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By: Marcia King-Gamble
www.lovemarcia.com
I’m not about Nature or Nurture this month. That actually is our theme
for the month of April, but a recent trip to Nassau Bahamas caused me to
veer off topic and write a post that got some childhood memories going.
A few weeks ago, I got off a cruise ship in Nassau, Bahamas.
Despite a torrential downpour, I ventured into town to find Nassau all decked out.
Costumed revelers, and junkanoo bands had taken over the narrow streets. The
Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, AKA Prince William and Kate were in town. The costumes
and parades usually reserved for Junkanoo (December 26th through January 01st were all out and the parties were on.
Inquisitive me wanted to know what was going on, and that’s
when I learned that William and Kate were at the Courthouse. That response made so many memories come alive.
For a young girl growing up on a British Caribbean Island - the colonies
everyone called them- this is a big deal, and life as I knew it. My island, St.
Vincent is 150 sq. miles, and it includes the lifestyles of the rich and
famous Grenadines. Fun fact, the monarchy owns a posh home in Mustique.
St. Vincent is west of Barbados and South of St. Lucia.
The Indigenous people were Caribs who named the island Hairouna – Land
of the Blessed. For many years, we were owned by the British although the French
were the first to colonize the island. Eventually, the British stepped in, capturing
the island and driving out the French. African slaves were brought in by both
parties to work the plantations and these slaves intermarried with the Caribs. Their
offspring were considered Black Caribs.
For years, Great Britain had a say in St. Vincent’s business until statehood was granted in 1969, giving the island complete control of its internal affairs. In 1979, the island became one of the last islands to gain its independence. All this to say, I totally got the hustle, bustle, pomp, and splendor, associated with royalty coming for a visit.
As a child, I remember the preparations made the moment the
news broke that Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip were coming to town. Roads that
hadn’t been repaired in years suddenly got paved. Homes and businesses in the
capital got a quick face lift, and festivities were planned ad nauseum.
I remember smothering a snicker or two, when the fortunate few invited to the balls and high teas, hoping to be noticed, trotted out their single offspring. There were no Meghan Markle or Harry couples back then, at least no interracial couples I know of that were part of the monarchy.
Back to my participation in these festivities, it was
expected that grade school kids and some junior high students would perform for
whichever Royal was in town. We were expected to folk dance, and we
learned how to curtsey and perfect the royal wave. This meant mothers
stayed up until the wee hours sewing costumes. Here is an example of what one
might look like.
Anyway, despite the pouring rain I was down for exploring and reawakening memories that even today I hold sacred. Do you know how much effort it takes to learn to deep curtsey or perfect a royal wave? It takes years of practice, but some things do stay with you. Even after all these years, I’ll be ready for an unexpected royal visit, and who knows, maybe I’ll be added to the invitation list and rub elbows with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex (Harry and Meghan) should they visit.
About Marcia King-Gamble
USA bestselling romance writer,
Marcia King-Gamble originally hails from a sunny Caribbean Island where the sky
and ocean are the same mesmerizing shade of blue. This former travel industry
executive has spent most of life in the United States. A National Bestselling
author, Marcia has penned over 34 books and 8 novellas. She has contributed to
Michael Fiore’s DigitalRomanceInc and served as a moderator on the now defunct eHarmony
advice boards. Having witnessed the bad, the ugly, and the not so good in
relationships, she still prefers to write about happily ever after. Caring for her
animal family keeps her grounded and sane.
Visit Marcia at www.lovemarcia.com
or “friend” her on Facebook: http://bit.ly/1MlnrIS
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8 comments:
Marcia,
Thanks for sharing your memories. I have never been to the Bahamas, so the pictures of the costumes were amazing.
The Bahamas is a popular cruise destination. Perhaps one day, Diana. My rain poncho did not make for high fashion that day. lol
Thank you Marcia for sharing your memories, especially the pictures from another world. I'm looking out on 2+ inches of snow! Now that tourist season is starting in full, my hometown has taken the cleaning up of trash and moving campers off the main roads so I can fully appreciate the island 'parents' fixing roads, etc. in anticipation of the royal visit or maybe it's The Royal Visit?
What incredible, and colorful, memories. Wonderful to be there at the same time, both as a child and now. As an adult at a conference in Chicago many years ago, I stepped out of my hotel to see a parade of limousines. I learned it was William and Kate. So, although I didn't get to see them, I did see the cars and a hand waving from a tinted window.
Thanks for the memories and history lesson. So many of us think of the islands as vacation stops, and don't know the stories behind the beautiful views.
Hi Judith,
So good to hear from you. You live in such a beautiful part of the world. Hopefully, tourists season doesn't bring with it messy tourists.
Deb N
It's amazing what one takes for granted as a child. It wasn't uncommon to have some celebrity or royal found playing chess with a Rastafarian, especially on one of the Grenadine Islands. Most of the time the Rastafarian had no idea whom he was playing with. Chess the great leveler of society.
Hi Lynn,
Lots of stories and history, behind those blue waters and volcanic peaks.
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