christmas eve was spent hanging out at the bus stop with carl, kat, joshie, curtis and austin, who had just flown down wednesday. when austin and i showed up we found them sitting around, listening to country songs on the radio… kat mentioned how he had been begging miss jenny to change the station for over an hour. finally the station was changed and all resumed back to normalcy. we talked about the christmas season, how santa was appearing everywhere, excess was expected by rich youth, the outlook of grand market and how no one had money to do anything this year, and christmas in other countries and regions (i.e.: maroons and ethiopians, how they celebrate christmas at different times in the year). as midnight was approaching the guys invited us to join them in heading down to the gas station to see what was the buzz down there, but as i had to wake early to head over to erika’s to start cooking, we opted to head home.

as morning came shining through the window over the front door, i woke to the sounds of breeza… he was waking me to thank me for the drops i left for him for christmas and to wish me a very warm jamaican christmas. i soon rolled off the couch, turned on the radio to some christmas music and proceeded to clean up. i showered and soon went to wake austin so we could head down to marie’s yard. we reached to mama wishing us christmas wishes. the kids soon woke up and i gave everyone their christmas cards. asam’s was my favorite and he ran upstairs to show smiley: “merry christmas asam! i love you very much and i hope you have a very merry christmas. this year i am looking forward to more hugs and less abuse. love, annie.” he proceeded to ask his father what abuse meant. everyone was quite touched by their cards and looking forward to food. we had heard rumors erika had looked about breakfast for everybody and so we waited till we had a ride to head over. we ended up camping out in the living room watching the grinch and drinking sorrel. finally smiley headed down and we made our way over to erika’s to start cooking. after a few bites of vegetables and ackee and saltfish and a delicious cup of fresh cocoa, i was hard at work, seasoning chicken, prepping vegetables, boiling peas and chatting nonsense with everyone. marie and mama soon showed up, followed by brown, rocksan and the kids and cudjoe and kat. edgy’s brother quickly remembered to call me bruce lee and so began the long story of the day in sav at bashco, when erika threatened the employees that i was her bruce lee bodyguard, after glimpsing at my shoes and pants they soon believed her and agreed i was indeed bruce lee. the day we relived as erika retold the story to everyone. i started to cook my sip inside and ended up outside over the fire with the guys cooking. they all told me how i was going to have a hard time leaving jamaica, and how i would probably have to return, because i fit in so well. i was now a jamaican. they reminisced stories about when they first met me and how they heard i was the blackest girl they had ever met and how i should think about stop bleaching. we had a great time, everyone together, cooking, making jokes, telling stories, … as all the kids had arrived i gave them their group present of scrabble. i told them it was for everyone but would keep shop at marie’s, as everyone hangs out there anyway. everyone loved the sip and told me i cook better than some jamaicans they knew and how i cooked the best jamaican ital food for any non-jamaican. trust me, christmas was a great day for me… a time with my jamaican family that won’t soon be forgotten. it just reminded me how truly blessed i have been. i couldn’t eat anymore after the sip, but there was a whole spread: goat soap, curried goat, fried chicken, baked chicken, rice and peas, salad, homemade fruitcake baked the night before, freshly made juice, … a proper feast. zane turned selector for the night, the kids had a dance off, chevaughn and ricky kept pestering me to eat chicken every time they glanced me, we hung out chatting the night away, edgy made a makeshift fire to keep us warm, we washed and cleaned up, the kids played with asha’s christmas jacks, and eventually the kids started to watch a duppy show. as all was cleaned up and time growing colder, we opted to head home. the kids spent the night at erika’s watching duppy shows late into the night and we headed home with a very sleepy asam. all in all, it was a well enjoyed christmas.