Anybody who has given birth more than once will know this feeling. "They" tell you that childbirth is the worse pain anyone will endure but the very easiest to forget. And "they" are right. But around the 7th or 8th month of a second pregnancy, way too late to do anything about it, a memory suddenly strikes and you go "holy shit..what have I done- I remember now"! Well yesterday I got that feeling and there was no sex or babies involved.
Almost 20 years ago, I left living in St. Kitts for the colder climate of home. On Saturday Dec 29th I returned for a couple of 6 week stints with a trip to England to become a grandmother in between. After a long day of travel...btw- why did it used to only take 6 hours- airport to airport to get here and now it takes about 14?
Anyway, we arrived here at night and I immediately set about getting the sleeping arrangements in order. The first thing I noticed was a pile of "droppings" in the corner of the master bedroom. Lots of them! I looked around and didnt see anything that could have done the deed so I immediately called my son Scott to identify the critter that had left the present. He said.. a lizard. Now I have seen a lot of lizards in my day but if a question about their feces appeared on Jeopardy, I would have the same look on my face as the contestants have when a question concerning Canada appears. This stuff looked like mouse poop only bigger and it came in chocolate and vanilla. Sort of like a cross between a constipated seagull and a rat. Mice are rodents and this definitely looked like it was left by some member of the rodent family. Was that a slight gap up in the corner of the ceiling? Upon further investigation, there was even more outside. My mind was beginning to panic - bats! Scott continued to insist that it had to be lizard and who was I to argue- it seemed like the lesser of 2 evils... so I cleaned up and scrubbed down and made sure that my husband got that side of the room... after all, this whole adventure was his bright idea!
Next morning I went to get into the shower...turned the knob to my favourite position..no not missionary......hot! I was immediately hit with the smell of rotten eggs and cold water. Lovely..just lovely. We had previously lived in a house with no hot water and I know that I dont do cold water showers well and I hate boiled eggs, never mind ones that have been sitting around for years. Sending in the 2 amateur electricians got the result of... "only turn on the cold water" ... no hot water but be happy...there is no smell. I am beginning to believe that God is paying me back for hosing my children off in the front yard after a day at the beach. Like them, I am perfecting the art of showering without getting too close to the water!
St. Kitts is naturally speaking, an absolutely beautiful island. Lush greenery, mountains, ocean and beaches but it is not for the faint of heart and like having a child, you have to put up with a little discomfort to enjoy the reward.
