Growing Up Surrounded by Family
Growing up on St. Thomas meant growing up surrounded by people who loved deeply and laughed loudly. My Grandparents home sat on a hill, painted in colors that caught the Caribbean sun. The side porch held rocking chairs that creaked to the rhythm of island stories. Inside, the scent of something delicious always drifted from the kitchen.
The Backyard and the Wishing Well
Their backyard was a world of its own. A mango tree stood tall at the center, its branches stretching wide like arms ready to embrace us. The shade beneath it became our playground, our classroom, and sometimes our hiding place. We built stories there, dreamed big dreams, and created our own adventures.
In one corner sat a small stone well. We turned it into our wishing well, whispering hopes and dropping dreams inside. Whether or not those wishes came true didn’t matter much. What mattered was the magic we believed in while we made them.
The Mango Tree: Heart of Our Childhood
That mango tree saw it all. It watched cousins grow from toddlers into teens. It sheltered birthday parties, secret talks, and moments of mischief. The shade of that tree nourished more than roots—it nourished us.
When the fruit ripened, we climbed the branches, sticky with sap, and filled our shirts and pockets with mangoes. Juice dripped down our arms as we laughed, racing to see who could eat the most before getting caught.
Lessons from a Caribbean Childhood
Those days taught us lessons we still carry. We learned that joy lives in simple things—the taste of a sun-warmed mango, the smell of the salty sea nearby, and the strength of family.
Whether we were filling our bellies or finding comfort, we always left with both. And always, there was a plate wrapped in foil “for later,” because from our grandparents home, love was something you could take with you.
