Day Ten
Writing Practice
Day Ten
Writing Practice
Maya jumped in Angelou (our little red car) yesterday and drove herself and friend to Grand Anse for the first time. Our baby off and driving! Freedom. Mobility. I remember years ago my dear friend Margaret saying, “Maureen you need to conquer your fear and get on the road and drive.” Narrow roads edged by deep drains, left side driving, and bus drivers with hefty egos had me once again saying, “Me driving in Grenada! No way!”
When I first came to Grenada I travelled with my green and yellow mountain bike. I rode up and down Telescope and Grenville, then north across island, Grenville to Victoria. I stayed the night at a little hotel and got high off the most dazzling purple pink sunsets. Talk about courage! 23 years old on Grenada roads riding.
Soon after Theo and i started dating, Theo bought a motorbike. He taught himself how to ride and within the first week of his learning we were on the road touring around island. Talk about belly! Both of us courage for so! Me on the back ooooohing and awwwing at mama nature hailing her wondrous glory while school children called out, “Coach. Coach. Coach.” Kids from St. Andrews to St. Patricks to St. Marks calling out their favorite Coach Theo. After a few falls with the bike, one in particular giving Theo a nasty burn that crept raw up the side of his leg, he decided to sell the bike and buy a shady green, second hand car. My dear friend Cory, fearless Cory said, “Whaaaa, you mad Maureen, Theo offering you the car and you too fraid to drive!” She coaxed me into the driver’s seat!
And now Maya on the road. Confident and bold. A huge feat of courage cause when Maya was 5 years old she and Theo landed upside down in a drain; jeep flipped, maya pitched and pinned underneath the vehicle. Theo managed to peel the side of the jeep from her head, but not before dread minutes passed. A miracle to have survived such a mash up experience and now behind the wheel of Angelou driving herself and Dehlia to Town for the day.
Car accidents deeply woven into my own childhood story, with Dad almost killing himself in two horrific car accidents resulting in loss of eye sight, broken back, and mashed up face. All to say the fear was palpable yesterday watching our baby pull out onto the road and become an independent driver!