Exploding Celebrations

Jerked chicken wings, pasta, green beens and a baguette fill the table. Verna had made it all because she knows how much I love her cooking. Carlos was sitting at the head of the table and we were laughing and telling stories as good friends do. "Are you crazy?" he said loudly to Sarah after she said how she is looking forward to Conner arriving. "Have you seen them together? They're insane! Team Mike!" "Wha?"I innocently ask, Knowing full well that Conner and I have a long rich history of ... doing stuff. We once duct taped a masseuse and her customer inside of her parlor. That was fun. We also threw an alternative Wine and Cheese party because the Managers here thought that he and I were acting too big for our britches. The fact is that we didn't have any britches. Our friend Jacob from Norway helped and we had over 50people show up. We had a bigger draw than the actual Wine and Cheese party. Conner also got the very beautiful first mate on the Tiko Tiko to put sun tan lotion on his butt in front of a crowd. That was a sight to see.  Carlos tells all of these stories to Sarah in his exaggerated French Caribbean voice. "Beach Patrol'" he finally concludes. "Hugh, Mike and Conner .... Ai- yii-yii" "Denise too," I add. "she broke the sex barrier." Then I am struck by something. Over the past few years, these are the people who have loved me the most. Every time that I've been in St. Martin, Carlos and Verna fretted over me ... worrying if I was going to make it. Conner and Hania would show and we are inseparable. Hugh calls just to make sure. Martina the maid would take two hour breaks just to sit in my room and talk to me when I was alone. Angela would too. In that moment, sitting in the tiny home of dear friends, I am suddenly humbled. These realizations overwhelm me. I think of my "Carnival of Friends"too and how they broke into my life when I no longer gave a damn about it. "You love everybody," Sarah said at some point. I don't know if that's true. When I love, I love deeply and passionately. I know that I can get very zoned over the things I care about. At this moment though, I am more aware of the people whom have loved me through the bad and are now enjoying the good. There is a Caribbean festival tonight that Carlos is hosting. Hugh and Patty will be here in time to join Sarah and I. Conner and Hania will blow in later. I can already feel the celebration that is about explode.  After several years of struggle that I wouldn't wish upon anybody, it feels good  for so many to say how good I look. Cornelia, another maid here saw me yesterday. She placed her black hand on my belly and exclaimed, " Oh Mike, you are so happy? Where is Sarah? I want to meet her." And the celebration continues to explode.