A mother spends the first two years of a child's life teaching it to walk and talk, then she spends the next 16 years telling that child to sit down and listen. Grandchildren are God's reward for not killing your own children.
Lucille was surely well rewarded by God as she spared my life - particularly after spending not 16 but the next 60 years telling me to sit down and listen - and she became a grandmother and a great grandmother. "Boy, take my stupid advice and you would not go wrong." Mind you she did not say "bad". Well, she also told me that she did not mind boys who were mischievous, but they should not be bad.
So guess what, I took her stupid advice and was very mischievous, and I think I did a very good job of it, when you consider Lucille's expert sobering and negotiating skills to get me out of countless scrapes. There was her soft yet piercing tone which resulted just as she wanted it to be.
Lucille was a very crafty organizer and could outmaneuver the best. This she proved when she was pregnant with me. She decided if it were a boy, the name would be Ian Keith, while my father had decided on Peter. At delivery, my father was not at home, so Lucille promptly registered the birth as Ian Keith. Oscar came home and upon hearing he had a son, he proclaimed him Peter. Lucille in her soft voice and with a mischievous smile told him - you're late...I already registered the birth as Ian Keith. Pleased with her accomplishment, Lucille agreed that as a compromise the boy could still be called Peter. Now you understand why I was destined to be an Organizer. She then allowed me to have my way to breast feed for nine months - yes - I had teeth and was still breast feeding......There is a Guyanese saying - "talk half and lef half."
I had a strange love for being on the road late and, according to Lucille, it was my father who was to blame. One New Year's eve - I was about eight years old, my cousins and friends were going to follow the steel band until the early hours of New Year's Day. Lucille said I was too small/ young to be on the street at midnight, but when she was dressing to go to the dance, my father peeped through the bedroom door and told me to hurry up and leave the house. It was from that day that I have walked the streets late. The amusing part was -- when my father decided to put a curfew on me, Lucille quietly reminded him that he was the one who encouraged me at age eight to walk the streets late at night - End of discussion.
Since she was a midwife, I monitored her case load very closely. Her patients' relatives would be knocking at our door at one or two o'clock in the morning. Lucille knew exactly when her patients would be ready for delivery. She would get dressed in her lily white uniform, take up her bag, and head out for another successful delivery. If it were a girl there would be a celebration, but if it was a boy there would be a very big celebration. Normally after school, I would play on the DCC ground for hours before going home, but when it was the 9th day I would get home in five minutes to attend the celebration. The same practice applied for weddings... I really enjoyed Lucille's practice, especially the 9th day and the seven curry meals at weddings.
And another of her attributes was her culinary skill, for which I am thankful for spending lots of time with her- it helped me to develop similar skills, and more importantly, a very healthy appetite.
Lucille was more than a mother. She was my confidante, best friend, and oftentimes a big sister, especially when telling me to take her stupid advice.
For me, she was tired of not having Oscar at her side - 15 long years, so she decided to reunite with him forever. Have fun until we meet. Tell Oscar that you passed his score and I am on track to beat both of you.
You were there for me when I was a child, my listener, my security hug. You're there for me these years later... still listening, still caring and giving love.... love you, Mom.