By OSWALD T. BROWN
WASHINGTON, D.C., December 24, 2020 – I received a wonderful Christmas gift today. I have a younger brother, Burton Brown, who lives in Mastic Point, Andros, and he called this morning to wish me a Merry Christmas.
Of course, Burton and I had different mothers. Our late father Samuel Brown was well known throughout Andros as an exceptionally good carpenter and boatbuilder, and during one of his visits to Mastic Point he met Burton’s mother, Edith, whom I got to know very well over the years while growing up.
Burton and I have always been extremely close, but the last time I saw him was when I was Editor of the Freeport News (2003-2009) and he was living in Eight Mile Rock, Grand Bahama. Like our father, he is a very good carpenter, as I am sure many of the people he did work for while in Grand Bahama will attest to, including our nephew Simeon Brown, the noted criminal defense attorney.
I owe a great deal of thanks to Burton’s granddaughter, Ashanti Munroe, who became my Facebook friend several months ago. About a month ago she sent me the following inbox message: “Good Afternoon Mr. Brown. I hope you are well. My Granddad is Burton Brown and he was asking for your personal contact. Can you be so kind as to send it to me please? Bless Day.”
I immediately responded and sent her my email address and telephone number. Burton called the next day, and I told him during our “telephone reunion” that I hope we can get to see each other in person once this damn COVID-19 pandemic is history.
I really did not expect another call from Burton so soon, and I was in a somewhat somber mood this morning because of some personal problems that have essentially guaranteed that this will be a bleak Christmas when I received his phone call. It was, in a manner of speaking, just what the doctor ordered to mentally put me in a better mood. Consequently, I have put all my problems “in storage” until the start of the new year.
Thank you Ashanti for reconnecting me with my brother, your grandfather. I certainly hope and pray that the Good Lord continues to bless me with long life so that we can have BROWN FAMILY REUNION in the not-too-distant future. Please have a Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.
