Monday, August 6, 2012

The Kids Are Alright

My mom asked her grandchildren to recreate the photo below, taken more than a decade ago during one of their St. Lucia summers. From left, the grands are 11, 7, 3, 9 and 9.


Here is the result, with the grands lined up in the same order as before and mostly mimicking the hand gestures. Their ages now, from left are 22, 18, 14, 20 and 20. They do look a little different, but not much.  Certainly the height order has shifted. You can see my mom on the right directing the shot.


The kids had a rather excellent time this week. Most are old enough to go off on their own, which they did, to the beach, to verandah bars at night, to clubs where there was salsa dancing. The youngest (in orange tank above) didn't participate in the night scene as she is still only 14. But during the day, she was fully in the mix, and the age difference between her and the older ones seems to be shrinking. My daughter took most of the photos here and my husband also took some. I mostly hung out at home with my mom. In days to come I'll probably prune the number of images, but for now, I'm having a hard time choosing my favorites, and since this is my blog, I don't have to.

















My mom lives in a very happening area of St. Lucia, with a lot of hotels and restaurants and shops and beachfronts and nightlife right there along the strip. The young people took full advantage. My son is rocking a 'fro hawk these days. Looks kind of cool.




The crew also did a full day excursion to Soufriere, the volcano that is connected to a chain of other volcanoes in other islands. In fact the archipelago of islands that forms the Eastern Caribbean was formed from the lava buildup from erupting volcanoes, with the tips of those volcanoes rising above the sea and forming the necklace of islands. Anyway, in addition to visiting the volcano, they went ziplining, they swam under a waterfall, and then soaked in the warmth of mineral hot spring pools which are supposed to heal all manner of ailments. I was back at my mom's house meeting with her banker to take over her bills, and greeting a parade of visitors who came by to tell my mom goodbye. I'm glad the crew took so many photos. I sort of feel as if I was there with them after all.





















This concludes the day's broadcast from Rodney Bay, St. Lucia, where memories for a lifetime were made.





10 comments:

  1. I loved each and every photo. What incredibly beautiful children your mother has grandmothered!
    The joy, the light, the water, the love.
    Again, thank you for sharing your life, Angella.
    I am loving you all in the small way that I can and you have given my heart something truly beautiful to hold within it.

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  2. Wonderful photos! I love the photo of your mom and her grands and the time lapse photo of the kids. Beautiful.

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  3. Those are some fabulous photos of some beautiful children.
    m.

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  4. What an amazing trip! You've just made me add St. Lucia to my "must go" list. I'm so glad you are home safe and sound and had a wonderful time. xo

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  5. Please excuse me while I go and read this beautiful post three more times. Loved every photo and word. So special and especially was amused at how little your mother's living room has changed. I love coming home to spaces that feel like I remember them.

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  6. Leave them all up! You are right, it's YOUR blog and furthermore, I LOVED seeing each and every photo! Your daughter definitely did a great job of capturing the memories. I must admit that my favorites were the one of the kids holding the same pose through time, the one of your son in the waterfall, the one of your mom and the grand babies and my very favorite, the photo of you and your son. So many beautiful moments, such extraordinarily beautiful kids and such a gorgeous place to call home. I will be back to enjoy these photos again!

    Much love and big hugs,
    Debra

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  7. Love the photos! What is going on in the 7th one from the top? How did that flip happen?

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  8. Ha! Gary asked about the same photo I was going to ask about! That is one HECK of a flip.

    I love the recreated photo at the top, and the scenery on St. Lucia looks SO amazing. I need to plan a trip!

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  9. Your family is so freaking HOT!!! Anyway what do I want to say: Your son is looking less and less like a boy and more like a man. Loving that frohawk! Your other son seems like the sweetest man ever. Your daughter is drop dead gorgeous. Gorgeous! Your nieces are all beautiful also. And I love that you get to see you in one of the pics!
    FYI, all those kids got some good sun. Love seeing the sun kissed faces.
    Happiness!

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  10. Such joy! And look at you, submitting to a photo :)

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