I know. It’s been a while.
A lot happened and I’m sure a lot has on your end too.
But now I’m pledging to post consistently. More so because I’m working on a personal project that I look forward to sharing with my Caribbean family near and far, through blood and bond.
Let me tell you the story.
2022 was rough. I mentioned it in my last post.
One of the battles I dealt with was accepting my grandfather’s death and the circumstances surrounding it. Now I’m more relieved and happy because of the perfect peace he now has. A peace I know he wouldn’t have gotten had he still been here.
The initial stages of grief were intense. I’ll share the one moment that’s relevant to all of this. It’ll make sense in a sec, just bear with me.
If you’re from or familiar with Caribbean families, you should know WhatsApp is a thing.
If you’re not on the phone listening to your aunt talk about how to boil cassava properly, then your phone is constantly blowing up with a bunch of corny, random, poorly designed chain-posters with quotes and prayers tailored to whatever the occasion is.
I don’t think anyone knows where these things come from. Like this one.
That was the last one my grandfather forwarded to my phone on February 25th, 2022.
He died on March 19th.
One of my acts of grieving involved combing through my WhatsApp chat with him. He didn’t text. He just liked forwarding those chain messages and pictures.
I was looking to see if I could find a photo of him.
I didn’t. But I found a voice note.
And I was like “A voice note?? He didn’t know how to send voice notes.”
I played it.
It was a 9-second-long voice note of me teaching him how to make a voice note.
Ha!
I was talking and towards the end I asked him to say something.
He said, “yeah ah hear yuh” [Yeah, I hear you].
That was the last 3 seconds.
And those 3 seconds were very surreal for me. I was wrapping my head around how I was listening to a fixed voice in my life that I would never hear again.
Ever.
Just those three seconds.
While reality tightened its grip around me, hearing his voice brought peace.
But in the midst of accepting death, hearing him brought me comfort and I wanted to hear more. But I couldn’t.
I played it over and over.
3 seconds, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24 … and it never got old.
I play it up till this day.
But it got me thinking - I want to preserve the voices that mean a lot to me.
My grandmother immediately came to mind (she’s a character by herself), and she followed with thoughts of other voices I would like to preserve.
I want to share snippets of advice and elder stories told in the gallery (veranda or porch depending on which English-speaking Island you’re from) that make us laugh till we cry and shake our heads in disgust.
Then I want to share the same stories from the voices in my extended Caribbean family, those that I’ve stumbled upon later in life, but love as deeply as my own.
I’m building an archive of the voices that shaped me - the good, the bad, and the ugly.
I’m sharing their stories, their jokes, and advice.
And if you grew up surrounded with voices like these, I think you might find some value in this sentimental mission of mine.
Even if it’s simply to remind you of home.
So, this podcast/blog of bi-weekly mini stories and unapologetic Caribbean opinions, I dedicate to Dada.
I decided to call it Echoes From Home: Caribbean Memories.
Some of these won’t be factual statements, just tales and tips through the voices that are featured.
So, if one of these well-meaning souls says something that raises your eyebrow…please do your research. Also, if it’s one thing you learn from living with elders is knowing how to pick and choose your battles. Apply that principle here.
But anyway, this is me sharing Echoes From Home. I look forward to taking you on the journey of preserving these moments.
Here’s a sample of what’s in store featuring my grandmother lololol
In loving memory
Banslal Nandlal 1946 - 2022
I love this! Yo, your grandmother is hi- larious. LOL!! You definitely get a sense of perception structured by culture. God bless her! Well written, Rochella! 🙏🏽
I love this journey you have decided to take us on. As a Caribbean person myself ooh how I long the hear the voices of my elders I have kept all their letters as a way of preserving them. Your Grannie was a riot, I love her and I can’t wait to hear the reminders of who we are along the way. Good job.