Re: Reunion 2007
2007-Aug-27-1843hrs
Hello Errol,
As usual. It was a pleasure seeing you and the Canadian Posee Congrats on your award. Keep up the good work. Attached is the piece dat partially captures the essence of my experience. Have a good evening.
Rodney Foster
REMEMBER WHEN?
On Sunday July 22nd, we stood in the sweltering heat in Port of Spain to begin a journey of discovery. Voluntarily, we set out on a new adventure filled with hope and excitement. No one knew exactly what experiences lay ahead. As the perspiration streamed down my back and my bald head My thoughts travelled way, way, way back in time to the North Western shores of Mother Africa Where millions of our ancestors were enslaved and sent on a journey across the Middle Passage. There was no Anna Maria Mora to bring them bottles of cool water to quench their thirst. Friends, we are the descendants of those people. Those who survived. They were the strongest. That makes us very special people. Therefore, tonight we must invoke their presence and say thanks. We must stand proud on their shoulders and move on. We must acknowledge the presence of the God that was a constant factor in the lives of our ancestors. Mausicans, friends, tonight we will sing praises and dance to honor the God who blesses us in all circumstances. Tonight, we will fall in love again. Tonight, we will celebrate love and friendship. It may be demonstrated through a warm embrace, a knowing smile, ah lil sweet eye or a bone-crushing, soul brother, ah Scratchie special, or soul sister bear hug that says, “I love you my brother. I love you my sister.”
Mausicans, let’s reminisce for a moment. Do you remember the pomp and glamour of a formal dinner? “Like the one when “de pudding tumble down while de Joe was speaking”. Tonight, we will thank Dr Eric Williams and his PNM Government, Harry Joseph and his dedicated faculty and staff for creating Mausica Teachers’ College in 1963. Thank you, Linda Edwards-Romain, Cliff Bertrand and Roland Maundy for your presence and contributions to molding the lives of your grateful students. We love you. By de way, do you remember what renting a tile means? Yes man, those were the days when de fellas abdominals were flat and hard and rippled like dem jooking board in Cecile’s Heritage Museum. De girls and dem were firm and upright. Tut-tuts jooking out yuh eye. Age, child-rearing and gravity were distant natural disasters. Oh Boy, what a time we had at our beloved Mausica.
Do you remember what a Wife Tune was? Yes! Yes! Dat was a significant tune. Yuh had tuh dance dat tune wit Numero Uno Mankind would make a beeline fuh dey sweetheart And dey would rent ah tile in HMJ Hall. Hearts would beat in unison. Breathing was synchronized. Avon, Chenel #5 and Este Lauder would blend with English Leather Old Spice and Brut Faberge. It was sweet and enchanting as we moved ever so slowly like swans on a moonlit lake to the wife tune of the day. Aye, D J, put on ah Wife Tune, dey. Yes, Alisford. Dat is tune. Dat is de dam ting self. Rev. Al Green “For the Good Times”. Allyuh, give de D J a rounds of applause. Alis is de best, de baddest. Yes my friends, thanks for these unforgettable four days and their lessons. Thanks, Happy, for the lesson on kissing. Now I know that all parts of the human anatomy deserve kissing. Not only the lips. Eastlyn, thanks for explaining the origins of the Bongo Dance and the significance of the sheet. Gyul, dis morning ah went out and buy a King Size sheet for meh Queen Size bed. From now on ah taking orf de lights and operating under cover.
Thank you, God, for this rewarding and memorable reunion. Thank you, God, for our many gifts and talents. Thanks for your consistent companionship. Long Live Mausica. Mausicans tuh de bone. Help us Lord to continue to mold a nation through service.
Thank you.
Rodney Foster
Reunion 2007.
