Jamaicans have their own way of making things that seem "highfalootin" abroad, seem rather simple at home. For instance, after migrating to the States, my Granny and I decided to become fit together, although some may call it aerobics, back home we call it plain old keeping fit or excercising our muscles. Granny had been watching the American soap operas for a long time before she started really believing the story lines, it got to a point where she became so irritated with the actors on the Soaps, for not acting out the plots the way she wanted them to. That is when we both decided since it was summer time and the weather was cooperative, we would start taking daily excercise by taking strolls around the neighborhood. The daily strolls seemed to take her mind off the "flippin" soap operas and we were making the best of the lovely weather.

There was one day that still lingers in my mind. I guess because each time I recall that day, I seem to burst into laughter. At the time it really wasn't funny, but as they say, time can put things into perspective. This particular day, we were just walking for a very long time, she stopped on occasion to visit with people in the neighborhood and then we would continue our excecises. At about two miles into the walk, I realized I had to tie my shoe laces, so I bent to lace them and when I looked up there was no Granny. I kept walking and calling out for her but she seemed to have disappeared. I knocked on a few neighbors doors, everyone smiled and said she was there but then took off in a linear direction. I was horrified, nothing like this had ever happened before and I was even more upset because I didn't know how to tell my folks I lost Granny a few blocks away. I kept looking until exhaustion had overwhelmed me, then finally I conceded and went home, ready to hear all the reasons why Granny should not be left alone.

After several hours and dusk was beginning to set, I travelled back home. All the while thinking of an elaborate excuse to explain Grannys' disappearance, there was none that I could think of. I arrived home and bravely told everyone the news. At this point, I was too exhausted for words, so I sat and listened to the lecture that was immediately given to me. My family and I called all over the town looking for her and notified the proper authorities. It wasn't twenty minutes after my arrival that a car pulled up at the gate. We looked out the window inquiringly and who did we see get out of the car? Granny and five nuns. We all looked at each other, happy but very perplexed. The doorbell rang and there was Gran smiling from cheek to cheek. "Praise God!" she says, "I found these wonderful church sisters that understand the word of God and we had a marvelous time." One of the nuns replied by saying, "She walked a few towns away and we saw her by the church asking for directions home."

I was so relieved that she was o.k. I thanked the nuns by inviting them for dinner. We all had a very delightful time. After dinner was over, we said farewell to the nuns and then closed the door. We all said to her "Did you know how many miles away you were?" She replied, "Just down the road, remember I come from Jamaica. You young people are too feeble and wimpy." We all looked at each other and laughed. Needless to say after this situation, I introduced Granny to the modern times and she learned to use the treadmill.