People laughed when Eric said he loved Belize so much, that if it wasn’t for the fact that Johann and I were waiting for him at home, he wouldn’t have come back. They don’t realize how serious he was. They didn’t hear how flat his voice sounded on the phone when he called me from the Miami airport to let me know he was back in the U.S. He was lovesick over Belize.
That state of mind lasted for the first week Eric was home. He wanted to keep wearing shorts and sandals like he did in Belize, never mind that snow was on the ground. He went out to the grocery store to buy coconuts, bananas, and tropical fruit juices. He’s only wanted to listen to the reggae and Caribbean music we have. The funny thing is that I understand. I’ve traveled to places that have affected me the same way.
Johann has enjoyed fresh coconut and coconut water. He now has more coconut shells to play with as instruments or boats in the bathtub. He and Eric have been floating them in the water while shining the underwater flashlight through the ripples in the bathwater, creating water reflections on the walls and ceiling. Johann is going around the house singing Bob Marley songs. We hung up the wooden tropical saltwater fish mobile with chimes that Eric bought. Eric lamented that since he can’t buy Belikins here, he had to go out and buy some Coronas to drink. Johann piped up and said, “What? You’re going to drink some PELICANS, Daddy?”, followed by his infectious laugh. So Eric is slowly readjusting to the reality of our life in Connecticut and we’ve reached a new state of abnormal with Belizean flare. Don’t worry, be happy, man!
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