Sea Gypsies II & Island Life
Remember in “ Mary Poppins” the jump into a chalk drawing and the “ Happy Holiday with Bert” Such was today.
Around the yellow catamaran was a array of multi colored boats one had a rainbow sail hosted. It was a direct descendant of Kontiki; the raft that floated across the Pacific. It appeared to be built of drift wood atop Karnaval colored pontoons. I thought to myself perhaps each youngster has a boat and today was the for a great sea faring adventure A Happy Holiday!
Ruth and I ventured down to the beach; I watched the activity on the yellow catamaran. All hands were on deck;the boat was adorned with the colorful sails. The first mate was busy; the second mate in and out of the cabin, and the youngsters in and out of the sea.What a fun play ground.
Emboldened I swam close and began a conversation with Mikell. Mikell’s father had built the yellow catamaran in France. He had passed leaving the boat moored in Curacao. Mikell a free spirited Frenchman who must be a cousin of Jacques Cousteau had sailed the baby Kontiki from Martinique another Caribbean island several hundred miles away. He and Emily were sailing as a combined family across the Caribbean.
Before jumping back into the sea I shared lemon soup with them onboard. Emily dove in after me pulling a small raft to shore. She emerged from the water pulled her skirt from the water proof bag attached to the raft; dressed and was off to town. I am amazed by these two free spirits.
It took me back to another time and place. Having been island born. Island life was all I knew. Then“The States” were the “ La La Land.” A land of television, Dairy Queens, brown derbies, squirt ice cream and root beer floats. There were“ Drive-up Restaurants” with waitresses on roller skates and a window tray and “ Drive In Movies” It had Alligator Land;the Indian who wrestled live gators; Africa USA with loose wild animals.
In our island life the sole of our bare feet were like leather. The worse pain imaginable was a stubbed big toe. We knew how to run along the top of the water pipes which were highways to adventure. There was Dog Grave Yards, BA Beach, caves and forts. The surrounding sea was our marine land. We sailed: we swam. We were free to voyage to the islands or pedal down to Pink Island and Baby Beach.
Mikell and Emily; how deeply I wish you great island journeys. My heart sails with you on your yellow catamaran.
