Living in The Bahamas-4th of July

LIVING IN THE BAHAMAS
FOURTH OF JULY


Annie met me with a devilish smile when I came home from work one day in June.
“Do you know where I was today?” she asked.
“Yes, at the American Woman’s Club meeting at the Ambassador’s house.
“His mansion is gorgeous, way up on a cliff overlooking West Bay Street and the Crystal Palace Casino. They served tea with pastries while we caught up on stateside news. The Ambassador’s wife is so pleasant. We’re invited to their Fourth of July party.”
“Wow, you really get around. It will be great to see other Americans for a change.”
“They moved here from Florida last year. He was a real estate tycoon who made a significant contribution to George Bush’s campaign. He wanted to be a Caribbean Ambassador for a while, so Bush granted his wish.”
“I’m looking forward to real American food. We don’t get much of it around here. It’s not an official holiday for Bahamians, but Howard won’t care if I leave work early.”
Always thinking of clothes, Annie noted, “You’ll have to wear your new Panama hat in this summer sun.”

Being patriotic, we dressed in red, white, and blue for the party. For security reasons, we were directed to park offsite. A tram took us to the Ambassadors house through a forested tunnel of Royal Poincianas covering the road with a rainbow of blazing red, pink, and orange flowers.
“Our timing’s perfect for these beautiful flowers with a sweet smell of tropical perfume,” Annie noted. “This is the most beautiful road in Nassau.”
“Yes, it is,” I replied. “The whole island is in bloom with Poinciana, hibiscus, frangipani, and yellow elder flowers.”
“Did you see our moon flowers last night?”
“Yes, they were so big and white, with a smell of honeysuckle. How long will they bloom?”
“A week or two. They only blossom at night,” Annie said.
“We’ll see them again tonight when we go home.”
Our tram wound up a hill and discharged us at a gate guarded by U.S. Marines with discreet weapons at their sides.
While we waited in a long line, Annie noted, “There sure are a lot of Bahamians here.”
“Free food and booze,” I responded.
Bahamians did not discriminate. They loved American holidays almost as much as their own. Any excuse to party was fine for them.
“I love to see soldiers in uniforms on a holiday.” She smiled. “They remind me of when I worked for the Air Force.”
A guard waved us through his gate with barely a glance at our invitation. We approached a front lawn consisting of two acres of grass and palm trees sloping up to a mansion on top of the hill where a Navy band played rock and roll. I smiled, swinging my hips. U.S. flags and pennants adorned tents and the compound’s walls. Smells of Fourth of July came from a dozen grills cooking on the lawn. Accents of American voices reminded me of home. This was going to be a great party.

At one of many drink stations, I asked a bartender, “Can you make a Jim Beam and coke?”
He replied with a New York accent, “Just for you, sir, straight from Kentucky. What’ll you have ma’am?”
“I’ll take an American Bud Light.”
We mixed with Embassy staff and sailors from a US Coast Guard ship, exchanging stories of our life here for news from back home.
Annie grabbed me. “Let’s go to that bar again. I want to say hello to someone.”
We joined a group in the bar line where Annie held out her hand, “Ambassador Rood, do you remember us, Annie and Gordon England? We attended your Valentine’s party.”
“Why of course, Annie. You’re as beautiful as ever.” He kissed her hand. “You remember my wife, Jamie? It’s good to see you again, Gordon. Are you still working at the Ministry of Works under Bradley Roberts?”
“Yes, I am. He takes good care of me.”
“How’s the work on West Bay Street progressing?”
“That lake at Chippingham is almost complete. It will solve a lot of flooding in the area. We’re reviewing a design for realignment of West Bay Street by Harris Engineers from Orlando. When that road is relocated, Baha Mar will build a new billion-dollar casino and resort.”
“I’m pleased to see an American firm has the contract and that you’re helping over here.
“Do you miss football as much as I do?” I asked.
“Yes, I miss my Gators. We don’t get much on TV.”
“Don’t get me started. They never broadcast Longhorn games here. You know the best place to watch football, don’t you?”
“The Cricket Club?”
“No, that’s British. The best place to watch football with a crowd of crazy Americans is at the Crystal Palace Sports Book. They show all the channels.”
“Remember, you can’t bet here.”
“I wouldn’t think of it. I only watch the games.”
He winked. “Enjoy the party.”

Annie and I followed our noses to food on grills.
“Look at each of these tents with different American foods,” I said. “I’m looking for cheeseburgers in paradise.
A waiter overheard us and pointed. “Over there.”
At a tent I ordered an oversized hot dog with mustard and chili for Annie. I could not resist a cheeseburger in paradise with onions, tomatoes, and pickles. We sat at a table to savor a rare treat of American food.
“Nothing like a real hot dog on Fourth of July,” Annie said.
My cheeseburger tasted heavenly. “I’d forgotten how good they can be. Next, I’m going to a Cajun booth for shrimp and gumbo, then finish with sausage and potato salad.”
She looked around, sniffing. “I smell steaks on a grill somewhere. There goes my diet.”
“Isn’t this great? Keep going to those Women’s Club meetings.”
After dinner, we walked to the top of the hill where a dance floor lay over grass in front of the military band.
I laughed. “Now that’s real dance music. Let’s jitterbug.”
I led Annie to the floor to join other Americans in dance and celebration of our country. We later moved behind the mansion to watch a golden sunset from seats overlooking the cliff and golf course below. We traded stories with other expats from Nassau and promised to help each other when inevitable problems occurred.

A color guard of all four military branches marched with a US flag to the Ambassador’s table. When he saluted, the Navy band played soul-stirring renditions of The Star Spangled Banner, God Bless America, America the Beautiful, and Yankee Doodle Dandy. At dark, fireworks were launched at the base of the cliff below, bursting in front of us at eye level. More military music accompanied a blaze of multicolored rockets twinkling around us. Intense patriotism swelled inside me during this spectacular display of my United States while in a foreign land. We wanted this party to last all night, but alas, all good things must end. When I left, my mind was flooded with memories of family, previous Fourth of Julys, football, and apple pie. We spent a few wonderful hours at home in the United States vicariously through the friendliness of our Embassy staff. They succeeded in transforming this magical evening to a much-needed escape for lonely expats who may have been lost along their way.