The Welcome was first posted on my Facebook page and then published in the Gleaner on April 10, 2015.  It honours Barack’s ( I have a friend who calls him Barry.  While I like this name, my brother who died eight years ago is called Barry so I can’t bring myself to call him that) visit to Jamaica in April 2015.  When he came I realized he loved Bob Marley. You can’t get better than that. The farewell and comment from my friend are also Facebook posts. It was my pleasure to spend the day with him on the sidelines of my TV.

Welcome

Man,mi heart full. I am actually watching the news waiting for your plane to land. The biggest disappointment is that I cannot see you in the flesh. Love love love you Barack! Hoped you would have brought the children and Michelle for them to enjoy the queen of the Caribbean Islands. I think you should know that I should have started a new job the day of your first inauguration. I told the people I wouldn’t be able to start until the next day. When they asked why I told the truth. If they didn’t want me so be it, experiencing history first hand was more important. I feared they would assassinate you. For the first year, I made sure you were safe before going to bed and in the morning I checked again until I realized that they didn’t have to touch you physically. They could harm you by making sure your policies did not bear fruit. I still pray for you every time I hear your name. I wish you well. I hope you come bearing gifts for mi poor people and as the cartoons suggest, you have on you black green and gold socks and love wi food. Guidance always! You come! Welcome! Welcome! ‪#‎ObamainJA‬

Farewell

Barack you going now. May the Lord bless you and keep you. May his face shine upon you and give you peace. Thanks for the visit. We enjoyed it thoroughly. Thanks for the gifts what ever they are and thanks for encouraging the young people. Lord knows they need it. Remember to bring Michelle and the girls next time. Love you always

Post script

I have a politically shy friend who wrote this lovely piece about Barack but will not share publicly. I think it is too nice for it to be kept between both of us. Thanks for sharing with me and forgive me for sharing with others. She describes Barack as America’s Michael Manley. (My words)
” It’s the quality of the man that we admire. Many persons; black, white and brown; think America just got up and voted because Barack was black but it was the quality of this particular black man.
“We” love Barack’s sincerity, we love that he loves his wife and children. we love that he married a black woman. We love that he loved his mother and grandparents. we love that he has leadership qualities. We love his inspirational speeches.