Reflections on 80.

 The thing about life is that we never know how long we will retain our memory. That is why I am so happy I started this blog about quarter  century ago and record almost everything. (Wish blogs were invented long before though.)

I was reflecting on becoming 80 which sounded so remote up to a week ago.

 But now I will soon move away from that landmark and end up where I wonder?

This is why I am saving these pics to remind me of all who helped me celeberate, from nearby Plantation and Lauderhill to distant Sebring  all in Florida. 

Last year I had big plans with friends to go on a cruise around sections of Southern Africa from Mauritius to Cape Town in 2026, to celebrate this milestone. However, my heart objected, informing me that I have to stay close my cardiologist.

So,  I will be finishing off the celebration next month with my immediate family, on a cruise in the the nearby Caribbean. (Some have school till June).

It is what it is.

To get the celebrations going, we started started in Plantation where my good friend Carolyn hosted a wonderful dominoes session.

 (https://joan-myviews.blogspot.com/2026/05/dominoes-forever.html)

Horace, Carolyn,  uncle Lesly, uncle Ruddy, Hollden at dominoes on my birthday. 

Then it was off  to lunch with my Trini friend Helena.

Not only was the Trini curry goat delicious,  but I have to thank Helena for reomtroducing me to Indian food. For you see, I was in Sri Lanka exactly a year ago, and while it was a great experience,  there they not only curry almost everything,  but the hot spices nearly killed me!🤢. 

I had never met hotter peppers in my life and thus I swore off curry.

But the Trini version was a delicious, gentle reminder that not all curry is hot and my once favorite roti, bussup shut, was most welcome.

Bussup shut.

Next we finished off the celebrations in Sebring where Camille and I drove to,  to spend the long weekend  with my lifelong, bosom friend  Sunshine and my extended family.

Thr Golden girls aka the scrabble ginigogs😁

The octogenerian.

Today (23rd) is Givannis birthday, but that makes him a Gemini, not a great Taurean😁. 

 He turns 13.

Yep it was great to get out of the city and hang around with more "family."❣️💕

Cardiff is extra special too for athough he was born an Adventist so pork has never touched his mouth, he had no problem seasoning and cooking the most delicious pork shoulder for me.😄.

Big up Cardiff.

It was so well seasoned, soft and delicious that I even had some for breakfast next day!

It's been a great 80th celebration.

On to the next big landmark.😉

Kidnapped!

 I don't think in ancient times, one could have had more privileges than those granted by the Roman Empire to its citizens. That is why the story in Acts of the Apostles about how the Centurian became afraid when he heard that St. Paul was a born Roman citizen, was significant.

Being an American citizen may not cause such fear and trembling, but it sure carries a few privileges internationally, not the least being that one does not need to have a visa to travel to numerous foreign countries. And when their citizens are abroad and encounter legal or other challenges, the American passport guarantees outstanding protection and representation from the embassies. 

So yes, I waited patiently to get a coveted American citizenship.

Problem is the creaking bureaucracy can detract from the benefits!

When I planned my trip to Southern Africa, the plan was to use my Jamaican passport since most countries in Africa do not require visas from us. Anyway, I had not yet become a citizen of that powerful country so I had no idea that my plans would be stymied by bureaucrats.

 What was I forced to learn was that the moment you become a US citizen, you must immediately get a US passport if you wish to travel outside of the country, for instantly the Green Card which you were initially issued is taken back. And since your visitors' visa to the USA which had been stamped in your native passport was cancelled when you got the Green Card, without the new passport you are stuck in the county.

So, how long does it take to get a US passport? Five to seven weeks IF YOU PAY TO HAVE IT EXPIDITED!

Unfortunately for me, I got my citizenship three weeks before I was due to take off to the motherland, so now I feel I have been kidnapped and detained by the system, as I can't leave the country until that cherished passport arrives some two weeks after I am due to depart.

Damn.

Did you know that in a ****hole country like Jamaica, you can get an expedited passport in a week?

Oh well, fortunately for me, my philosophy of life is that; Everything happens for the greater good.

So 2023, Southern Africa here I come as I wait to see what the greater good will be !