The old guard

 Jamaica has recently lost so many of the old guard singers who have rocked the world with great reggae music, the latest being Jimmy Cliff, that it's depressing.

And seeing how shaky the great Ernie Smith looked didn't help my feelings of unease.

Steve Higgins greets Ernie Smith 

In fact seeing him needing to sit on a stool to perform, reminded me of the last time I saw the late, great Pluto Shervington. He died about 3 weeks after I saw him perform (around 2years years ago,) while also needing a stool, as he was obviously not well. (JOAN, MY VIEWS.: A.J delivered! 💓)

The good thing about Ernie though is that although he looked very shaky, his voice was still powerful, so let's hope he will be around for many more years.

This event was the annual Christmas Carol service which I look forward to. 

This turned out to be much more than just regular affair though.

Apart from the pleasant surprise of having Ernie Smith appear, the Cuban pastor from a nearby church, also visited, all dressed in Jamaican colors and did a Bob Marley number.

 Not bad at all.

The other surprise appearance was by Father Richard Holung with some members of the 'Brothers of the Poor' and they too did a number.

Father Holung also looks shaky.

Father Holung greets Ernie Smith 

Bwoy, all my contemporaries are looking shaky, so I guess I am too.

Man I hate old age😡.

Well at least our Consul General is still young!😊

He loves to perform and did a decent job as usual.

And of course there was the performance from the regular choir, the South Florida Caribbean Chorale, and the organizer, Steve Higgins.

Steve Higgins always puts on good concerts and it's now a family affair, as his young son Matthew sometimes performs, and last night he brought on another son who plays the drums.

Steve Higgins in front on keyboard and son behind on drums.

I always enjoy his productions and saw many familiar faces, as we start gearing up for the Christmas holidays.🌲⛄☃️🌰

Pretty good start of the season.

Nb. Bernie Smith was buried Saturday 16th May 2026. Link: https://joan-myviews.blogspot.com/2026/03/reggae-supreme.html?m=1.

Reflections on aging

As I believe in reincarnation, I have no great interest in too long a life this time around.

My fervent hope is that when I can no longer be independent, including driving myself around, I will quickly transition into the next life.

Not often, but occasionally, I do see some older people who are really doing well who make me rethink my messages sent to the universe. 

Many of them, very fit eighty-five and up, attend exercise classes at the Tamarac Senior Center which I frequent. I always try and seek out such persons to see if they will impart some little special secret on how to live a long, healthy life.

My latest role model did not come from via that route though.

A happy Violet Edwards trailed by her daughter Dr. Christine Edwards

Her name is Violet Edwards and like me, she is a Jamaican. But that is where the similarity ends, for this lady is 96 years old and has just graduated with her Associate Degree in Science and Liberal Arts and rumor has it that she plans to move towards getting the full Bachelors!

Only five women have ever been recorded anywhere in the world, as getting a college degree while in their nineties.

AND A JAMAICAN IS ONE!

Can you imagine still studying at age 96 and beyond? 

Thats's just so awesome!

According to my information, Ms. Edwards postponed her college studies when she was younger, to put her daughter through medical school.

That sacrifice has paid huge dividends, not only for her family also but for numerous families in Coral Springs and surrounding areas, where Dr. Edwards, a Perinatologist, has an invaluable practice.

Consul General Oliver Mair presents the plaque.

So, while the world languished and fretted over Covid and other distractions, Ms. Edwards had returned to her studies and at a ceremony in Parkland, Florida on Saturday 25^th June 2020, she was presented with a well deserved Proclamation by Oliver Mair, Jamaica’s Consul General to Miami.

Many kudos to Ms. Violet Edwards, who attended Happy Grove High School in Portland, Jamaica, the parish of her birth.

And now she is giving back to young people in her country with a scholarship.

You can tell that keeping her mind active has had an astounding effect on her body also, for what part of this lady looks 96?

If I can look as young as she does and have the brilliant mind that she must have, I won’t grumble at all if I actually live to be 100!