Monday, May 22, 2006

Jamaica, May 2006: Day 5, May 22, 2006, Kingston (Norman Manley Kingston International Airport, Leaving Home)

After checking out, my mother and I tried to navigate our way to Norman Manley Kingston International Airport on her memory alone. I knew that the airport was on the coast, off of Kingston Harbour, but her directions had us heading to the mountains. We stopped for directions twice and finally found our way to a familiar stretch of road on Mountain View Road. Mountain View intersected Windward Road leading us directly to the airport. After dropping off the car, checking into our flight and going through security we did the one thing that mostly everyone does when leaving Jamaica – buy rum and Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee. I happily overloaded myself with bottles for friends and myself. Unfortunately, two bottles broke when I got home. As we boarded the plane, I finally got my chance to use a stair truck. I took full advantage of the situation waving to onlookers on the observation deck like the President boarding Air Force One.

As the plane took off, I looked back at the island growing smaller as we climbed. This was an experience I needed to have. It was unfortunate that Aunt Myrtle had to pass away in order for me to finally recognize “home” in Jamaica, but in my heart I thanked her for helping me to build the memories that made me appreciate the island this day and for the rest of my days. This was a homecoming that was to repeat itself many times in the future. I would return here soon to climb the Blue Mountains, swim in Negril, drive around the island and see all the other things I missed when I was younger. Someone said that “home is where your heart is.” In this case, my heart was with every piece of food, every grain of sand, every note of music and every smile that I experienced on this trip. Jamaica was my home and I was happy to come back to it.

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