Our Callaloo of Christmas
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CALLALOO: 1.) a thick green soup made from dasheen leaves, ochroes, coconut milk, seasoned to taste. Invariably includes crab. 2.) pot-pourri; blending of unlikely elements
-- from Cote ci Cote la: Trinidad and Tobago Dictionary,
John Mendes
KNOCKABOUT is the Trinidad & Tobago equivalent of "gadabout," though there is a tinge of negative to it, especially if you are female.
Many people home here still don't approve of women wandering around alone just to look at life. I think they see it as wayward and suspicious.
One of my favorite columnists Cynthia Heimel (Vogue, Playboy) feels that people mistrust seeing a woman alone because:
"They wonder what she wants."Ha ha. Been there.
Glad about you
From this year I will refer to myself as a "Gladabout": as I am made so glad when I knockabout and get to witness my people and our places in raw, fine detail.
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| Dashboard inside a maxi taxi |
As a multi-blended person holding on to a variety of creed, philosophies, religions, I utterly dig callaloo in its second definition (and in its first, too, yum yum!).
I reaffirm this every New Year, because I believe in Wendy Pini's sentiment expressed in the wonderful Elf Quest saga:
"Differences make good sparks."So one last celebration of Trinbago mix-up Christmas 2019 as the year 2020 advances -- no doubt to be filled with all things "all-how."
Here's to the mix, the magic of WE.
Shine on
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| This lass looked so festive I had to snatch a photo. |
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| Information for the birds? Even as they rag on Christmas, they make sure the word looks pretty. |
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| Looking like rays of hope, not so. Woodford Square on Boxing Day. |
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| One of several plants I saw this Christmas that I had never seen before. |
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| The sky has no limit when it comes to showing off diversity |
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| Nothing says Caribbean Christmas like snow, reindeer and chalet houses. National Library, Port-of-Spain |
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| Discovering a recent monument: the wall of TnT Olympic medalists. Waterfront, downtown Port-of-Spain |
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| It's all about the Christmas love. ALL PHOTOS BY JHAYE-Q |
The photos here are not available for use, but if you desire free, downloadable images of Trinidad and Tobago esprit, hit the link: Jhaye-Q Trinbago Photography
