Car seats are not legally required here in Jamaica. So of course it is always alarming to see young children floating free in cars, or mothers holding tiny babies in their arms.

It was non-negotiable for us to have a car seat and we have been using one since her birth. Today it was necessary. We were driving around trying to tie up the paperwork associated with being a new human and a car decided to turn into our lane without looking. They hit us on the right front bumper. My heart was pounding as I looked over at my daughter, but I don’t think she even noticed what happened, despite the loud bang.

The car seat kept her safe and the impact was minimal. The driver, however, in a gray Toyota Corolla, drove away quickly. His (or her) bumper fell off though, complete with the license plate. There also happened to be two policemen there, so they collected the bumper and told us to file a report, complete with the license plate. Hopefully we catch them, but I have a feeling nothing will come of it. All I know is I am grateful we are ok.

In the face of the new mosquito-born virus- Zika- it seems the government has learned its lesson after the tragic way in which they handled ChikV. I was buying prenatal vitamins at the pharmacy the other day and the pharmacist eyed my stomach. “Are you in the first trimester?” she asked. “No, I’m breastfeeding,” I said. “Why do you ask?” I said, suspecting that the Ministry of Health warnings about delaying pregnancy  and protecting oneself from mosquitos have filtered down to this level.

“We are being told to warn women to protect themselves with repellant,”she said.

This is a good sign. It seems the Ministry is taking an aggressive approach to this virus this time around. Hopefully the life-altering effects of Zika can be avoided to a certain extent, although it is inevitable that the virus will make its way to Jamaica.

Another one from beautiful Strawberry Hill.

After an unsuccessful trip downtown today, we are just hanging out. We ventured downtown to renew my work permit, but because of incorrect information on the Ministry of Labour’s web site, it turned out we only had to visit one location, as opposed to two for the first application. So we start again tomorrow morning. Sometimes getting things accomplished in this country is painfully incremental. So now we are chilling at home on our new mat. She is now rolling over, both ways, so the stationary days are almost over. I am now being soothed and delighted, however, by her squeals and stories.

I always love looking up at palm trees.

Spending time at the pool at the Pegasus Hotel with my girl.

A view from Strawberry Hill of a valley. I always wonder how and why people decide to build their houses in such a seemingly precarious position.

Man Booker Prize winner and Jamaican Marlon James made this video on racism the other day. Check it out here.

Beautiful Strawberry Hill