SLICE OF LIFE - Free and easy on Sunday

Tue, January 18, 2011 - 12:00 AM

SUNDAY MORNING means different things to different people. Last Sunday morning we encountered some very interesting activities, which reflected the diversity of this country’s culture. The relaxed mood which reflected freedom of spirit was also appealing.

On the mini-park that presents a soothing image as one approaches Maxwell Beach in Christ Church we were attracted to the presence of a middle-aged man enjoying the atmosphere as he seemed to be munching on a meal that appeared to give him much pleasure. At the same time he was keeping his eye on a youngster who, without a care in the world, was focused on getting a kite airborne.

We enquired about the contents of the meal and he proudly offered us every detail. He said it contained broccoli, cabbage, okra, celery stalk, sweet pepper, lentil peas, onion, garlic, curry and macaroni. At other times he noted that he would add fish, but for Sunday he chose to go with a vegetable-based meal.

Giving his name as Claudius Moore, he told us that sometimes he would venture into rural areas, especially St George, to buy yams in large quantities and would store them for later use.

Claudius informed us that the youngster flying the kite was his wife’s great grandson. Dondre Stuart was quite happy in this environment. For him the breeze of the morning provided the means not only to keep his kite airborne but also to keep him cool and comfortable.

For Dondre the tombs that spread across the mini-park were also offering a history lesson. Whether it was the simpler ones or those more lavish in architecture, they told a story of our heritage. The one which was most prominent was that which bore the inscription:

“Here lyeth the body of M. Mary Addams, wife of Samvell Addams who deceased 13th December 1672.”

Obviously this mini-park was once a burial ground that dated back nearly to the time when Barbados was colonized by the British. No wonder the local name for this area and the adjoining beach is given as “Churchyard”.

As we fixed our attention on the tombstones, up came a young man with all the symbols of freedom in the tropics to use the pipe that provided water for those who wanted to quench their thirst or to wet their sandy feet.

The young man, interestingly enough, gave his name as Shane Free. Here was Free in name and in nature. It seemed to give this

mild-mannered and pleasant young man pride of spirit to declare that he was an artist and musician. He described his genre of music as island rock hip hop.

“I play guitar and write my own music. I play all the guitars on my album. I am working on my second album Shane On You. My first album, entitled Shane Free, which is in stores and is on sale on iTunes, is doing well,” he said.

We soon discovered that Shane was the son of well known Barbadian singer/musician Mickey Dee who made a big name for himself in the 1960s and is best remembered for his hit tune Time, which carried lyrics “Time, time, time, is on my side . . . you always say that you want to be free, you’ll come a-running back, you’ll come running back to meeee”.

Perhaps the name Free harks back to the lyrics of that memorable song as Free admitted that “Free” is his middle name.

Free is headed for bigger times. On Sunday when we met him he was just on a time-out from a video shoot on the beach. His producer from Canada, Tom McKay, is also here to direct the process. The international music scene is now within his reach.

Perhaps his dad will be a beneficiary of his son’s musical exploits for on this second album Mickey Dee is featured on track nine with a song by the name of Rock My World. Free also told us that Mickey performed with him at McBrides during the last few days and is therefore featured in the footage of the video that will be promoting this second album.

We next met a man by the name of Victor Freeman. As if reflecting the freedom of the morning, he sat on the beach, looking as free as the birds which were flying from branch to branch of the numerous trees, including grape, flamboyant, tamarind, and coconut variety, that shaded the area.

Victor was watching the waves roll all the way out to the horizon. A regular at the beach here, he told us that he was intrigued by the sea, especially the changing of the currents, which he could notice based on his experience from visiting the beach over the years.

Victor, a footballer who has played for Lodge School, Paradise and Maxwell in Barbados, as well as El Dorado Senior Comprehensive and Trinity United in Trinidad, regretted that we could not see him practising his football manoeuvres on the beach as his football had burst.

Sunday morning for these folk was a time for rest and relaxation. They all seemed to enjoy a freedom of spirit.