Endless Summer

It has been an endless summer this year, at least it feels that way. The slightly darker and slightly cooler mornings and evenings are indicating a shift in seasons. But somehow it seems the Bahamas and the entire Caribbean are relegated to only one season year round – summer.

"Global warming"? We feel it. August was long and relentless, and we look forward to relief. Relief from the suffocating heat and humidity, and from the anxiety and anticipation of a new storm spawning every other day. Our neighbours in the Caribbean have not been as fortunate, and our hearts go out to them. Life will not be the same for a long time. For us, it is still “better in the Bahamas”, but for how long? We have been very fortunate. We should be grateful, thankful, and empathetic.

We spent our August in Eleuthera, as we usually do. So wonderful to enjoy spending time with family, good food, great company, walking and swimming on stunning beaches … you almost forget the excrutiating heat. We ventured into historic Current, one of the oldest settlements in Eleuthera, on an errand to check the post and the mail boat. It is so sad to see the only food store closed, and the post office only open for an occasional hour through the week.

Looking through the corner leading to the dock where the old Current Club used to be, I was struck by the contrast of a lone dark figure sitting on the dock against the backdrop of icy blue shallow water. I had to stop to capture the image. His relaxed pose was classic, almost abstract in a sense. But it expressed to me a relaxed kind of resignation … resignation to the way things are, the scorching heat of climate change, as though “you can do nothing about it, so why do anything” kind of attitude. The one we all have to adopt when monster storms decide to take their course. All you can do is brace for the worst and hope for the best. He looks exhausted while bearing the full brunt of the sun, just as we have all felt at some point during this seemingly endless summer. Yet he is still looking at us defiantly out of the corner of his eye, and asking 'why'?