Chapter 3 - Me and My Childhood Sickness: 1964-1966

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=145 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" background="0c3085a3.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Jamaica  ~ Noamie's Negril.Com </B></FONT><B>    </B><B> |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Jamaica Noamies Negril.Com "><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> back to  <A HREF="id4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="West Cliffe The Place I Called Home"><U><B>West Cliffe- The Place I Called Home</B></U></A></div> <div> <B>           <IMG SRC="2fe58010.gif" border=0 width="600" height="1" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B><FONT SIZE="7" COLOR="#FF00FF" FACE="Pristina" ><B>West Cliffe</B></FONT></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" background="0c4d2e83.jpg"> <div> <A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 1 A Star is Born ... The Road T"><U>Chapter 1- A Star is Born ... & The Road That Got Us Here</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 2 1990: It Was April It Was East"><U>Chapter 2- 1990: It Was April; It Was Easter; Another Easter</U></A></div> <div> <B>Chapter 3 - Me and My Childhood Sickness: 1964-1966 </B></div> <div> <A HREF="id24.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 4 A Family of Strangers Thats "><U>Chapter  4 - A Family of Strangers; That's What We Are'</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id25.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 5 List of Men whose Hearts Ive "><U>Chapter  5 -List of Men whose Hearts I've Broken</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id26.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 6 The W oman Called My Mother"><U>Chapter 6 - The W oman Called My Mother</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id27.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 7 Life is not always what its ad"><U>Chapter 7- Life is not always what its adds up to be</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id35.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 8 My Fathers Bride_ The Unfaithf"><U>Chapter 8- My Father's Bride_ The Unfaithful Bride</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id36.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 9My Mothers Evil_ My Years of Pa"><U>Chapter 9-My Mother's Evil_ My Years of Pain</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id37.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 10 My Father"><U>Chapter 10 My Father</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id38.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 11 How I Conquered, And Overpowe"><U>Chapter 11- How I Conquered, And Overpowered This Evil </U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id39.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 12"><U>Chapter 12</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id40.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 13 Goodbyes: The Tragedies of"><U>Chapter 13   - Good-byes: The Tragedies of Two Men</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id41.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 14"><U>Chapter 14</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id42.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 15"><U>Chapter 15</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id43.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 16Behind The Great Mask Where Tw"><U>Chapter 16-Behind The Great Mask- Where Two Roads Meets </U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id44.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 17Finally , Our of His mouth Com"><U>Chapter 17-Finally , Our of His mouth Cometh Truth</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id58.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 18 Jealousy Happiness"><U>Chapter 18- Jealousy & Happiness</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id59.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 19My Reasons for Tracking My Bir"><U>Chapter 19-My Reasons for Tracking My Birth & Life</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id60.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 20"><U>Chapter 20</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id61.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 21 Another Place Another Time "><U>Chapter 21- Another Place; Another Time </U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id62.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 22 Summer of 1965"><U>Chapter 22 -Summer of 1965</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id63.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 23 The Night The Fallen Angel La"><U>Chapter 23- The Night The Fallen Angel Landed on top of my Roof</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id88.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 24 Take The Name of Jesus With Y"><U>Chapter 24 -Take The Name of Jesus With You Child of Sorrow</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id92.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mt Airy School"><U>Mt Airy School</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id65.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Stories of Old Negril"><U>Stories of  Old Negril</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id68.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Origins of Jamaica Fruits and Spices"><U>The Origins of Jamaica Fruits and Spices:</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id56.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Jamaica An Island Possessed"><U>Jamaica An Island Possessed</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id69.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Jamaicans Rituals:"><U>Jamaicans Rituals:</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id85.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Our Culture The Germans"><U>Our Culture- The Germans</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id33.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Camille"><U>Camille</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id52.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="About RentaDreads"><U>About Renta-Dreads</U></A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=335 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>West Cliffe</B></div> <div> West Cliffe- </div> <div>         Chapter three </div> <div>         Me and My  Childhood Sickness:1964-1966  :~15</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div>   Noamie's - Jamaican Tea Room...An Innovative Walk into Traveling & Reality </div> <div> West Cliffe: The Road that Got us Here.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="2fe58010.gif" border=0 width="600" height="1" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><FONT SIZE="6" COLOR="#6666CC" FACE="Dauphin" ><B>    </B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Chapter Three</B></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="407e1a90.jpg" border=0 width="225" height="169" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>"We walked the road we did not understand; we travelled a path we did not know. We talk a talk we did not understand; we travelled the path deeper than we knew, where only our children, a legacy will understand. ~Noamie in the Road that Got us Here..."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Me and My  Childhood Sickness:1964-1966</U></B></div> <div>        When I was about five years old, I woke up one morning and was not able to swallow properly. As the days goes by, the problem got worst. My grandparent bungled me up one morning and we took the Hall Transport, the only bus from the gate about 5:00AM as it heads into Sav-la-mar. Hall transport was a multi-purpose buss. It carried schools children who have to be at five different schools, and them getting to each one on time. It carried regular passengers who have to be at the doctor's office no after than 8:00AM as soon as the doctor opens the doors. Otherwise getting a ride back home is impossible.</div> <bR> <div> The two doctors in Sav-la-mar have many patients who travelled from far. Everyone wants to be the first one there to sign in. Some days, the doctors are forced to turn back patients as they work from 8:00AM until 5-: 00PM. </div> <bR> <div> Most of all it was the women going to market that depends on the bus the most. They must get to "Shambre" and set up their good, by 7:30A.M. -ish just so that they can guarantee selling their good. My grandmother use to go to market this same way. She would stay over-night on Fridays, and would come home on the bus Saturday night. I recalled when Grandmother went into the hospital and was there for almost a month. After that she never went back to market and or staying over-night. I was four years of age and grandmother was forty-six.  </div> <bR> <div> I remember the day the ambulance brought grandmother home. I saw her lying in the ambulance on a low bed. The ambulance had dropped off another patience down in Hope-Well and as Grandfather told us that day, that Grandmother was coming home. I peek in the ambulance while it had stop up on Duppy-Hill after giving Uncle Jacob a ride home. Uncle Jacob has only one foot and a wooden one- with a hook at the bottom that he uses to help him about. Uncle Jacob could sit up so, he didn't count as a patient. However, back in the days, any vehicle was happy to give a sick person a ride home.  </div> <bR> <div>  <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#6666CC" FACE="Baskerville Old Face" >This day I saw Dr. Carnegie who told my grandparents that I need to have an operation. An operation meant surgery. A week later, we met the doctor at the hospital. This time, Grandfather did not have to charter Mass Stanley to take me to the doctor. </FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>West Cliffe -</B></div> <div> <B>Chapter three</B></div> <div> <B>Me and My  Childhood Sickness:1964-1966 :~16</B></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> There was a time when he did. The operation took place. The doctor removes my tonsils. The doctor took me out to my grandparent who sat outside the 'theatre' door the whole time I was in there, the whole three hours.  </div> <bR> <div> I remember the doctor telling my grandparent that I had woken up during the surgery and had seen some of the other surgery that was taking place beside me. However, the doctor re-assures my grandparents that 'I won't remember any of it" a they had quickly put me back under.  Actually, I do remember all of it, as I can still picture the person next to me stomach and intestines going into a white enamel basin. [Smile] However, later, when Grandmother asked me if I recall anything, I was a smart-ass and ask her; "Was I suppose to?" Grandmother was no fool, either, so she never ask me again, as she knew that it was best that I did not re-hashed any of what I have seen to her. </div> <bR> <div> Grandmother Emma had told me on  a couple other occasions <I>that "if an old skirt like me, dead; and teck set pon any-body; dead them no dead them caan't dead</I>", so here I wasn't about to let her know that I remember anything in  'theatre' that day.  </div> <div> This loving child of God, me, had no intention of haunting anyone after I died, so Grandmother wasn't talking to me, as I pursed my lips and walked away. </div> <div> **********</div> <bR> <div> I got home and Honey and Doreen was happy to see me. This was the first time that I would recall knowing that I have another sister, who was older than all three of us. That she was only living two chain from us at her fathers' mother house. She has a different father from us. This day I would meet my sister Babbeth for the first time. Miss Catherine had sent her to see her sister. Miss Catherine was a first cousin to my grandmother Emma. They are related from the Johnson and Bell side of the family. The Johnson and Bell from Mt. Airy. </div> <bR> <div> My oldest sister Babbeth was happy to see us. She was some-what reserved, and acted old-fashion. I would later learned that that was because she was the only child living with her grandparents Miss Catherine and Paw-Bun, otherwise called Josiah Daley. Josiah Daley was first cousin to my grandfather, from the Daley side of the family.  I was told that Babbeth's Granny, Miss Campbell have her in church most of the time, and that she was practicing to walk in her granny foot-step. I wouldn't have otherwise seen her before, as she would attend the Orange Hill Holiness Church with her granny; Pau-Bun, her grandfather, didn't go to church, as he was a very busy man, in more ways than one.  </div> <bR> <div> The church I attended with my sister Doreen and Brother Honey was the Orange Hill Catholic Church. None of my grandparents were actually  'official members', however, they made sure that we attended church.  Grandmother was a Jew, and Grandfather, while part-Jew, would give generously to the Catholic Church and for all his reasons. Grandfather and others had assisted in building the church as a place of worship for all denomination, meaning all the Orange Hill People who made up the "Out of Many One People".</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> As far as I was concern, Honey Doreen and me, didn't care about what church we attended. Harvest there was a pleasant affair; Christmas time with going to night church was a wonderful experience as we all get to steal people orange and tangerine while walking home. Furthermore, Kem-Ken sees to it that we, Markie grandchildren get nice Christmas presents, from the church. Presents such as a nice small statue of Mary and Joseph in a manger with baby Jesus.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> I would later get to ask Babbeth as to why this is the first time that we are getting to see her, to know her, to have even know that she existed, having gone by her house 'to shop' on many occasions, seeing she lives so close to us. Thinking that I could have seen her playing on her verandah, and not knowing that she is my sister. She lives at the very house, where my grandparents had gone to cast their votes, seeing Miss Campbell and Josiah Daley were outstanding member of the community.</div> <div> I would come to learn later, that there was some 'bad blood' between Grandmother Emma and her cousin Catherine. However, I didn't have to wonder either. </div> <bR> <div> One evening I was going home from shop. I was going down Duppy Hill. There on the right Miss Effie land had a few guava trees, and it was always my duty to stop and climb the tree. As I looked there stood Irene, right where her property and Miss Effie's meet. She had a piece of fire-stick in her hand. I didn't see Miss Catherine under the cluster of neese-burry tree. I  was only looking where the huge fire-tick landed that I realized that Irene was down there to 'go trouble Miss Catherine', and for no reason, other than Catherine is married to her Irene's cousins; Pau-Bum. Irene and my grandmother were friends. Furthermore, Irene is married to my Grandmother Emma's first cousin; Doc Bell.  </div> <bR> <bR> <div> *********</div> <div> I wrote that the first time I saw my sister Babbeth, was the time of my measles sickness. I also wrote seeing her for the first time, when I had surgery to have my tonsil remove. My recollection of time may not be accurate. I just recall that 'suddenly she was there' in that window of time, those months apart, when I had the measles and then have my tonsils remove. My point here, is that, Babbeth herself was glad to have found us her sisters and brothers. </div> <bR> <div> Babbeth promised that she would have her grandmother send her to come and see me again. Well, it would turn out to have been sooner than later. I came down with, having contracted the Dreaded- German Measles. Having written and published this article since 19.... [my noamies-negril.com] I will enter the article here as it is:  </div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>West Cliffe- </B></div> <div> <B>Chapter three</B></div> <div> <B>Me and My  Childhood Sickness:1964-1966 :18</B></div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B><IMG SRC="40bbc8d0.jpg" border=0 width="188" height="141" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <I><B>Flowers from Our Garden. Summer 2007</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><U>In  Memories of Mel...It was Summer..1965</U></I><U> </U></div> <div> <I>I was going to be five years old soon, actually in a few more months. I was going to Orange Hill Catholic School. It's a basic school. We wore uniforms.</I> </div> <bR> <div> <I>That dreaded summer, I caught the Measles. It was a sight to see. There was no vaccination. It was up to my grandparents to save me from death. However, they can only do their best. The look on their face was not a happy one. My parents were in England. They must not send and tell them. They would write, but only if I die.</I> </div> <bR> <div> <I>I was closed-up in this room. Somehow, they believe that the disease would not spread. However, I was red from head to toe. Fever of 108, was my companion. Somehow, I still manage to smile. They were afraid to look at me, or even look me in the eye. </I></div> <bR> <div> <I>A few women would come into the room. I heard them talking in a hush voice before coming in." how is she, they would ask. I never heard the answer, only silence. That's not good.</I> </div> <div> <I>It didn't bother me. Yet, I did not like to see the sadness on all these women face.</I> </div> <div> <I>My only medicine was to bathe me in a special bathe, yes, the "tam brine leaves." That is what would help to dry up the rashes and pull the poison out from my body.</I><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#6666CC" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> <I>My oldest sister, my half sister came constantly. She was living with her father's mother. That was the first time I vividly remember meeting her. She did not want to leave me. I felt bad for her. I was her little sister, and she felt that she was responsible for me. Sometime, they would not let her in the room. I think she understood.</I> </div> <bR> <div> <I>There was constant whispering. Another little girl had also caught the measles (German Measles). It was a dreaded time. Yet the prognosis was good. Only two of us have it. With me, it was contained. Every hole in the house was stuffed to make sure that the germs did not spread. </I></div> <div> <I>However, it was my dear friend, my own playmate who had caught the measles. Mel has caught the measles</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>Quiet, nice sweet Mel. She was already a delicate little girl. Very slim and petite like myself. The biggest thing on us, was our head of hair. Too much that seems to be constantly weighing us down.</I></div> <div> <I>My fever broke. I saw happy faces. I saw the look of relief on my grandmother's face. I was allowed to see some light. Then the news same. Mel died.</I> </div> <div> <I>I remember that Saturday night. My dearest Uncle came to tell me. Somehow, my family always knew whom they would choose to tell me bad news. (It was a clue that I would forever be accustomed to). </I></div> <div> <I>It was too late for me. I lived, Mel died. </I></div> <bR> <div> <I>A week later, grandmother dressed me so that I could go and see the last of Mel. In the little coffin, I saw her little body. The measles was gone, and so was Mel. I did not stay for the funeral. I left. I went for a walk. I went up to West Cliffe. I was too young to be feeling that kind of pain. I smile. I will always smile. Death had spared me for a reason. So I lived to tell you my story. </I></div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B><IMG SRC="40d72160.jpg" border=0 width="370" height="278" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <I><B>Flowers from Our Garden. Summer 2007</B></I></div> <bR> <div> As I grew older, I would come to suffer with enormous pain from my menstrual cycle. </div> <div> These are severe pains that would come to haunt me; thus I have survived the measles of my childhood, but not its scaring. I would come to learn that I have inherited my mother's illness.</div> <bR> <div>  In 1980-1982, I would learn of this illness in women, something called; Endometriosis, a condition that at the time none of the doctors in the United States knew what it was, and or had any means of treating it. I was living in Germany, when a German Woman told me about a clinic that was doing some experiment on this unknown illness in woman.  She wrote the address down on a piece of paper and told me to contact them. I would. Later, as I returned to the American Army Medical Doctor, one Doctor, Dr. Otto would decide to take up my cause. For you to ask me what this is, as my mother had come to lie, to disgrace me, on me in telling the world that I had no womb, let me attempt to explain to you what this women illness is. While I planned to tell you more about my years of pain, my suffering with this illness, I will only try to educate the ones who will read my story and don't really know, just what this illness is all about; my illness.</div> <bR> <div> Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus (the endometrial stroma and glands, which should only be located inside the uterus) is found elsewhere in the body. </div> <div> Endometriosis lesions can be found anywhere in the pelvic cavity: on the ovaries, the fallopian tubes, and on the pelvic side walls. Other common areas where it is found include the utero-sacral ligaments, the cul-de-sac, the Pouch of Douglas, and in the rectal-vaginal septum. In addition, it can be found in caecarian-section scars, laparoscopy or laparotomy scars, and on the bladder, bowel, intestines, colon, appendix, and rectum. In rare cases, endometriosis has been found inside the vagina, inside the bladder, on the skin, even in the lung, spine, and brain. </div> <div> The most common symptom of endometriosis is pelvic pain. The pain often correlates to the menstrual cycle, but a woman with endometriosis may also experience pain that doesn't correlate to her cycle. For many women, the pain of endometriosis is so severe and debilitating that it impacts their lives in significant ways. Endometriosis can also cause scar tissue and adhesions to develop that can distort a woman's internal anatomy. In advanced stages, internal organs may fuse together, causing a condition known as a "frozen pelvis." It is estimated that 30-40% of women with endometriosis are infertile. </div> <bR> <div> What causes endometriosis?</div> <div> Several different theories have been put forward as to what causes endometriosis. While none of these theories have ever been entirely proven, nor do they fully explain all the mechanisms associated with the development of the disease, what Doctor Otto and I had discussed was that I had come into having the disease after contracting the German measles and with a 'fever' called 'temperature' that would have scarred my internal female organs.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> The only place at my young tender age for the disease to have grown was my virgin womb. Left undiagnosed and untreated, it became what we now known as: Endometriosis. I will stick to this truth, as at the time Dr. Otto could never had known or solve the mysteries, unless I had told him, what he had suspected, and so both of us theory is right. Otherwise to doctors across the United States and some other countries, the cause of endometriosis remains unknown. Lease, someone misunderstood as my mother did, let me point out that Endometriosis is not one having a hysterectomy. Common name that women used across Jamaica when they are facing having to have a hysterectomy is to called it, having; 'Growth.' Hysterectomy is the removal of a woman'' womb. Endometriosis is different. </div> <bR> <div> Once you have this illness, its stays with you.  While there are treatments, there is no known cure.</div> <bR> <div> In 1990, when my mother sets out once again to disgrace me, in that I couldn't have children, she my mother was way out of line. Now the joke of it all is, of all her children, meaning her four girls; if other theories serves right, then I was the only child, her only child to have contracted this illness, this disease from her; my mother. </div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="40f80500.jpg" border=0 width="384" height="336" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#6666CC" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><I><B>               </B></I></FONT><I><B> </B></I><I><B>Picture of  Me, my son and my brother  Kevon at Kevon's Wedding in 1994</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="2fe58010.gif" border=0 width="600" height="1" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="40e78730.jpg" border=0 width="120" height="115" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>My First Day of School:1962</U></B> </div> <div> I was only two years old. </div> <div> I was too young to be attending school. I would be three in the fall. This is only February. Actually, I wanted to be in school since school re-open in January. Grandmother said I was too young. I didn't think so. Afterall, I could read better than my sister. I read her entire book. I could read and write all that was in her book. Uncle Elli taught me while the others were at school. So I began scheming. I was going to school, on way or another. However, here was the trick. Grandmother usually bath my sister and I simultaneously. Then she would comb my sister hair. After my sister would leave with the neighbor's children, then she would proceed to comb my hair. </div> <bR> <div> I could never get her to comb my hair before then. You see, I cannot go to school or leave the yard without my hair been comb. That was the rule. Our parents' were in England and Grandmother and Grandfather did not want anyone to say that we were not been taken care of in the best way. I normally follow my sister, older brother and the cousin's children from across the street, to the corner, up the street. Then I would turn-back (return home) to play by myself or follow Grandfather to his nearby farm. However, school was on my mind. So I planned my going to school. I was only two-plus.</div> <bR> <div> Well, that morning, I got up, and did everything right. I got my hair out of the two-braids, and began brushing it myself. I help to dress myself after Grandmother bathe me. Still that stubborn woman would not comb my hair before my sister. Well, I guess, my combing my hair this morning will have to do. I follow them to the first corner. Then it was time for me to turn back. I begged to follow them to the second corner. Then it was really time for me to turn back. It was here that my sister, my older brother and the cousins all realized that I did planned on going to school with them. They began yelling at me to turn back. Then they proceeded to run down this hill leaving me. Well, the trick is, that I could run as fast as they are. I began crying. </div> <bR> <div> As I began running off dusty "Duppy-Hill Road" crying that I want to go to school, a good lady, came out and stop all of us. I told her that I wanted to go to school. Guess, what? She told me that I was going to go to school. With her lips pursed she said:  "You going to school; you gwine go` to school today, come!" Everyone became silent. The good woman has spoken. We walked into her yard. She comb my hair, while the others waited for me. Then she gave me a slate and pencil. After that she wrote a letter to give to the Teacher, Ms. Kelly. Dear Sister Lucille would take care of the rest of details.</div> <div>  </div> <div> I went to school. Ms. Kelly took me, without saying a word. I would learn later that she was a relative of my father. I went to school (off the roll) until the fall when I would be three. Actually, I was placed on the roll, officially that October. Sister Lucille acting on behalf of a parent, send me to school, that February 1962. She had a lot of confidence in me. My god-mother who was head of the Catholic Church and (School) would never oppose. Sister Lucille is her niece. </div> <bR> <div> Thus, little Noamie was off to school from that day. Culturally, that was a blessing, and the way the Jamaican culture works. For this and other reasons, I live to love our Jamaican school system.   The sad thing; My son would come to follow in my footstep. I did what Sister Lucille did for me... </div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="2fe58010.gif" border=0 width="600" height="1" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B><U>Memories:</U></B></I> </div> <div> I remember the first time, I was taught to sing that song. I was 5 years old and the queen was coming to Jamaica. One of her stops, was in Sav-la-mar, by the sea. Presently where the market is now. We would all meet her there. </div> <bR> <div> Anyway, all the children from the different school in the region, would meet her there and sing this beautiful song as her open top car drove slowly by us. </div> <div> For me it was also a beautiful day, as all the colors representing the different school's, children in their uniforms showed up. We sang our hearts out that day. </div> <div> But it was the Caribbean Trade Wind, and a calm sea, that helps us to carry the beautiful melody so well. I saw the young Queen wipe her eyes. </div> <bR> <div> Later when I asked why did she cry. Did we not sing well for her. I was told that it was the melody, the words sang by children, so innocent that had moved her to cry. </div> <div> Each time I sang that song, I will forever remember that glorious morning when we sang our National Anthem standing by the sea in old Sav-la-mar, part of the great Savannah. </div> <div> Its words are words of wisdom to live by. </div> <div> Enjoy. </div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="20c64600.jpg" border=0 width="100" height="96" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> The Queen of England called Jamaica her "Favorite Island." </div> <div> <I>The Most Fairest of the Isles...</I></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="2fe58010.gif" border=0 width="600" height="1" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>The Jamaica National Anthem</B></I><I> ; </I><I><B>Just for you:</B></I><I> Think of me, a little girl in my Green and White uniform, singing my heart out. Singing this song for all of you as I did then, this day. For it is worth taking notice of this, things we would have taken for granted, only to realize that after travelling the world; that there's no place like Jamaica; no place like Home no place like the Hills of Negril.  </I></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I> </I></div> <div> <B><U>The Jamaica National Anthem</U></B> </div> <div> Eternal Father bless our land </div> <div> Guard us with Thy mighty hand. </div> <div> Keep us free from evil powers </div> <div> Be our light through countless hours </div> <div> To our leaders, Great Defender, </div> <div> Grant true wisdom from above </div> <div> Justice, truth, be ours forever, </div> <div> Jamaica Land we love. </div> <div> Jamaica, Jamaica, Jamaica </div> <div> Land we love. </div> <bR> <div> <B>II. </B></div> <div> Teach us true respect for all </div> <div> Stir response to duty's call. </div> <div> Strengthen us the weak to cherish </div> <div> Give us vision lest we perish </div> <div> Knowledge send us Heavenly Father </div> <div> Grant true wisdom from above, </div> <div> Justice, truth, be ours forever </div> <div> Jamaica Land we love. </div> <div> Jamaica, Jamaica, Jamaica </div> <div> Land we love. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>"Walk the good road, and age will guide you through. </B></div> <div> <B>  Walk a clear path and wisdom will gude you the rest of the way."</B></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> -----<FONT SIZE="6" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Elephant" >---</FONT>---<FONT SIZE="6" COLOR="#FF00FF" FACE="Elephant" >---</FONT><FONT SIZE="6" COLOR="#FFFF00" FACE="Elephant" >---</FONT>---<FONT SIZE="6" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Elephant" >---</FONT>------<FONT SIZE="6" COLOR="#FF00FF" FACE="Elephant" >--</FONT><FONT SIZE="6" COLOR="#FFFF00" FACE="Elephant" >---</FONT>---<FONT SIZE="6" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Elephant" >---</FONT>------</div> <div> <I><B>"There is nothing more enchanting, bewitching, mesmerizing, like watching the Breaking of a Dawn and seeing God's majestic creation. I am blessed. I have to be Blessed. The Almighty would not have it any other way...So I smile."</B></I></div> <div>   </div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div>  -----<FONT SIZE="6" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Elephant" >---</FONT>---<FONT SIZE="6" COLOR="#FF00FF" FACE="Elephant" >---</FONT><FONT SIZE="6" COLOR="#FFFF00" FACE="Elephant" >---</FONT>---<FONT SIZE="6" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Elephant" >---</FONT>--------<FONT SIZE="6" COLOR="#FF00FF" FACE="Elephant" >--</FONT><FONT SIZE="6" COLOR="#FFFF00" FACE="Elephant" >---</FONT>---<FONT SIZE="6" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Elephant" >---</FONT>------<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="407e1a90.jpg" border=0 width="225" height="169" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="688" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER BGCOLOR=#000000 HEIGHT= 54 WIDTH="678"><div> <I><B>This site and its pages are Copyright 1998-2008. Noamie's Negril- Jamaican Tea Room. All Rights Reserved. Web site Designed by: Noamie</B></I></div> <bR> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B>West Cliffe</B></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>