The Musings of Lynette: Giving thanks

Lynette Rodriguez

Lynette Rodriguez is a 75-year-old  retiree  and widow from Valencia.   She is also  former Secondary school Librarian who also  taught English as a second language for many years.  Join us as she shares some of her musings with us.

Something has been on my mind for a while now, so I had better do it before I forget again.

I want to say thanks to two dear people. The only drawback is that they cannot hear me now, but they certainly knew how much I appreciated their generosity, love, and support toward me.  They are Mrs Cadiz who everyone in our little prayer group called ‘Mother’ and her daughter Frederica. Were it not for the two of them I would not have been able to enrol at City College of New York.

When I left home to embark on the journey of doing my Masters in Education in Brooklyn, no one had warned me of the many roadblocks there can be along the way. Without a good backup and support system it can be difficult, but I was somewhat fortunate to find a Church with Caribbean people. I found Our Lady of Victory and there I worshipped for the six years I spent in Brooklyn. I was a Lector, and I was also on the Parish Council. The Rectory became my second home. I do not know how I would have fared without my new Caribbean family and Church.  I was left practically on my own since my brother had gone to live with his girlfriend. Nevertheless, he had left me a worthwhile piece of advice. The day after I arrived, he told me the quicker I adjusted to the place and pace the better it would be for me. Although it seems harsh believe me it is really good advice,

Mother Cadiz and her daughter Freddy belonged to a small group of Caribbean people who met once a week at a friend’s house for a prayer meeting and after the meeting we would sit and chat a bit. One night I was so overwhelmed by financial issues concerning my acceptance into college that my head was literally on the ground. I was praying hard for some sort of solution. I could not participate much in the chit chat, my thoughts were somewhere else. You see I had approached my brother, my only relative in New York for assistance but without success, therefore a return to Trinidad seemed inevitable at the time.

However, on the way home Mother Cadiz, the leader of our prayer group  asked me what I was praying so hard for. I was a bit hesitant to tell her, but she sensed that it had to be serious. Might have been a mother’s intuition which came to my rescue. I admitted that I was having difficulty in getting a financial sponsor and had no idea how to get one. She asked what was necessary and I told her. By then we had reached my bus stop, so we parted ways.

Within two days I had a cheque for $500 in my hand so I could complete the registration process. That being done I was able to return home, head for the US embassy to apply for my student visa.

How can I ever forget those two dear Trinis.

Photo by Danie Franco on Unsplash