FRIENDS, BAJANS, FAMILIES, lend me your eyes. On this auspicious season I come to speak about a situation that has been plaguing us for centuries and will continue to do so until we decide to come together in united unison.
It is but a great injustice done to us as a people during the Christmas season. All we ask is the ability to enjoy this joyous time with loved ones, with decorations and gifts but more importantly with food.
But alas, due to the economic state of our country and as a result our pockets, it is becoming increasingly impossible to do so, especially when everything but de salaries gine up.
Now, somebody please explanation to me: why de backside ham so expensive? One night my phone ping and as I pick it up to check it, what was to grace my eyes with its presence but an image of a lovely leg ham fuh $401.65.
We all know Christmas is the most all around expensive time of year – I think the only other time that may be close to it is Crop Over – and ham is one of the most important things to scotch pun yuh table when Christmas Day come. Everybody does eat a ham, hear? Only the few that probably don’t eat meat at all would say not.
But dem got people that does be adamant all through the year that dem don’t eat pork, dash way de pork, pork fuh punks, fire pun de pork. But as the ham come out the oven dem ready to cut de thickest slices, my friend Chimpanzee so. If you doubt me, ask me.
But you know wuh else I love bout Christmas? All now people gine start to pull down dem houses. Houses that ain’t get clean since the flood, or mussy even from before when dem had de storm, gine get spruce up. Curtains do, power wash house, touch-up paint. It does be a sight to see. Den de trucks to turn up wit de new things (never mind dem does show back up in March to tek dem back)
Amongst all of this, there is one tradition that I truly miss. Wunnuh remember when yuh parents uses to tell yuh come and get in de car and before dem finish de sentence you dey?
Caw you know that it was time to go and see de lights. Dat time Bonnetts was de most magical place to me; lights grand mur can’t done and the creativity was breathtaking. Now? you would be lucky to see a street light; de bill does be too high to do that now.
I am Toni-Ann “Acka” Johnson. Love, peace and MazolaCorn Oil.
• Toni Johnson is an actress versed in the area of comedy. Email: toniann.johnson@gmail.com
