hypocritepoet

Island Musings

10/22/22 Riding down Long Island Bahama with the Jordan’s was an awkward affair. They were kind people, but just not terribly social. 20m without a word was, quite frankly, a social faux pas of the highest magnitude back home. But Miguel and Angelina were content to have a free ride to the days work nonetheless.

It was on one of these 40m long endeavors that sparked the big idea. That idea of course was The Secret Garden of Ferris Wheels and Cotton Candy.

On Long Island, there is a single artery of asphalt that runs the 5000 mile length (at least it FEELS that long) of the island. This very long road is both where everyone lives, the lane of commerce and how one gets from one pristine, isolated beach to the next. For the most part, this road (certainly not a highway in the American sense) is ensconced by a 20’ high wall of foliage. This wall, one might surmise, is most certainly hiding something amazing. I put forth that the most likely answers is a miles-long carnival running along the beaches on either side of the island. The skies were right with pink cotton Candy and lemon taffy!

Each night 100s if children are whisked away in their dreams to frolic in the clear blue waters, eat fair treats and ride free rides until they just can’t stand it. Then, they awake strangely refreshed, with a renewed energy and only a vague sensation that they experienced something wonderful. And maybe just a little sand between their toes.

Long Island BHamas 10/1/22 – 10/25/22 Gabe Nolette Sara Nolette John Heaster Anna Heaster Caleb Carpenter Maddie Carpenter Robbie Jordan Nikkei Jordan Blair Wilson – Killed Nov2022 Misty Wilson – Killed Nov2022 Brennon Toadd Mark Shannon Angie McClain Michael McClain

This was our team a strange assembly of personalities from the very outgoing, to the direly serious and down right awkward. I’m not sure where I fit into this band of misfits, but I like to imagine myself as both a buoyant voice and smile as well as the introspective observer. The fellow who remembers it all as it truly was while enhancing the experience for all involved. 😂

On thing to note was the atrocious road joining the highway to the KH. Only a half-mile long, but carved from a Jurassic forest, it was unforgiving on the delicate suspension of even the hardiest modern vehicle.

Each day, we would arrive at 7:50. Sara climbs out of the van and trudges over to unlock the cable blocking entrance to our project. After a quick removal, our tiny squeaky chariot out begins is labored climb up the very steep hill. The car is a tiny Toyota with barely enough power to pull itself and our nearly-1000 lbs up the side of Mt Zion.

Then the red tape. We arrive this morning, after a wet and stormy night. We all laugh heartily as we see our roll of red ‘do not enter’ caution tape has come unfurled on the railing and manages to self-wrap a modestly sized palm tree. It is immediately lionized as a great work of art and everyone laments our inability to recreate this scenario at next years Art Basil in Miami where it would not doubt steal the show as did Maurizio Cattelan did a few years ago with ‘Titled Comedian’ (banana taped to a wall).

It’s a glorious way to begin the day in any case.

We are driving to the airport to collect a few new volunteers. Sara gets an Adele song stuck in her head. Not the whole song, just a snippet. It’s grinding away in her brain as she drives all that way from the build site to Greektown and back. A ride of a few hours. Nothing she does can get it out. She comments that her brother's ear worm is 'We Built This City' by Starship.

We supped tonight at the marina lighthouse in Long Island Bahamas. Next to us sits a VERY large woman wearing far to little clothing. On full display is the history of a battle between a mariner and a whale tattooed from her left breast up and over the shoulder and down her back where one assumes the fight concludes beneath her halter top. The artistry is well-done but I question the veracity of the tale.