August 15, 2011

Oh my gosh!!!!!!
It is mid afternoon as I shake the cob webs from my "lockless" head......I am reminded of how my I miss my locks......when I travel with Conrad. We ventured to the borough of Tottenham....yes...the place where all the recent upheaval began. His good friend Franca, a local BBC employee ( I think) and his friend from the island, invited us to the a "Back in da Day" fete she is hosting. As we ride the tube to our destination......mind you I had dropped my phone and the SIM card was not working and could not call to say I was on my way, suffice to say, meeting up with conrad at the Euston train station was a bit overwhelming...but hey....how can you miss a partially bald headed black man with a keen sense of fashion and 2 feet locks extending from the nape of his head.....once we connected and chatted over a coffee, we began our nativigation to the unknown world of Tottenham.....oooohhhhhh the suspense was building.....heheheh....no really.......it was really not that deep.....we arrived at the tottenham hale station to take the connecting overhead train to a few stops to the neighbor of the party. With trusty iphone gps at the ready we stride with confidence, cause yeah know we's in da hood now!.....and clearly that was played out as we walked past our intended destination, following the music of a 'carribbean' sort all to end up at the WRONG house party......a party in full swing off the beaten path, a party with outdoor grills, music, garage doors open, fold out chairs, babies running around in diapers, gold teeth smiling Negros looking quite curious as to who da heck are we. yah know we were dressed right?....and so conspicious.......OMG.....after a few inquiries as to the where abouts of Frana, Conrad made the realization that we were NOT at the right place......spinning on our heels with a quickness and deliberate exit....we punched up outta there.......now phoning Franca to be told that we were on the block past her block....whew!!!!!!!!...that was funny!!!!!!!.....i am silly giggling about it....
So, now we are climbing the stairs to the flat hosting the Back in da Day party. We are greeting warmly, and in the only way trinis do....whin up on ya!... they swirl their bottoms/pelvic region rhythmically against you and or anything they can whenever they can as a greeting.....it is quite the scene when one becomes comfortable and receives the invitation to whin, only given by the female.... if accepted.....she proceeds to move/whin with her rear or front approaching your front pelvis region....( this can also be done back to back, front to front, front to wall, back to wall, car bumper to back....the list goes on....)-thus inviting you to join the dance......eye contact is made and a silent agreement reached....the music is intoxicating and the beat alive.....you have nothing else to do but move to the beat of the drum....while holding your drink in your hand.....you whin and smile all along knowing that although the image is sexual, it is not always intended as such....it is the trinidadian way of greeting you and making contact.....( for all those trinis reading....please correct me if I have made an error in this explaination.)

Drink is plenty, food is fantastically abundant, including the traditional fete fare of the island...corn soup and pilau complete with homemade pepper sauce....( which kicked my ass!!!!)...as the belly becomes full, the spirit high, the laughter contagious....the party is in full swing....the door opens and another wave of distinctive tongue invades the space, allowing for necks to swivel to see who has 'reached' the party......the small balcony become crowded with the cool breeze seekers looking for fag break......the music is a combination of late 70's and 80's favorites from the Caribbean and R&B.....Cameo, Dougie Fresh.......LL Cool Jay.....Stevie Wonder and a few one hit wonders just to name a few......we partied baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! till 5 o'clock in the morning......YES.......I am serious........it was absolutely grand.......to feel such inclusion and acceptance....to see that the community of Tottenham full of people just like you and me.....tryin to stay alive and party......party in the sense that we all must remember to share and live within the village....knowing that our common expression as a group will reflect who we are, comfort us when needed and provide the space for us to be!