The Best Beach Day Ever

The best beach day ever. Anne Marie decided it was time again to take a trip to the beach - with everyone from the hospital, and my going away was a great excuse to finally do it. It was a production to say the least, quite the big deal. It was the talk of the town (hospital) for the two weeks leading up to it. The beach, the beach, we're all going to the beach! It was going to be great. To see everyone, who had been so weak and sick when they came to us, in a new element was going to be the best reward of all. Madam Jal got food and preparations in advance to be able to prepare a big meal at the beach for everyone. This included a goat, several massive (I mean massive) pots of rice and beans all cooked over three rocks and firewood. And so Friday morning, after everyone had their pills and their shots, we all got into two tap taps and Rob's car. Um...this would be 73 bodies...I did the math. And oh, holy man, they were excited. Singing and shouting the whole way. My tap tap was a little quieter, but they caught on soon enough.

To see their faces, to know that this was the first time many of them had ever been to LaBay, to the beach (since many live in poor areas high up in the mountains), to be together with everyone, and everyone treated the same, to be almost drown by all the kids hanging onto us in the water, to see everyone have a day off, cover themselves with sand, "bathe" in the ocean, and eat a big Haitian meal...was beyond awesome...beyond words.

oh yeah and to ride back on top of the cab of the tap tap was so worth it (don't tell my dad about that one).