Sunday, 30th May 2021 — It is an extremely quiet Sunday afternoon. The usual sights and sounds of people gathering to celebrate Anguilla Day – like beach picnics, boat races and marching bands – are diminished. In the faint distance, I hear a human voice speaking, but cannot detect the words spoken.
Even though it is officially a holiday, there are not the usual celebrations honouring our country. This quietness and fewer activities are due to the island being on pause whilst we wait for the all clear from the Government. Life as we have become accustomed to, since last year, will soon return to a kind of normalcy.
By June 7th, the last persons in the Anguilla community cluster who tested COVID-19 positive since the shutdown on April 22nd will have passed the necessary health protocols. Restrictions on island-wide movements will be fully lifted. Everyone can then roam freely, albeit wearing masks and social distancing measures still in place.
For many persons both here and across the globe, this truly is a befuddling way of daily living. The nation’s borders closed in March 2020. Then reopened a few months later. We had a period of freedom to move about. Then in late April, month of May and first week of June 2021, our day-to-day routines were significantly restricted.
It was inevitable that a day would come when this contagious virus spread amongst the local population. We are fortunate it was not sooner. Our community’s response to the ever-changing Public Health Regulations shortened the duration of sheltering at home. Hopefully, this recent lockdown experience taught us stern lessons.
Across the globe, we hear the news of pandemic cases increasing when persons refuse to wear masks, have social gatherings and do not distance themselves from one another. Do we not realise this epidemic’s seriousness, and notice what is going in other countries?
Why do some folks feel the need to break curfews and protocols just to have a little lime? Is it because we are so used to doing whatever we want without concern for how our actions impact other people’s lives?
We cannot afford to breach the laws that are meant to protect everyone’s health and prevent persons from being put at risk to be infected and spreading disease. All ‘a we must abide by them.
Perchance, had we paid attention and respected the policies that the Ministry of Health implemented to keep us safe, then we would not be in the predicament which we presently find ourselves. Gone are our days of walking around in public without wearing masks.
The freedom to do whatever we please, has totally vanished. This period of life on pause has been quite interesting. It has caused me to burrow deeper into my soul’s journey to search and reassess what has changed within myself – and how I wish to evolve further.
I have pondered and questioned so much of what I was accustomed to doing and ways of living. Spending hours in solitude has given me plenty of time for inner reflections. A few friends said they are bored being by themselves, but I enjoy being alone. Boredom is not something that I personally entertain.
There is always something to do around the house to engage my self-interests. I garden, cook, read, sleep, bathe, mend clothes, view flixs, listen to music, create coloured drawings, write, and engage in social media and telecommunications with family and friends.
Oftentimes, I look out the window observing Mother Nature’s beauty. I watch hummingbirds and bananaquits flitting amongst the white cedar tree blossoms sucking on the flowers’ nectar. Whilst standing outdoors in the laundry area waiting for the washer’s spinner to stop, my eyes gaze skyward and watch the cloud formations floating by.
Each day brings a new challenge of figuring how to keep mind, body and soul centred and balanced. When I awaken or before going to sleep, I give thanks for this life that I have. Even when I am uncertain of what tomorrow will bring, I express gratitude. Valuing everything allows me to stay connected to the Creator’s gifts.
These are a few of my thoughts on this quiet Sunday afternoon when I am enjoying a simpler lifestyle living on an island in the Caribbean Sea. Our extraordinary lives may be on pause for a while. Yet, we must embrace life’s vicissitudes.
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Kay M Ferguson is a contributing columnist who uses the nom de plume, The Empress Extraordinaire. Her words encourage us to explore who we are, evolve as human-beings and transform our world. Link with Kay at anguillawriter@gmail.com.
