We are no longer assured by the fresh smell of paint, the baking of tarts, cakes, puddings and bread; And neither do we care that old furniture is replaced by new.
These are things that happen throughout the year and, nowadays, they do not present the strongest evidence that we have slammed into ‘the most wonderful time of the year;’ The holiday season.
We cannot mark yuletide by the chill in the air for while we are now experiencing some cool days, the seasonal calendar is no longer well defined nor predictable.
Some believe that climate change is at play while others, disregarding human activities, think it is just the natural phenomenon of weather patterns.
Regardless, the impact of nature out of control on small island states and territories continues to be devastating:
Stronger, more frequent and ferocious storms; Disappearing coastlines; Extreme and prolonged heat, rain, drought; Loss of life. Loss of biodiversity; Sargassum.
This makes the outcome of the Conference of the Parties (COP) critical for us and we are glad that Ms Burnett-Penn, a well-trained climate change expert, was guiding the Premier, at COP 28.
To get into the spirit of the holidays, we cannot depend on concerts, plays and fungi music, for while they do happen, there is no BVI calendar that lists all the activities and allows the residents and visitors to plan their participation.
Neither can we bank on the carolers to arouse feelings for they no longer stop at every house as they did in the past and so, only selectively, is the experience imparted.
And Rosanna is of blessed memory, so she is not available to serenade us with her band nor compete with other bands en route to homes with her drawling, country singing that pierced the heart and prepared it for the pending message of the reason for the season.
No longer is it the lights; For the novelty and well embraced extravagance of the display put on by the Chalwell family that brought residents from across the BVI to be witnesses, was not sufficiently mirrored nor sustained to prolong and intensify the excitement.
Nowadays, we know we are in the holiday season because the bush cutters are out in their numbers. BVI feels like a clean house that sets the contented spirit free. It is both mesmerizing and intoxicating.
Then, we cannot help but think of Dickens (A Christmas Carol) with his three spirits that forced Ebenezer Scrooge to look beyond himself. And we wonder if our hearts are being so touched.
We cannot keep it all. And we must not and should not live exclusively onto ourselves for to live onto oneself is not to live at all.
We cannot keep it all. And we must not and should not live exclusively onto ourselves for to live onto oneself is not to live at all.
So, whether, like the Magi, we arrive at the manger on bended knees; Or even if we expect to be inspired by only commerce and merrymaking or family gatherings;
Regardless of where our belief system leads us, we should, in this holiday season, pause and offer thanks for life, for family, for friendship, for peace.
And it may not hurt to remember…
…Fridays.
Happy Holidays and Happy Friday!