Simply Life

“Blanco. Blanco.” I hear far below the street that hugs the cliffs.

“Bon soir. Comment y est?” I say to the women that have called out.

And with voices of laughter the reply reaches me. “Pas plus mal. Et vous?”

A little beyond, a face stares darkly at me. “Bon soir” I say. And what unfolds is a brilliant sparkling smile, lighted eyes and “Ah, bon soir cherie (with alacrity). Ca va?”

Cap Haitien is on the North coast of Haiti. To the west, the city is tucked into a mountain side. To the east a river delta levels the wide valley and another range of mountains rests in the distance. We were staying at a guesthouse, run by nuns, that was perched on a steep bank right over the ocean.

Growing up in land locked Calgary, I now never tire of looking out over the ocean. Or of watching the wooden fishing boats (that reminded the romantic in me of 18^th century pirate boats) row out in the wee morning hours and sail back in on the evening breeze.

It is early, 5 am, and the road below is full of younger and older out running before the heat of the day. There is a group just outside the gate of The Sisters grunting through their routine of push ups and sit ups on the cobbled driveway. The dogs that have been up all night are finally quiet, just in time for the cocks to start crowing.

The garbage, the pollution, the rotting garbage filling the waterways that lead directly into the ocean could fill my attention, but that is where too much Blanco focus already lies. My gaze glazes over those scenes and refocuses on the little treasures of assurance that life’s simple pleasures are abundant even with the challenges that face this nation.

Instead it is the flowers that catch my eye as their radiance stands out against the dusty roads.

The chicks that tweek, tweek around the feet of their mother hen, the young goats at play make me stop in my tracks.

Joie de vivre emanates from them. They are fiercely independent and are emotionally engaging. They love sport, laughing, teasing and telling joke after joke.

Their genuine nature is refreshing.

It's the essence of the place that infuses itself in me. The simplicity contrasting the chaos. The beauty contrasting the filth. Their open welcome that contrasts the fight in them.

Life is more apparent with the contrasts. It is raw, simple and right in your face.

It is simply life.