A night to remember

It was truly a night to remember.

It was the celebration of another year in the life of  the preeminent  Dr. Christine Edwards/Smith, maternal/fetal specialist in 

Coral Springs, Florida.

 

Friends and family came from all over to celebrate with her.

 

The birthday girl

Her proud mom Miss Vie, (Joan, my views: Search results for violet edwards (joan-myviews.blogspot.com) didn't miss a beat.

Ms. Violet Edwards

 Neither did her loving husband, noted attorney Everett Smith.

It was a wonderful night. Everything went well from the valet parking, the beautifully decorated venue, the hors d'oeuvre, the delicious meal, the entertainment to the spirits that flowed all night.

For me, the best thing of all was seeing so many family members whom I hadn't seen for years and meeting many others for the first time.

This will be a more wonderful Christmas, given this great start!

Memories.

                

The couple being serenaded

A.J delivered! 💓

The reason why I attended the advertised Christmas concert at the Redeeming Word Christian Center, was because the great A. J Brown was advertised as a performer!

And boy did he ever deliver!

                                        

The audience was so overwhelmed, that he had to do an immediate encore.

For the benefit of those who don't know of him, A.J. Brown is Jamaicans greatest tenor.

He started his career from the ninteen eighties as a cabaret singer at a few hotels on Jamaica's north coast. I don't know if he is properly appreciated in Jamaica, but he is so well known in classical music circles, that he spent five years performing on the famous Las Vegas strip.

About ten years ago, he released a classic C.D. with about eight great songs which had been made made famous by the three tenors, Jose Carreras, Luciano Pavarotti, and Placido Domingo. He sang in Italian, and If you closed your eyes, you would not have been able to distinguish him from any of them!

He is cooling down a bit now, as he is singing with Third World, a popular reggae/ pop band. 

While on stage with them recently however, he shocked the crowd by doing "Time to Say Goodbye"  from that album and in Italian too! 

He sang it last night and immediately elicited an encore. He obliged and I got goose bumps throughout! 

This was not a well organized affair though as it was advertised as a Christmas Concert when apparently the main purpose was to raise funds to buy sneakers for children in Jamaica who are still walking/ running barefooted in Jamaica in 2023.

 In true Jamaican bad planning style too, it started 45 minutes late😡.

It was a worthwhile fund raiser though but the main goal was in such small print at the bottom that I suspect, only the members of the church where it wasn't held knew what it was about.

Incidentally, the organizer who was introduced as Mr. Grange, said he is the brother of Jamaica's current Minister of Culture, the accomplished Olivia Gange, fondly called, Babsy.

At this concert, they also launched a go fund me  and took up contributions for a young man who was shot, while walking on the street.

These are really worthwhile projects, but not properly advertised. 

You can still donate to both by contacting  the organizers featured on the flyer above, though.

But back to the concert itself.

Consul General Mair with backup singers!

 It was held under the aegis of the Consul General of Jamaica. 

The incumbent, Oliver Mair is an outstanding thespian in his own right. 

He on several occasions last night, when we were getting a bit bored, took the stage and woke up the audience with his excellent comedy and general performance.

Consul General Oliver Mair, joins a performer on stage

Another star performer who was advertised was the once-great Pluto Shervington. I had no idea he was not well and had virtually lost his voice.   

Pluto had to sit on a stool

They played his hits in the background while he courageously attempted to recapture his luster.

My heart goes to him as he was once among the most prominent entertainers that Jamaica produced.

Listen to his monster hit, " Ram Goat Liver" here on You tube:

https://youtu.be/92etuOM3QrI?si=A1xg95W4xcadSmTn.

Incidentally, Ernie Smith, another great performer was there, but he was not asked to perform, so I suspect he may not be well either.

                                      

       The Cross family had good vibes.

Such a pity, as most as what is being produced as music in Jamaica these days, is not up to any standard!

With my friends Carol and Judy

Snippets from other performances.

An amusing skit was performed by Maxine Osborne and  her nephew Elijah.

Empress  Unique was excellent 

Political bankruptcy

 Sometimes politicians seem so overwhelmed by the problems they face that their solutions make no sense at all. 

Or maybe they just say things when they are drunk.😫.

I am not implying that Prime Minister Andrew Holness is a drunkard. Not at all, I don't even know if he drinks, but I couldn't help wondering what part of his brain conjured up the idea of establishing a new ministry in his government! 

 This he threw out at the recent JLP conference as a possible solution to the increasing violence in the country!

 When did increased bureaucracy ever solve a problem in the world Mr. Prime Minister?

 In my book, more bureaucracy only opens up other avenues for more corruption. 

Poor Auditor General. Poor Jamaica!

 Already this little country of under three million souls has some sixteen ministries plus a bag of junior ministers without portfolios operating out of the Prime Minister's office. 

Only God knows what they all do!

 At a recent function in Mobay, the highly respected Chief Justice had to reiterate a well known fact.

 Harsh punishment cannot solve crime if people are not being caught and convicted.

For if people know their chances of being caught and convicted are zero, what's the deterrent?

That's when he exposed the shocking fact that Jamaica has the LOWEST CONVICTION RATE IN THE REGION. 

LESS THAN A 30%! 

We already have large, expensive Justice and Security ministries, so shouldn't he be concentrating on  how to get the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution and the Police  within these two ministries, to become more effective, rather than piling up another bureaucracy?

If we head into 2024 with this type of bankrupt thinking, we are really in serious trouble! 

Fern Forrest Nature Center

Yup, it's true. Take my word for it.😡

Unfortunately I never knew about that until I got to the park. 

And guess what, these mosquitoes even love air conditioning, as there they were in the lady's room too!

Despite those pests, it's a lovely place, peaceful, lush with lovely walkways, rest areas and of course with all the information you need to know about the local flora and fauna.

I had hoped to see a bobcat though but alas, all I saw was these two squirrels, both of which were fast asleep. Oh well I had never seen squirrels sleeping before 😊.

And I shouldn't complain too much about the mosquitoes too much for as I strolled on the elevated walkway, I wondered if the notice above was an exaggearation for only one mosquito visited me.

Then after a peaceful stroll, I came off the boardwalk and headed to Maple Walk .

That's where they were laying in wait for us😡. 

Not just me, but everyone who looked like they wanted to go further had to make a quick retreat!

It's a lovely, nature trail in Coconut Creek, Florida though and it had a lot of visitors when I went there on Sunday.

However, take the mosquito warning seriously. And would you believe the coincidence, for as I escaped into my car, there was a program on the radio with  panelists discussion on mosquito borne diseases!😁

88 not out!

 Uncle Rudy is surely doing well and looking sharp on his birthday ❤️.

88 years strong.

With daughter Carolyn.

And boy did she put on a splash for close friends from near and far to break bread with him, so to speak😊.

It was a nice get together for a few of his friends to celebrate with a wonderful person who, is also an avid domino player.😊

And their home and entire street was ready for Christmas already, a visual joy as usual for those traversing the streets in Plantation, Florida.