Caribbean Memories

The warm spring breeze that blew me home from the Upper West Side just now reminded me of the Caribbean. It’s not so much that I don’t relish being right here, right now, present tense in New York City. It’s just that it sent my senses reeling…

Bermuda, 1985: Scooters, cliff-diving, and caving. Snorkeling, Man-o-Wars, and baracuda…

Mexico, 1988: Cold Corona from the honor system ice box. Moonlit hot tub. Bonfires on the beach. U2’s “One Tree Hill” on the stereo in my mind…

Belize, 1991: Way out on a dock in the clear, green sea. Nightswimming. Belikin beer. My brother and me. Strong local cigarettes. New Southern friends, the Southern Cross, and shooting stars…

Bahamas, 1993: Stormy seas. Crashing the boat into the pier. Fishing from the patio. Fresh squeezed oranges and Absolut. The sound of waves through the screen door. The leaving…

British Virgin Islands, 1995: Dancing to bar band Calypso. Drinking at noon. Diving for the anchor through dusk waters. Sleeping on the deck. The blanket of stars…

Aruba, 1998: Guitars at sunset. Elvis ‘n me. The Coastal All Stars. The losing end of slots; the winning end of free drinks. Soaring underwater, breathing….

Turks & Caicos, 2000: Sailing alone. Reading with my toes in the sand. Chocolate bread. Champagne. And ping pong….

… And everywhere: the wind. The warm, steady, promising wind.

It’s not so much that I don’t relish being right here, right now, present tense in New York City. It’s just that I remember, now, again, what the first kiss of summer feels like.

I remember everything.