Thursday, February 26 2009 LENT

The first Thursday in Lent, the day after Ash Wednesday - its hard to believe that we are now in the season of Lent. Yesterday Jack asked me about his Lenten purple stole - what? where or should I say nowhere! Sorry dear its still in the computer room closet with your black Lenten gown. How can you think to pack Lent at Christmas? Call me addleheaded! Oh well...we'll check out a fabric store for a nice bright purple brocade or ? and I'll go ask one of the line of seamstresses at the Bourda Market next door to sew one up before Sunday.
Ash Wednesday did go okay - another hurdle after the stole was the fact that the palm trees in our yard are ~50 feet tall!! Jack needed ashes...none from last year, but, this is the land of palm trees! isn't it? Okay, problem solved - I have seven mini palms (~ 4' tall in pots scattered through my house and balcony. Another hurdle solved. There was a good congregational turn out and the story of Bob and Frank had women wiping their eyes and set them on a different path of thinking and 'Fasting'.
Idolatry- humility- jealousy- gossiping - pride - rudeness - selfishness - prejudice - bigotry... on could go the list, but maybe being humble could hit a big nail on the head. Or maybe the sweet innocence of this little girl.

Our fresh food supply is down...we sure miss broccoli, spinach, safe lettuce - but eggplant in spagetti is yummy as is bok-choy as long as washed and rinsed good - also remove lil crawly beasts before cooking. We do love pineapple, paw paw and the many different versions of bananas. I have a big craving for red snapper...must get out before the warmth of the day prohibits one from buying fresh fish from the wharf. Have I mentioned how expensive tomatoes are here?! and potatoes - they are exported in... rice, chow mein and noodles are the preferred.

Monday was ... Mashramani celebrated under the theme “One Dream, One Celebration, and One Design in 2009” it is a national festival, celebrated on the 23rd of February annually in Guyana. Liken it to Mardi Gras, the prempt to Lent.
Thousands converged on the streets of Georgetown on Monday, dressed in many colourful costumes to see this massive procession of colourful floats parading the streets of Georgetown, about 26 or more of them. Throughout the entire country there will be different activities happening. This festival is touted to be one of the biggest festivals celebrated in Guyana. Family and friends will be out having picnics, liming, partying and participating in the parades.

Masquerade, steel band music, Calypso competition, Chutney competition, Soca monarch crowning, Police band concert, massive fireworks, costume parades, mash jamboree, media jump up, children's costume parade are just a few events happening during Mash celebration 2009.

We were invited to join in on these festivities in the park with all the trimmings of Guyanese cuisine and all. We were in the stands of the Guyana Parade Park for 7+ hours under blistering sun that angled down at us at 5 p.m. until the close at 6. Jack's face (they can call him 'redskin' for sure) could have lit the way as we wended our way home through thousands of other revellers in the dark, along with our three friends, not our favourite thing but good exercise after sitting all day.

Another very interesting site to check out: http://www.tramz.com/gy/g.html

Our Lenten Blessings to all, Jack & Val