I began my love affair with water from a very tender age. At the age of three I went to reside with my grand mother in Bath, St Thomas, Jamaica, West Indies.
Back then we did not have running water or city water in our homes. We received water from rain or from the river. I remember when my cousins and I used to go down to the river to fetch water for drinking and cooking. Drinking water was stored in an earthen pitcher. This kept the water very cool and refreshing. We washed out clothes in the river and also took a bath there or in a big silver tub.
Another way we received water was from the rain. At the corner of our home we placed large drums that caught the water when it rained. In some homes, tanks were built to catch this water that poured down from the zinc roof. This was the fun part. I think my romance with water began here. I love the feel of cool water pouring down from the top of my head to the soles of my feet. When it rained, I used to put on my bath suit and stand at the end of the roof where the water poured down. I jumped. I laughed. I sang as the water poured down. My body felt good. I felt clean as the water washed over me. It felt so good I did not want it to stop. I loved the smell of the rain and the taste of the rain water. It had a very light taste. I now describe this experience as my 'Out door Shower."
Washing day was always a delight for me. I jumped for joy when my older cousins, and my aunt would announce that today would be wash day. Was day meant that we would travel for a mile and a half to the Bath Fountain. Bath Fountain is located in St Thomas, Jamaica.
Bath Fountain is a tourist attraction. People from around the world travel there for excursions, retreats, honey moon etc. It is a historical place located at the foothills of the John Crow Mountains.
This fountain is known for its healing properties. As a child I was told that the baths were discovered in the 17th century by a runaway slave suffering from ulcers in his legs. He stumbled upon the springs and washed his wounded limbs in the water. The next day he noticed that his legs began to heal rapidly. The news of this healing fountain spread quickly and soon the spring was named "The Bath Of St Thomas the Apostle." Visitors from everywhere have since been attracted to this fountain.
My love for water grew deeper as I grew older. My entire body loves water. My eyes, my ears, my mouth, my skin. I love to watch different bodies of waters. I had my first real experience with water falls when I was 18 years old. I was a student in college when several of my college mates decided to spend a week end at the Dunns River fall located in Och Rios St Ann's Bay. Dunns River Fall is a famous tourist attraction. People from all over the world visit there to enjoy the cascading water and I was no exception. I love all water falls. I love to look at man made water falls as well as natural ones. While a student at The University Of Miami, located in Miami Florida, I used to sit by the water falls located at the entrance of the college and watched the water as it spurted way up into the air. Ocean water fascinated me also. I love to watch the ebb and flow of the waves on Seven Miles Beach while living in the Cayman islands.
I love the still water of lakes. I love to sit by and watch the glassy water as and it rests peacefully. As the water lies still so did my spirit. This reminded me of the Psalmist David who wrote, : He leadeth me beside the still waters". " He restoreth my soul".
Dunns River Fall
As a child I loved to listen to the pit, pit, patter of the raindrops as they hit on the zinc roof of my grandmother's home in Bath St Thomas. They sounded like sweet music to my ears. I would get in bed, went under the cover and lay still while the rained poured down.
Often I would fall asleep and woke after the rain stopped. The sound of the ocean intrigued me also. As the wave dashed against the hard rocks by the sea at Galina, St Mary, where I lived also as a child after joining my mom and my other siblings. I was about 7 years old.
My mom and us would go to the sea to pick wilks to cook. Wilks are sea animals that are found on the rocks near by the sea. They look somewhat like slugs. While my mom picked the wilks I sat and listened to the wave dashing to and fro , making a soft clashing sound more like a sound brass, loud yet soft. Modern technology in the form of CD and tapes and audio videos have made it convenient for me to enjoy the sound of water in the comfort of my home with the addition of music effect.
There is nothing as refreshing as a cool drink of fresh rain water . Rain water tastes very light. Spring water tastes good too. As a child, in addition to rain water, we got our drinking water from the spring. Salt water is unpleasant to drink even though I love to taste it while swimming in the sea. Today I love to drink water. I love the taste of lemon or lime in my drinking water. The first water I drink upon rising is warm water with lemon juice. I first learned about the value of this from an health book I read. Oh! I almost forgot to share this with you. Coconut water is one of my favorite water to drink. To date it is still my favorite. My love for coconut water caused me to pay for two over prized ones in the Bahamas while was a tourist there. The price did not matter. When you thirst for anything you will pay the price for it. I remember the days when my cousins would climb the tall coconut trees in Jamaica to pick the green coconuts so that we all could all enjoy the sweet, cool refreshing, coconut water. This water is highly nutritious. You can now purchase canned coconut water.
The smell of rain is invigorating. The smell of the ocean is romantic. The smell of the river is refreshing . But nothing relaxes me more than the feel of water. I like the feel of warm water. I developed this likeness as a child when I used to sit in the warm mineral bath water sprouting out from the rocks in Bath, St Thomas. I also enjoyed the warm sea water that I used to sit in as a child in Galina , St Mary. This bath was my out door pond or jacuzzi that I now come to call it.. The sea water cuddles itself in the rocks like a round jacuzzi. I can now compare the splash of the rocks to the jets that sprouts out of my five seat jacuzzi.
Water is very essential to our well being. Without water we could not survive. For every tree that we cut down let us plant two. Through my love for water I have started the Miracle Project and the Water Ministry.
http://themiracletreeproject.blogspot.com/
http://kingdombuilders.ning.com/group/watertractministries
Enjoy some water Jokes.
http://www.squidoo.com/workshop/water-jokes
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