Stories of my Jamaican Granny and I in Jamaica Granny and I en xaviermurphy@yahoo.com <a href="http://www.globalmoxie.com/">Big Medium Web Content Manager v1.3.7a</a> http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://www.jamaicans.com/culture/mygranny/index.shtml <span class="caption">© Copyright 1995 - 2008. All rights reserved. <a href="http://www.jamaicans.com/about/privacy.shtml"class="caption">Privacy Policy</a> & <a href="http://www.jamaicans.com/about/privacy.shtml" class="caption">Terms of use</a>.</span><br><a href="http://www.billygraham.org/believe/stepsToPeace.asp" target="_new"><img src="http://www.jamaicans.com/images/fish.gif" border="0"></a> Mon, 01 Jun 2008 05:44:00 GMT As all my readers may know my Granny was a force to contend with. She didn’t take any nonsense from anyone, and raised her children and grandchildren to be solid citizens, encouraging them to always remain stalworth in their deeds and actions. Granny would tell me stories of times when merchants tried to overcharge her for goods and services, how she would go to their Business establishment and camp out for several hours until they decided to treat her fairly. Mon, 01 Jun 2008 05:44:00 GMT http://www.jamaicans.com/culture/mygranny/specialgrannystory.shtml http://www.jamaicans.com/culture/mygranny/specialgrannystory.shtml How many people can remember the first time they learned to read? I remember it, as if it were yesterday. In Jamaica, most parents felt that reading was the gateway to achieving your goals and dreams. If you think about it, every subject in school is based on reading and comprehension. Fri, 01 May 2008 03:54:00 GMT http://www.jamaicans.com/culture/mygranny/reading-with-granny.shtml http://www.jamaicans.com/culture/mygranny/reading-with-granny.shtml There were not too many life events that could have left my Grandmother stricken with grief, however, when my cousin Junior died, not even God could have consoled my Granny adequately. My Grandmother did not have favorites when it came to her grandchildren, but she loved each one with a special love according to their level of mischievousness. Wed, 01 Apr 2008 04:52:00 GMT http://www.jamaicans.com/culture/mygranny/my-grannys-lamentation-gr.shtml http://www.jamaicans.com/culture/mygranny/my-grannys-lamentation-gr.shtml When I was born, my parents told me I came into the world with a red bindi on my forehead. It seemed like a nice tale at the time, however it was not until I was an adult that I truly understood the omen of my birth. Sun, 01 Mar 2008 05:45:00 GMT http://www.jamaicans.com/culture/mygranny/granny-gheeta-mittani-you.shtml http://www.jamaicans.com/culture/mygranny/granny-gheeta-mittani-you.shtml Although, Jamaican Grandmothers are notorious for being involved in their Grandchildrens’ lives beyond the call of duty. My Granny was no exception to the rule, she was always filled with advice and seemed to have a natural ability to decipher what you were feeling or thinking. Whenever I felt ambivalent about confiding in anyone, my Granny was always my choice for a conversationalist because she never judged. Sat, 01 Feb 2008 02:54:00 GMT http://www.jamaicans.com/culture/mygranny/never-too-old-for-granny.shtml http://www.jamaicans.com/culture/mygranny/never-too-old-for-granny.shtml My Granny was blessed to have experienced the love and caring of three sisters. Because my Grandmother was the youngest, her sisters felt it necessary to enlighten her and shelter her from life’s maladies. Granny and I often spoke at length about the relationship she had with her sisters. I always found her tales filled with humour and a good dose of mischief. Wed, 01 Jan 2008 02:17:00 GMT http://www.jamaicans.com/culture/mygranny/grannyhersisterstales.shtml http://www.jamaicans.com/culture/mygranny/grannyhersisterstales.shtml Jamaican culture emphasizes three square meals a day, however, there is no meal that takes the spotlight like a Jamaican Breakfast. Whether you’re having callaloo, bacon and saltfish, ackee and bammy. Jamaicans look forward to their breakfast in the mornings, especially on a Saturday and Sunday morning. Sun, 01 Dec 2007 18:42:00 GMT http://www.jamaicans.com/culture/mygranny/grannymethebreakfast.shtml http://www.jamaicans.com/culture/mygranny/grannymethebreakfast.shtml In Jamaica, if you told someone you were going to Camp, they would ask you if you meant “Up Park Camp” which is a well known military base and detention center. While in America, their youth are always anxiously waiting for the days of summer to begin, so they can gladly scamper off to the independence of Camp. Tue, 01 Oct 2007 03:41:00 GMT http://www.jamaicans.com/culture/mygranny/grannyicampsurvival.shtml http://www.jamaicans.com/culture/mygranny/grannyicampsurvival.shtml People may say that dead men tell no tales, but I beg to differ. As many Jamaicans may know, their deceased relatives never really just go away into the “Great Blue Yonder”. They are always around us, helping us mind our business. Sun, 01 Sep 2007 05:51:00 GMT http://www.jamaicans.com/culture/mygranny/grannyithedeadgrannie.shtml http://www.jamaicans.com/culture/mygranny/grannyithedeadgrannie.shtml common ailments I heard Jamaicans speak of, is their "pressure", diabetes and stroke. Granny was always hearing about someone who died from a stroke, had a stroke or thought they were having a stroke. It seemed to be the number one killer of people in Jamaica at that time. Thu, 01 Aug 2007 01:23:00 GMT http://www.jamaicans.com/culture/mygranny/grannyslittleencycloped.shtml http://www.jamaicans.com/culture/mygranny/grannyslittleencycloped.shtml Anyone who lived in Jamaica in the early seventies remembered this endearing commercial, "Lawd, mi feel peckish, mek me go have some bread and butter nuh." This commercial was probably a spoof on Jamaicans, who are usually declaring , "I could eat something nice." Mon, 01 Jul 2007 05:29:00 GMT http://www.jamaicans.com/culture/mygranny/grannyitalkaboutfood.shtml http://www.jamaicans.com/culture/mygranny/grannyitalkaboutfood.shtml As most parents would know, children are famous for bringing home all sorts of unidentifiable objects. This is why it is so important for parents to remain on task, scrutinizing their children's belongings when they come home from school every evening. Sat, 01 Jun 2007 02:09:00 GMT http://www.jamaicans.com/culture/mygranny/grannyistorykidsthing.shtml http://www.jamaicans.com/culture/mygranny/grannyistorykidsthing.shtml I don't think there is a grandmother alive who doesn't worry about her grandchildren...... just that, as grandmothers they have that special ability to foresee certain frailties in their grandchildren and that is the main ingredient in most grandchild-grandparent relationships. Sat, 04 May 2007 23:57:00 GMT http://www.jamaicans.com/culture/mygranny/apecialgrannystory.shtml http://www.jamaicans.com/culture/mygranny/apecialgrannystory.shtml When most foreigners think of the Caribbean they think of the natives being merry and dancing to the exotic sounds of steel drums playing calypso music. As Granny would say, "Jamaicans are jolly people and they love to have a good time." This is quite true, Jamaicans can certainly appreciate a splendid time. An evening with close friends, fine Jamaican cuisine and some reggae or calypso music, mek everyting irie! Fri, 05 Apr 2007 02:01:00 GMT http://www.jamaicans.com/culture/mygranny/grannyremembersunclewh.shtml http://www.jamaicans.com/culture/mygranny/grannyremembersunclewh.shtml People from the Caribbean are always talking about their dreams. Not necessarily their long term goals, but the nocturnal productions that happen in their minds when they go to bed at night. Anyone who is of West Indian descent can relate to the dining room discussions of dreams, their interpretations and significance. My granny and I were always sharing weird dream stories. Wed, 27 Mar 2007 17:39:00 GMT http://www.jamaicans.com/culture/mygranny/grannythedreamofroyal.shtml http://www.jamaicans.com/culture/mygranny/grannythedreamofroyal.shtml