Ups and Downs

Everything we do or experience in life has its ups and downs.Of course,most of us would rather ride on the ups and forget about the downs. It doesn't work that way.


I've been thinking for a while now that I needed a new place to live. I wrote a blog post a few weeks back about some of the economic changes that are taking place on the island where I live. The large oil refinery that is the major industry here announced that they are closing down. Thousands will be out of work directly due to this, and there isn't a person on the island it won't affect in some way. Many people, especially those highly paid professionals tied to the oil industry have already bailed -heading back to the States.


Because of this I have been able to rent a three bedroom/ three bath villa with it's own swimming pool. Moving up from a two bedroom/ two bath condo with a nice large shared pool. There is no comparison. The villa is decorated to the max. It's private and luxurious. A year ago I couldn't not have imagined being able to afford something like this. Today I'm definitely moving up. I will post some pictures as soon as I actually move (around 5 March). This is an incredible UP side in my life.


Early this morning on my way into town I ran into a friend, Clayton. Clayton works at the condo complex. He is one of the landscapers. He's hardworking,friendly and has looked out for me since the day I moved in here. A few months back he was telling me about some trouble in his family. One of his older daughters (he has 9 children and they are all still at home. He works hard, with his wife, to support them.) was in a fight at school where she was knifed. Her injuries weren't serious but she was in trouble with the school and the law. Clayton was concerned and lamented about the younger generation.


This morning he was here at the condo office with his official doctor's notice excusing him from work for ten days. He just got out of the hospital. What I didn't know about Clayton was that in order to take care of his family he works another job at night. He is security at one of the fancy resorts where they also have a high end marina. This past weekend at his security job Clayton came upon a trespasser who was stealing ARE YOU READY FOR THIS coconuts. He told this guy that he had to leave and leave his coconuts behind. They guy refused, so Clayton turned his back on him to return to the guard shack and call his boss, to send the police over. The guy attacked him from behind knocking him to the ground and attacked him with a machete. He has a vicious slice down one third of his face. How he wasn't killed, I don't know. This was over COCONUTS. Definitely a down side.


I suppose as things get worse for the people of the VI, things like this will be more commonplace. That's what goes on in my neighborhood. They call it paradise.