After a not-so-bad trip back to Dominica, 4 weeks ago, here I am again. The relentless heat, the power outages, the internet gone for 3 days, and the mighty thunderstorms are all too familiar, and now September 2023 is coming to an end. Dominica is broke. Some people have not been paid since August. The ATM rarely works or even has money in it. The infrastructure is rotting, and petty crimes abound. The fruits and vegetables in the market wilt under the grinding heat...and so do the vendors! The last threatening storm of this hurricane season has passed. I was heartily welcomed home. Dominicans are champion survivors and truly resilient. The tourist season is coming.
McDowell has rescued 2 (two) puppies. They are fat and happy now as they wrestle with each other, churning up my garden, 'stealing' our shoes, and eating. They are outside dogs, we don't let them in the house. They will sit at the door, cocked heads, bewildered at the refusal to let them in, so cute! But no.
What has changed is me. I sorely miss my children and few friends. This feeling of longing for them is new to me. I missed them before, but this is different. I filled out a form the other day and checked off 'widow' under marital status. Hans and I haven't lived together for nearly 20 years, but we were good friends and knew each other well. Now he is gone, celebrated, and hopefully has found the peace he so longed for.
Stay Tuned
