At the start of September every year, my mouth “does run water”.
It’s an uncontrollable response to the expectation of being able to satisfy a serious craving for a delicacy which, back in the day, was literally as plentiful as sand on the shore at this time of the year but which, like the once native flying fish, is now more easily found and readily available in the waters of neighbouring islands.
Of course, I am talking about sea eggs, which have been under curfew for so many years now that I would take a bet that few, if any, elementary or even secondary schoolchildren would know the difference between a shell of one and a tar ball.
Moreover, it seems that the authorities derive some secret pleasure every year, just before what used to be the start of the season, from torturing sea egg addicts like me with talk about the possibility of the ban on harvesting being lifted.
Then when our mouths start watering uncontrollably, they punish us with the news that the ban is being kept in place for another year.
Unfortunately, that “next other” year never ends. But strange enough, although I heard on the news about a Christ Church man appearing in court in August charged with illegal harvesting of sea eggs, I am yet to hear anything now that it’s September about if the ban is again in place so that my mouth can stop springing water.
Last year, a friend surprised me with a gift of a small ice cream container of sea eggs, which had me trembling with an uncontrollable combination of excitement and fear, and made me realize how life really is for any addict.
The excitement had to do with the fact that after such a long time of craving, I actually had some of the stuff in my hands. The fear, which was the much stronger emotion, was triggered by the thought of the possibility of policemen having followed my friend and about to “down” their hands in the back of my pants.
As a result, as I tried to clutch the container, my possible future flashed across my eyes in the form of a NATION headline something like: Al Gilkes Charged With Possession Of Illegal Sea Eggs. That caused me to lose my grip on the container, but my friend was vigilant and caught it before it could spill its contents all over the sidewalk.
I believe he thought I was having a heart attack or a stroke from the degree of concern in his voice as he asked: “Wha’ happen, Al?” Turned out that my concern was misplaced because the sea eggs were legit and had been brought from Grenada.
No other sea eggs taste like Bajan sea eggs and although I cooked and ate them, I did not really enjoy the taste because they were bitter and extremely salty. An expert like me would tell you that the bitterness came from being harvested too old and the saltiness from being cleaned in seawater as opposed to fresh water.
So just in case no announcement has been made, or has been made but was missed by me in the news, I would appreciate it very much if somebody from the relevant ministry or Government department would let me know the position with the ban this year so that, one way or the other, I may be relieved of my misery.
Al Gilkes heads a public relations firm. Email algilkes@gmail.com