Flipping Grand Bahama

(copied with permission from Lesley Baptista on Facebook) Hard to believe it has been more than a week since our island was so terribly hit by Hurricane Matthew. Devastation. And hope. I will take the hope. I came home to this picture done by my daughter Amelia (can I get a whoop whoop for no electronics for a bit??!!).  It reminded me that in midst of total devastation, even dead, broken trees and debris everywhere, there is much love. In fact, maybe that is where the most real, true love comes from... out of loss, hurt, devastation. I am thinking it isnt really coming from my a/c house and comfort zone! (Nope, we dont have power lol). We are witnessing tremendous progress (big props to GB Power, BTC, Cable Bahamas... all the stores opening etc...) in such a short time.  I know what it is like to lose all of our material things. It is so very hard. I do, however, also know that much can come from that loss, too. Together, we will rebuild. So, for anyone still readi...

So.... Grand Bahama has seen many storms as it is in the hurricane belt, but Hurricane Matthew has been said by all to be the worst in known history. However in the bright side, after this hurricane within days we had water; before the end of the first week we had light and for some before the end of the second week we have internet. There is much to be thankful for... But I listen to a question posed to be by my significant other.... How do you pray to the one who brought the storm? And how could you be so happy that he change everything around? Well... the only way to fix some injuries is to break them again and reset. To properly "flip" a piece of furniture, a home, a business... you need to take it apart and check it out. How would you know how fast water, power, and the internet could be restored if you never tested it? If you asked for patience how could you not expect trials to test that you have all that you ask for? It has been a very int...

Thanks be to God for His mercies in sparing lives on this island during and after the storm. And thanks to the various agencies and people who got right to work. Sorry no picture of the water guys at work but they were super as well. Thanks to the people from the island and islands as well as other countries sending stuff to help. It is a grateful day and many people on my Facebook feed are very upset at the complainers. Funny i only find out about the complainers that way. Gratitude is contageous. So what are you grateful for?

So this past week we had a very bad experience that we would not soon forget but what I remember most are the words we are a resilient people and we will get through this. Here are some of the pics from the storm:

Ok, also put, "whatsoever you sow, so shall you reap."  This blog is about positive attitudes to change the way we live... in that vein listening to more of Earl Nightingale on the very topic was very refreshing. He said that looking at any neighbourhood one would be able to see the type of people that live there. The service they give to the neighbourhood reflects in the way it looks. He went further to note that richer areas always seem neat and tidy and well kept, while the yards of the persons who are unemployed seem rather unkept.. looking at the contrast those who have the time do not utilize it in their appearances. That was a hard-hitting fact, but a fact nonetheless. Today puts us another day way from Hurricane Matthew, a category 4 storm is forecast at this moment to hit Grand Bahama by Thursday. Late last week it was set to miss us and as it moves on its snail's pace, it is constantly changing direction.  It is has wrecked havoc on a number of C...

It's Monday, Oct. 3rd and we are once again facing a tropical storm which only reminds me of an economist here once talking about the different types of storms that we have faced and were expected to face. Yes, the country has taken many hits over the past 20 years in tropical storms/ hurricanes as well as financial storms and changes. Well actually, the world has had many hits as we meet reality vs a dream world of a false economy. It is easy to change all this as a "friend" said in a recent comment, in a communist country, but in a democratic country, there is a lot of people to go through for approval and then another round of talks and developments to implement. This is not to say its a bad or good thing, it is just what it is. This always gives those persons seeing visions and prospects/opportunities to get themselves together to be ready for come what may. So, what can be the upside of any storm? Well, it gives time to think that weekends don...

So back in May of this year, a comment came from a reader, Brad Ingersoll on our Facebook. His comment came to a blog on the possible closure of the Grand Lucaya. Brad Ingersoll   At one time thousands worked in Grand Bahama, at resorts, cab tours, food and beverage and such. Now the world has changed and the island needs to re invent itself and it can be done. Cuba will not help with Island tourism as crazy Americans will need to travel to a 3rd world Communist country to see what's its all about! This got me to thinking.... how would we re-invent ourselves? (That's all I took away from what he said. What about you?) What do we want to look like? A thriving metropolis? To reach a standard, we need to set a bar? Is the bar from our past?  I've had a lot of time to think about this. We have been saying over and over again that we want the good old days to come back, but what influenced those days and are they positive and acceptable and adaptable to n...