Saturday mornings in the Caribbean are dedicated to the house. Dusting, cleaning, sweeping out, mopping out, washing… It’s an early morning ritual of wiping down shelves, dusting whatsitnots/knick knacks ( gingerly with the greatest care.) Why they had so many figurines is beyond me. This work was always supervised by a grandmother, or an aunty or two. They would sit and yell commands for you to clean faster and more thoroughly. They would later rise from their perches to “inspect” the work. A hawkish eye and fingers ran across a table would lead to your doing it all over again. They kept military standards!
In one house I did nothing. (Insert cheesy grin.) I was told I was too sickly to work. I had “de wheezing”. I later found out I had asthma and was indeed allergic to dust. It was proclaimed by granny that, “ I was like tissue paper, if I get wet I get sick”. So I didn’t wash dishes either. Blessed be to God forever. I stayed out of their way and they cleaned. Only music played in Granny’s house was on Radio Paradise, a gospel radio station. In the 70’s and 80’s it was only dirge-like music and Pastor Schambach. Option One: no work but no upbeat music.
In my other home. (I was raised in two.) I was older and had the task of whiping down the shelves and sweeping also mopping the living room floor. My brother was tasked with cleaning the bathroom so I was gooodddd. I gladly took my job. On a rare occasion they would open up the cabinets and have you wash all of the “wares”. These were the family’s prized possessions of plates, glasses, cups, collectibles and souvenirs. We could not even WALK next to the cabinet, without a sharp rebuke. God forbid you eased by and the cabinet shook and the contents rattled. (Que heavenly music). There was hell to pay. lol
Mother Clarke was very diplomatic about the dishes. As such we never had to tackle a pile of dishes ever. Everyone washed what they used and she tackled the pots and pans. That was house management perfection! No suet, suds nor slavery over the sink. (Que more heavenly music)
Saturday mornings were punctuated by music. Reggae music to be exact. We always cleaned to Bob and Peter and Steele pulse and much, much more. On Saturday we could revel in all the “quelbay” (that’s what Grandpa, my great grandfather called secular music.) We had a lovely stereo set up Nevis Street. One of the very best in the entire neighborhood perhaps even in the whole country. My family was well to do. We would sing, skank, and get our chores done. After we were finished it was morning cartoons and cheesy eggs. Option 2: Work crack of dawn Saturdays and good music.
In my late 20’s, I move to NYC. I lived with my dad for a bit. And here he came with the Saturday morning cleaning regiment…again. I had already had my own place since 19, went to college and had my own place again. I wasn’t willing to endure the Saturday morning drudgery anymore. So I got wise and cleaned on Friday afternoons after work. This took the winds completely out of his complaining sails. Ahhhhh now I could sleep in on Saturdays. I am NOT a morning person. I had beat the system. Somewhat. My dad would still be up early as hell playing Israel Vibrations, Bob, Denis Brown (my favorite now) and a whole plethora of other reggae artists. I enjoyed the music so much I was at peace with it. Option 3: Work prior and listen to Great Music.
Saturdays for me now is sleeping in and silence. I clean anytime I wish, during the week. It’s not ritualistic for me anymore. My music selection is very eclectic from Reggae, Bronx Drill, 90’s Grunge Rock, Soca, Sunday Morning Classics (Nina, Ella, Frank, Billie, Etta), Teen Years Teeny Bop Faves, NYC 90’s club Bangers and so on. For us island folks music is inseparable from our lives and our work. I could hear the ancestors singing and harmonizing to help their days more bearable. Sometimes stopping and taking a lil jig when it hit their souls.
So here’s a quiz.
What would you prefer?
A. Option One: no work but no upbeat music aka no quelbay.
B. Option 2: Work Saturday early mornings and good music.
C. Option 3: Work prior but still up early mornings with Great Music
D. None of the above (well you carn keep di house dutty so you HAVE to choose one.) lol
Here’s a link to my top 100 reggae favorites. This is my more modern playlist.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8HqJm2zIBOGRQAxrfrzNHNmUuU9UBPdB&si=cPC-zgn1lJPpVABk
Fuljoy!!!
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