The thing I admire most about Liz is her effortless wit. When I hear some of the turns of phrase Liz comes up with I’m convinced she should be a writer. Listen to this classic: We’re at this party and we notice this woman who is sticking to her escort like a lizard on a wall. Hear Liz she, pointing with her mouth, “apostrophe.” I’m so slow, I don’t catch on. “What you talking bout Liz?” She laughs and says, “apostrophe, shows possession.” Mi nearly dead with laugh. I’ve shared that witticism so many times.
Then if you kept up with Liz for the roller coaster ride to Barack’s inauguration you would have heard her irreverent critiques of anyone who was getting in the way of Bam’s success. Liz was ready for them in the choicest of language. When I recently asked her how come she has such a flair for language – Jamaican, no less than English – she gleefully told me that as a child she read the entire literature catalogue of the Tom Redcam Library in Kingston from A to Z. It may even have been the entire catalogue!
I’ve enjoyed getting to know Liz through my sister Donnette. And I’m so sorry I’m not on safari with them. I really couldn’t take off two weeks in the middle of the semester. But I’m definitely there with them in spirit.
Liz mi dear, I wish you continued happiness (and quick wittedness) for the decades to come!
Carolyn Joy Cooper
No comments:
Post a Comment