YA KNOW SOMETHING; We does live among and come in contact wid real heroes every single day but we doan even acknowledge dem. We doan see dem as who people does call heroes because they just ordinary people to us.
Some of us does see what these people do as showing a lil kindness tuh somebody else. We does take it fuh granted when we see somebody taking care of a person who ain’t even nuh kinda family tuh dem but who ain’t in a position tuh help demselves. There are people who have been doing it fuh years, nevah once asking anybody fuh a cent either tuh run errands or prepare meals fuh somebody who cahn help duhself when de day come.
We think and some o’ we believe and even accept dat a hero is somebody like a big-up person: a politician, a doctor, somebody who does fight fuh causes or somebody who does be in the limelight or pon the TV all the time. Some o’ we even think dat the people who ya does call heroes are the people who are above us, outta touch, outta reach. Ya doan really get tuh talk tuh dem kinda people so; but leh muh tell ya, duh real wrong.
You know who the heroes are? My heroes are real everyday, hard-working, down tuh earth people who have given and does give of demselves all the time, widout asking or expecting anything in return; dem is the real heroes. People like some o’ the ones dat the fella Desmond Weekes does honour every year at his Mum, This One’s For You Mother’s Day show.
Look, I does work in a real big old community and every day I does come in contact wid a good few elderly people who are vibrant and active; then on the other hand, I does realise dat we have a lot o’ old folks who could really use a li’l helping hand – ya only got tuh get tuh know dem.
A lot o’ dem live by demselves too and does have tuh fend fuh demselves when the days come. While some o’ dem could still get around the house and perhaps shuffle ovah tuh the minimart or shop tuh pick up a few odds and ends, still duh got a good few who really need some assistance.
Like the old fella in one o’ last week’s newspapers living somewhere out there in Hunte’s Street.
Now this is where I does see some o’ the heroes I talking ‘bout, and all o’ dem is women who I does talk tuh too. You would see dem getting in and outta the bus, the minibus, the ZRs or just walking in duh greenish, bluish looking uniforms, going from one person home tuh the next making sure dat duh comfortable. Sometimes these women does be sweating bullets but I have never come in contact wid any one o’ dem who was miserable or disgruntled. Ya could always make a li’l joke wid dem. These women does work hard. These are some of my heroes. I talking ’bout some o’ the women from the National Assistance Board Home Help.
I ain’t telling you nuh lie. As I said, I does talk tuh these women. I cahn tell ya ’bout all but I have not met one yet who I could say does complain and carry on ’bout some o’ the things they does have tuh do when they go into these old people homes.
These women does bathe some o’ dem – men and women – comb, plait or even cut duh hair, change duh bed linen and clean duh house. Some o’ dem does even cook fuh the old folks and make sure dat they leave a li’l something fuh dem tuh eat later. Some o’dem does run errands fuh dem and go out and pick up food fuh dem. I know this for a fact and as I said before, I ain’t know ’bout all but the ones I know, I am very proud of dem and happy dat there is a programme like this fuh our old folk..
Before I go let me say on behalf of the old folks who benefit from the home help, thank you ladies; you’re doing a great job. Thank you!
• Mavis Beckles was born and raised in The Orleans. She has an opinion on everything.