Faith, Family, and Fur Babies: My Life in Trinidad
Welcome to my little corner of the internet! As you may have seen on my homepage, I was born and raised in Trinidad and still consider this beautiful island my home. I live in the southern Borough of Point Fortin, the oil belt of Trinidad and Tobago, surrounded by most of my family.
Family is at the heart of who I am. My dad, Monty, passed away five years ago in September, but his memory remains alive in our hearts. My mom, Jeanette, is nearing her 80th birthday, and I’m so grateful that she’s healthy, happy, and full of life. My brother, Kevin, is married and has two wonderful adult children, Marc and Jessey. As for me, I’ve been married for 16 years to Nashon, who, like me, is Trinidadian-born. Nashon is a foodie (bless him, because I hate cooking!), a meticulous reader, yes, he reads car manuals cover to cover, and an all-around handyman who can fix almost any electrical gadget. He’s also incredibly articulate when expressing his thoughts and loves lifting weights at the gym for reasons I will never understand.
One of my greatest joys in life is engaging in meaningful conversations filled with laughter. I’m fascinated by meeting new people and love that first spark of connection when discovering someone’s story. While I haven’t travelled as much as I’d like, I have a deep love for historic places. And though I’m an island girl, I admit I’m not much of a beach lover. That said, I do enjoy kayaking, windsurfing, and paddleboarding. I was an avid long-distance runner for many years, but an ankle injury forced me to switch to brisk walking. Now, I cherish my late-afternoon walks, which I take five days a week, using that time to clear my mind and unwind from the day’s stress.
Another great love of mine? My fur babies! Nashon and I have four dogs, each with a unique personality. Max, our 11-year-old pompek (a Trini mix of Pomeranian and Pekingese), is our fearless watchdog, always on alert. Then there’s Oreo, a seven-year-old Sharpei-Dalmatian mix, who does not understand personal space and eats almost everything, including Oreo cookies! His sister, Missy, is the pack hunter, always scouting for her next target before pulling Max and Oreo in for the chase. And then there’s my baby, Marley. At four years old and weighing a hefty 90 pounds, she’s a mix of German Shepherd, Pitbull, Rottweiler, and Sharpei. Despite her size, she still thinks she’s a lap dog and loves cuddles. Her bark is loud and intimidating, but in reality, she wouldn’t hurt a fly. Her biggest love? Her toys.
The story of how they all came into our lives is quite an adventure. After my beloved Pekingese, Jojo, passed away, I decided to get Max. But Max, being the mischievous little guy he is, ended up fathering a litter with a stray pup. One day, I found five of his puppies hidden in the bushes! I rehomed all but one, our first Marley. She, unfortunately, passed away, leaving a deep void in our hearts. To help with the grief, I got Missy, and though Max initially wasn’t fond of her, she quickly won him over. About a year later, we took in Oreo after his previous owners, who were migrating, could no longer care for him. It turned out he had several common but expensive Sharpei-related health issues. With time, patience, and expert care from our vet, Dr. Medford, Oreo is now thriving.
Three dogs were already a handful, but God had other plans in store. A dear friend of my husband and me was determined to give us a puppy from his new litter, and that’s how we welcomed Marley into our lives in July 2020. She was just a month old when she lost her mother, and of course, I couldn’t turn her away. She was the sweetest little thing (but honestly, aren’t all puppies?). She quickly became the light in our lives, and when my dad passed away suddenly four months later, she filled every empty, lonely space with her boundless joy. Today, she’s a bit of a diva, but I wouldn’t change her for the world.
At the core of everything in my life is my faith. The most important person in my life is Jesus. As a Catholic, I encounter Him daily; He is present in every relationship, every challenge, and every joy. His love and grace guide me, shaping me into the best version of myself.
So, that’s a little glimpse into my life! Thank you for stopping by and sharing in my journey. I hope you leave here feeling a little more connected, a little more inspired, and maybe even with a newfound appreciation for fur babies and meaningful conversations.
