“Of Kemar, Barack, Mitt, Andrew and Sandy -You have to smile while you really want to cry!”

Nov 04, 2012 Sports

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Colin E. H. Croft

You have to try to smile even when you want to cry!
I do not know how you felt that very first time, but my first was magnificent. At 5:30pm, Wednesday, October 31, 2012, in my 60th year, I finally, legally, lost my polling virginity!
Collis King, my Barbadian West Indies team-mate, room-mate, would have said; “Crofty boy, it was real sweet!” Yes, it was as enjoyable as anything else! Rahtid!
Voting ‘early’, I have not felt this ‘high’ since I, twice, got married, became a father, twice, or heard, also twice, that I was a grand-father, even when selected for West Indies; not all equal, but all special!
Having also heard, disappointingly, that West Indies speedster Kemar Roach was again injured, and would not tour Bangladesh, I put things into proper perspective, personally and professionally, as regards “Super-Frankenstorm Sandy”.
Kemar is young, and can come back! Many in Port au Prince, New York and New Jersey will never do!
No-one listens. I maintain that there are simple, basic, fundamental biomechanical errors in Kemar’s approach and delivery, which allows him to be injured so often, especially being so small-statured. His approach to the bowling crease is way too short, his follow-through much shorter still, practices that will always put massive extra strains on his shoulders, back and upper thighs.
If you doubt me, just look at golfers. Their follow-though is the glide, absolute best part, of each stroke!
Anyway, on reflection on the voting, many people in the not distant past worked hard, lost their lives too, so that people like me could have this opportunity to vote for political leaders; legally.
I took advantage of their massive sacrifices! In the distant future, I might even inform for whom I voted!
So, considering the melee in New York/New Jersey, courtesy of “Sandy”, that would still be present long after November 06, whom-so-ever wins next week, Barack or Mitt will have serious headaches in the near future, and will need all luck in the world to get things re-organized properly!
Bon chance, Mr. President!
My voting euphoria was really unbelievably high, having enjoyed the magnificent, absolutely smooth organization of Michael Ertel, Supervisor of Elections in Seminole County, Central Florida, and his team. They really expedited the early set of 300, 000 voters excellently so far! Sometimes, big government works well, as was seen in New Jersey! If only we can do the same in the Caribbean too!
I was quite lucky. I spent 15 minutes, from car, to entering the voting station, to re-entering the vehicle, having voted 27 times, all at once; electoral efficiency at its best!
FYI, the S-o-E had actually previously sent me a clear sample ballot – exactly like the real thing – making me aware of the voting process, and to have knowledge of candidates, Democrats and Republicans, from President to State Supreme Court Judges, to proposed amendments in State and County, to Seminole School Board, even Homestead Exemptions, for each of which I could cast a vote.
Unlike Guyana 1980, when I somehow voted 24 times for the same man, “The Kabaka”, while actually playing in Pakistan, I was allowed here to cast only one legal vote per category! Unreal, but true!
I now hope that there are no more episodes like 2000, when “Hanging Chads” in Palm Beach County – look it up – where I had lived for twelve years, allowed George Walker Bush (Junior) to become USA President, even though he actually lost that election to Al Gore!
George’s brother, John Ellis – “Jeb” – was Governor of Florida back then. Sounds like Guyana, eh?
But from the start, last week was always going to be downhill, with death and destruction everywhere!
Having first-hand experiences, piloting much the previous day to bring men and dogs from Bahamas to mainland USA, just before what was then the most deadly, expensive hurricane ever to hit USA – Hurricane Andrew, 1992, with winds at one time 200 mph – I can tell you that these extremely deadly natural happenings are not easily understood, endured, certainly not forgotten.
Florida is still cleaning up after Andrew, immediately, then, cost 65 fatalities and US$26 Billion. “Super Sandy” will easily outstrip those in dollars and loss of life.
Already, in excess of 200 are confirmed dead, more to come, from Jamaica, Haiti, Cuba and USA, nearly US$30 Billion estimated lost. Even the Great Lady – Statue of Liberty – shook her head!
Personally, I also had to worry about my own son, Lee, and Zarrin and Zayde, the third generation, and Sharifa, who live in New York; thankfully all safe!
The worst thing that I heard from New York/New Jersey was of a woman whose two kids, aged 4 and 2, were plucked from her arms, taken to death by the deluge, as she tried to get them to safety.
How exactly do you survive that, as she did, as a mother?
As one exported Haitian suggested; “New York looks worse than Haiti; really bad!”
Under these circumstances, cricket tours and slight injuries take back seats.
Try to smile and enjoy!

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