MAUSICANS FO SO!

Several eased out of maxi-taxis that deposited them at the entrance to Mannette’s Ranch around 9:30 on Saturday morning. They picked their way gingerly down the steps, through the small grassy field, across the tightly-packed mud track looking for dry seats. If indeed rain indicated blessings, Mausicans were blessed continuously that day. By 10:30 am many had sore throats from screaming joyously at each other, “Oh Gawd! Ay Ay! Wey yu been?”

This crowd was no crowd of spring chickens; it was more yard fowl day in this rural Arima Village. “Where are we?” someone shouted. We still in Mausica. It was like we never left. Folks continued to do just what they did when they became “family” so many years ago. Jean Reid teamed up with Penny Gumbs, Rick and Carol hung to each other, Mennen and Althea walked and talked softly, Ulalie and Miles supported, Progues and Pat Allum hung out, Jakie, Tom, and Ben cracked jokes. Cynthia Davis and I predicted what would happen and had our brand of fun as our predictions were affirmed.

It was funny that while people familiarly hugged each other, a few could remember first names only, some remembered last names only, and others did not have a clue who they were hugging. Cynthia and I saw some sneaking at name tags, or asking openly, “Wha is yu name again?” Occasionally we heard “Oh shit, who de hell was dat?” Mausicans fo so. Some genuwine, some faked the recall until they made the recall. It was fun and fuuuunnyyy!

And so, among the shouts and laughter we ate breakfast under the tents, in the rain at Mannette’s Ranch, at Mausica, Arima. This group, though thirty to forty years older, had no less spirit than they had those first days of Mausica. Some were fatter, darker, rounder, shrunken, but Cynthia Davis and Annette Birch had to spoil it for us by having the same petite figures 40 years ago, no easy feat. Special among us was Barbara Burgess, who still had that sweet fresh face of an angel. Jacob looked GGOOOD, and Paddy was, well, Paddy!

Monday started off in a more subdued tone with a Thanksgiving Service and a memorial to students and lecturers. Honored guests, Mr Fitz Williams (Fitzy), Mrs. Daphne Cuffie (Cuffie), Mr Maundy, and Ms. (Dolly) Dorothy Edwards smiled, accepted thanks from Mausicans from 63-65, and took pictures with various groups. Some took us down memory lane, retrieved old Mausica calypso gems, and even cracked jokes at the lecturers present. The sweetest memories came from “Gellie, ah hear all yu callin’ me…”, “Tall Ting”, and Jacob’s video classic.

Everyone danced with obvious glee to Pal Joey and burned endless calories off his honey guitar and latin-Trini music. Yu know Joey ent change at all!

It was great and well worth the expense. And so we held hands in a circle of Auld Lang Syne, hugged, kissed, and parted to carry on our lives as lawyers, politicians, teachers, movie producers, entertainment specialists, world soccer officials, or just retirees with nutten to do!

By Bernice Alleyne-Stevens