovely. So evocative. There's a foot of snow on the ground so I'd be exaggerating if I said I felt like I was there, but I could see and feel it all so clearly. Got a chuckle from the Adirondack chair reference--I live in the Adirondacks all summer and how funny, and sweet, that our little native piece of furniture should have found its way to Tobago! Not at all its natural environment, as that too is covered with snow at the moment. Happy New Year to you and yours, with every blessing there is.

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    1. Thank for your great blessing, may it come back to you pressed odwn and flowing over!

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  5. I feel like sitting I'm sitting there watching with you, sipping a nice drink. :)

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    1. Will sip one together before long and I look forward to it.

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  6. sounds like you're having a wonderful time...and i wish that your dreams come true in the new year, may it be filled with blessings, new discoveries and many, many wonderful happy days

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  7. smiles...that sounds like an awesome trip...love your little ceremony with the kids as well to mark the new year...i hope it is wonderful for you and all your family...

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    1. Relaxed time with just our grands is wonderful.

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  8. mary, such valuable time for you all. all the best in this new year)))

    xo
    erin

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