Brac Briefs
An era of the finest times....onCayman Brac
Tania Drebenstedt
Property & Development Consultant
We have been celebrating a lot of 50th birthdayslately. Actually, for a few years, already amongst us best friends,a well-kept secret (sorry, Mr. Lemuel, you now belong also tothe 'over-the-hill gang'.
It was at a birthday party last week that we talked about ouryouthful years. Did you ever notice that when "us maturefolks" talk about "when we were young," how muchwe smile ? Is it because we remember happy times; the fun times?
Youth years are mostly perfect times everybody was saying at thisparticular birthday bash.
I asked a Brac'er, who also belongs to the era of 'wisdom andexperience', as I call it, what was it like to be a youngsteron Cayman Brac about 40 to 50 years ago. You know the look youget from a man if you ask such a question: An utterly blank stare.Then comes this smile again ( just like the one from the SouthSounder ) and the answer is "carefree and happy times".
Before I could ask what about the hard times, I was privilegedto be told about a time molded in traditions and very strong familyvalues; about helping to tend to the farm on top of the Bluffafter school; tending to the crops of white yams, cassava, pumpkinand bananas; and backing yams down the steep side of the Bluff.There was a pride of accomplishment, which in turn instilled thiswell-known sense of value that a Brac'er possesses.
There was great play time - volleyball games and cricket playedwith a rubber ball and a coconut tree limb. The older boys playeddominoes with the men.
Three times a week, the youngsters went to church in the evenings,where, not only did they learn about the Lord and all His creations,but were unified in song and games. It was also at the Churchthat reading was taught at a very early age, prior to startingactual classes at school.
The older teenagers enjoyed listening to radio stations from Miami.One was WINZ for international news, some sport interests andnew songs. News from Grand Cayman arrived via postal delivery,by air-mail, that is, on the Cessna DC- 3 plane.
If larger loads were transported from West End to north East Bayor Watering Place, it was taken by boat around the island, theonly solution, rowing often in heavy seas. The boys were taughttraditional skills at a very early age, after all, many of themwere already at sea at age 16. Therefore, there was precious littletime to teach about the great possibilities awaiting them outthere.
If you belonged to the small crowd that loved to dance and party,the place to be was the Old Buccaneer at the West End, where,every Saturday night, 'Eddy and the Beach Boys' played, offeringa selection of favorite songs. Still singing the new songs, formany it was a long way to cycle home.
There were only three elementary schools on Cayman Brac; ManyCayman Brac children at the time went to Jamaica to attend HighSchool. We are talking about a cultural identity, treasured memories,but most of all, a society that even to this day has a great sourceof value instilled in its youth. Their roots hold a preservedidentity.
We are all able to talk about our treasured cultures and background,impressions left stamped into our mind, emotions, courage, alltaught to us in our young years, and we all adapt to modern newtimes.
Today's youth love video games and the Inter-net, great gamesare also played on Cayman Brac. First-class education is offeredin schools on Cayman Brac; resources that make students destinedfor higher goals.
An ever-newer society, but the tribute for a one-of-a-kind resource,instilled family values, is compiled by the natural heritage ofa great people.
We have another 50-plus birthday coming up in a few days. We shallbe celebrating it at the Crows Nest Restaurant in South Sound,Grand Cayman, where we will be able to order, besides other authenticcuisine, delicious Brac dishes, secret recipes perfected overgenerations of great Brac chefs (including from all the moms backhome on the Brac).
And now, I'd like to wish a 'Happy Valentine's Day' to all myBrac family.....and to say 'Happy Birthday' to my other 'OLD'friend.