Category: Posts

I love Friday night at Pete’s. It’s the residents happy hour. I love the dynamics. If you are on the Island, Friday… Starting around 4, you head to Pete’s. One thing I have noticed…everyone here (owners) work, on their property 24/7. EXCEPT…Friday nights! It’s a time to gather together and visit. Everyone, young and old. You get to know people, form relationships. Interestingly enough…you hear things in a place this small, who did what to who, etc…but for an evening, everyone is there in close proximity, visiting! Oh, there is an unspoken pecking order, too! Mixed in with the crowd is a few boaters that may have picked up a mooring for the night, or visitors staying in Winding Bay. I have realized that I really love being alone, I guess it’s about being in control of my time and me. However, flip side is I love people too! I love getting to know people, listening and learning, why and how they ended up here. The stories of how residents ended up here could be a wonderful movie script. So I listened and laughed until about 11pm, then walked home.

Last night I found out that Nancy (oldest resident in Little Harbour) had been trying to find me… She wants to spend some time talking about some spiritual things. (I had told her I was a Christian, when she had us over for dinner) There aren’t many people on the Island for her to talk, everybody is working, or maybe they have already had their time with Nancy. Now it’s my turn….I am visiting with her this morning… How cool is that?

That’s a lie. Maybe it should say, “It’s what you do with your time that heals”. Time itself heals nothing and makes things worse. Bitterness becomes a way of life. Unforgiveness contaminates you and other relationships around you. Time helps but does not heal. It’s a momentary feeling of healing, until something reminds you of your hurt, then you explode into rage or depression.

You must acknowledge your hurt, and forgive the offender to be free. It seems sometime there are repeat offenders, usually those closest to you. Forgive them and do not judge. Remember … Do not judge others and God will not judge you, Do not condemn others and God will not condemn you, Forgive others and God will forgive you!

It’s so easy to think you have it all figured out. It’s easy to sit back and question and judge the actions of others. It’s easy to condemn people for there sins. Guess what? You have NO idea! I honestly think judgement of others is one of the greatest of sins. When you learn not to judge and condemn, it is so much easier to forgive. The only thing I have control of is the relationship between me and God. I’m not even sure I have control over my own actions at times. It is truly a good thing God is a forgiving God!

Its not time that heals, its forgiveness….Forgive and Forget!

Susan had a friend coming in to stay in Hopetown for a while, it was her 50th birthday, so I went with her to visit.  It was a very pleasant trip over, we visited Lubber’s landing and then met Amy at Cracker P’s.  Amy and several others had been conching and crawfishing.

Later in the day, we dropped our stuff off at the surf shack, which had no indoor plumbing… outdoor shower and out house.  LOL   We when to Darryl’s for dinner,  yes, fresh crawfish (check the photos) and steak.  Also, wine and good company.  We ate and visited and were still in bed by 9:00 pm.  We arose fairly early (with the sun rise) and met Amy and Bonnie at the local coffee shop, relaxed for a while then Susan and I went over to put my laundry in and visit the lighthouse (separate post).

We ate lunch with Bonnie, her son Alex, and Amy before heading to Lubbers.  The wind was kicking.  We loaded the boat with stuff that Susan and Welly had left in a house there (they lived on Lubbers before moving to Little Harbour).  The wind was picking up substantially … I knew it would be rough going back, just wasn’t sure how rough.  We put on our sweaters and rain jackets and headed out… OMG!  We were in an 18ft boat, seas were at least 20ft.  We had about 15 miles to get home and we were trying to out run the storm.  I actually thought we might capsize a couple times, when we went straight up in the air then came flying down again.  It was a bit like a fair ride, only real and not sure what to expect next. We laughed so hard on the way back, making jokes, and getting our faces full of sea water every few seconds.   Needless to say, we made it… drenched to the bone and barely before the storm hit here in Little Harbour.  Didn’t exactly kiss the ground, but thought about it, actually!

Darlin’ Do Not Fear by Brett Dennen

When I arrived in my old set of clothes I was half a world away from my home
And I was hunted by the wolves and I was heckled by the crows Darlin’ do not fear what you don’t really know

Alongside my innocence I laid in bed awake Conflicted and in chains with the impetus of age
But like a phantom she crept across the floor and out the window Darlin’ do not fear what you don’t really know

From its place on the mantle my heart was taken down Scattered in a thousand little pieces on the ground
And out below the streetlamp like an orphan with a halo Darlin’ do not fear what you don’t really know

‘Cause it won’t last – your worries will pass All your troubles they don’t stand a chance
And sometimes it takes more than a lifetime to know Darlin’ do not fear what you don’t really know

Your confidences fall, is your faith etched in stone? Neither can comfort you from the wild unknown
So bury your burning hatred like a hatchet in the snow Darlin’ do not fear what you don’t really know

If you have a broken heart or a battered soul Find something to hold on to or to let go
To help you through the hard nights like a flask filled with hope Darlin’ do not fear what you don’t really know

‘Cause it won’t last – your worries will pass All your troubles they don’t stand a chance
And it always hurts the worst when it’s the ones we love the most Darlin’ do not fear what you don’t really know

Sometimes your path is marked in the sky Sometimes you’re forced to fit in between the lines
Sometimes all that you can do is say no Darlin’ do not fear what you don’t really know

I said, when I arrived in my old set of clothes I was half a world away from my home
And I was hunted by the wolves and I was heckled by the crows Darlin’ do not fear what you don’t really know

I said, Darlin’ do not fear what you don’t really know We said, Darlin’ do not fear

I have always felt closer to God when I am at a beach…. I maybe it’s because when you look out over the water… it’s an eternity… you can’t see the end. How can something this vast, complex and beautiful… not be God made. Seriously! Think about it… I’m a biology major, so all I can think of is what is in that water… from tiny things you can’t see to the very large specimen’s I don’t wanna see. It’s a system, and intricate system. A complete different world that we rarely ever think about or are fortunate enough to view.

For that matter, we rarely ever think about the complexity of each day, period. We just wake up and sometimes hit the snooze and want the day to just go away. It’s different here… It’s something I want to hold on to forever… I welcome everyday… Look at that photo… How could I not welcome today! I think it’s about appreciation… I appreciation where I am. I appreciate that fact that I was able to pull this off, I appreciate the friends I have supporting me, I appreciate my new friends, I appreciate life and all of it’s opportunities. It’s easy here….

It’s easy because of the beauty, the “no worries” attitude, yes and the community.  Why is it so hard to have this same appreciation anywhere?  I am trying to learn that, figure the answer to that out.  At home, the stresses (we create) are overwhelming.  My attitude when hearing the alarm go off… SUCKED to say it bluntly…. NOT THAT EASY!  Why?  It’s a mindset!

The fact is, we take our days for granted, instead of appreciating them. That is one of my goals… Appreciate each and every day, because they are all filled with some kind of joy. Search for it and you will find it!  It may take all day, but who cares?  The day will pass regardless!

Starting from the beginning…Community, I believe, is why I am here!  I found this place when I was here back in September.  After spending a week in total solitude, I decided to venture in to see “Pete’s Pub”.  Scott and I had been there back in the 80’s on two different vacations, but that was from the water.  It was 10 miles down this back road to get in, but hey… I had nothing else to do.  The pub was closed for the hurricane season, Susan and Welly (the caretakers) opened it on Friday’s and Sunday’s only, to make a little extra money.  So the pub consisted of just locals, and here I come busting up in there out of nowhere.  WOW, Darlene was the first to welcome me in, then Laine, Susan and Rollie.  The rest is history.  From that point on, Laine would introduce me as, “This is Cindy… She is one of us”.   So the balance of that trip, I was there every Friday and Sunday for “Crawfish” (we call them lobster where I come from),  freshly caught each day and grilled to perfection.  SOLD!

So that is that… now that I am actually, “One of them“… it is amazing.  This community of people, who are such a mixed group.  Some are from here originally, other home owners are from the states, like Florida, Ohio, Long Island NY… the list goes on.  They are lawyers, business owners, fisherman, tennis court builders (funny), and artist/musicians.  The best thing is they help each other out, and that includes me.

I wouldn’t even be here if it wasn’t for Susan keeping in touch and trying to help me find a place to live and Laine finding me the “Love Shack“.  The first week I was here went something like this.  A friend I met at Pete’s built me some shelves for my house, so I would have somewhere to put groceries (photo below).  So in return, I helped him build a shelf for his Kayak’s.  He was heading back to the states, so he gave me all his left over groceries (they do that here).  You don’t waste anything.  Pete, Greg and Heather became sone of my new best friends.  I am crazy about Carol, the bartender at Pete’s, and no, not because she is the bartender.  If she thinks it, she says it… I love that.  She has two beautiful, well mannered children, Dillon and Eilzabeth.  I helped Laine with some computer issues, Susan comes over and uses my internet, because she doesn’t have a computer.  Welly and Susan took me fishing for my dinner…. so fun.  Gordy and Cathy, next door have a big screen TV … so I was able to watch the Saints lose!  CRAP!  I was having trouble with my solar getting enough sun and I was having to run the generator too much… Gordy, Don and Greg… all came over to check it out, at individual times and on there on accord.  It was decided I needed to get the brush removed from around the panels, imagine the solar panels needed sun…. Laine hooked me up.

Amazingly enough, I spent pretty much all day inside yesterday on my computer.  I have to find a way to make some money online.  It’s a bit easier, somehow to work here, when I look up from my computer and see the beautiful water and sky… right there!  Anyway, I was here mainly because Laine had this Haitian guy, Amos come by to clear the brush around my solar panels (my only source of power other than a small generator).  He came with nothing but a machete and his hands… OMG…. you would not believe what he did.  He worked, smiling I might add, from 7:30 am to 3:30 pm.  I was amazed!  (see before and after) I did feed him a sandwich for lunch, BTW…..BAM I now have power!

You get the picture?  Everyone helps everyone here, what a concept!