Trini I almost fell off my stool laughing so hard. Must remember to be sitting in a chair with a back when I read your stuff. Lordie, thank you for the commandments before I get heavy into this. Merry Christmas.
Aaah! Lovely in so many ways, right from the commandments to your own version of Christmas to the lovely box of love from your mum. This genre of articles is my favorite one. It almost makes me live your experiences through your words. Yours are the only articles I am reading off late on Substack and thanks for always making it a banger!
This will be a Substack Classic. Your biblical pronouncements of thou shalt nots are words I wish people on here would live by.
Your stories of your family, food and culture in Trinidad
settle in like missives to the mouth and heart and I remember. Without being out of the US, I have lived in 3 sections of the country and carry them all with me.
I miss grits, shredded pork
and biscuits that you can only get in the South. I miss Lake Michigan, fog horns and the DJ on the beach in Grand Haven. it's nice to remember.
But I am happy to be here in the NJ/NYC area,
mostly, enjoying the great diversity and amazing cultural creativity. And with Substack, we reach into the far corners of the Earth and enjoy the funny, poetic, musical, storywriting artists and photographers who feed our hearts minds and souls daily. Thank you and enjoy your life and time away, Toots 💙🦋🙏
I really enjoyed this post. Your 10 commandments cracked me up. As a Medium exile, I immediately resonated with the first commandment. lol! I appreciated the music you shared, your beautiful Christmas ham (yum!), and your special suitcase filled with real, tangible, palpable love. ❤️❤️❄️
I really laughed at the ten commandments - so true! I listened to both parang styles and preferred the first - I could imagine everyone up on their feet dancing and enjoying themselves with big grins on their faces. The ham and loaves look fab - good on you for home cooking. Hope you have had a wonderful rest over the festive season. Looking forward to your 2026 take on life.
Thank you Neela for taking the time to bring me into your world a little bit. Somehow, what makes this season special is truly human caring shares like the one you have gifted us with. My best to you and yours in this season of reflection, caring, introspection and an added bit of socialization even for those of us who protect our introvert tendencies. Be well and may you experience added bits of joy during your holidays.
This is so lovely and left me brimming with feelings. I am grateful that our paths crossed. You are a fabulous writer but even better human. Sending you hugs from across the continents ❤️❤️❤️
Beautifully, wisely and humorously written, my friend Neela. It’s been a very great pleasure to know you this year, or know the part of you that you share with Substack. I wish we were neighbours because dammit I want me a piece of that coconut bread. Have a very Merry Christmas and see you on the other side ✨✨
You're the best kind of neighbor even from a distance. Next year I'm mailing you coconut bread, I don't care what the postal service says about that hah. Thank you for being such a light this year. 🤍
Thank you for sharing your Christmas traditions - and your Mother's postcards! What a treasure to have those (my Mom passed away 6 yrs ago, Christmas hasn't felt the same since).
I love that you & your husband make the Coconut Sweetbread for the people who have become your makeshift community. We need more of that.
I'm so sorry about your mom. Six years, and it still changes everything - I get that completely. The sweetbread tradition has become our way of staying connected to something that feels like home. Sending you so much love. ❤️
Did you save some sweet coconut bread for me? They look delicious. Now that I have started baking I’ll have to try this.
And Thank you Neela, for introducing me to Parang and Daisy Voisin (for a split second my brain tried to translate the voisin as neighbour 😆). I didn’t understand the lyrics but I love the rhythm and energy.
This was a lovely read Neela. I loved reading about your Christmas traditions and your mother's post cards. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas.
Thank you, Dinah! Wishing you a wonderful Christmas too. May your holidays be filled with whatever traditions make your heart full 💛
I hope your daughter feels better 🤍🫂
So so good. Huge smile on my face after spending time with you today. Beautiful holiday gift… thank you! 🙏 🎄🎁💕
Yayyyy....Happy Friday, Rhonda.
I hope you had a good holiday, and I wish you all the best for the new year.
Thank you so much for taking the time.
Trini I almost fell off my stool laughing so hard. Must remember to be sitting in a chair with a back when I read your stuff. Lordie, thank you for the commandments before I get heavy into this. Merry Christmas.
Dear trini,
Please invest in furniture with backs! I can't be liable for any Substack-related injuries 😂 Merry Christmas to you too! I love you. 🤍🫂
Aaah! Lovely in so many ways, right from the commandments to your own version of Christmas to the lovely box of love from your mum. This genre of articles is my favorite one. It almost makes me live your experiences through your words. Yours are the only articles I am reading off late on Substack and thanks for always making it a banger!
Dear sis,
No pressure on me whatsoever then! 😅 Thank you for being here and for the incredibly kind words. They mean more than you know. 🤍🫂
This will be a Substack Classic. Your biblical pronouncements of thou shalt nots are words I wish people on here would live by.
Your stories of your family, food and culture in Trinidad
settle in like missives to the mouth and heart and I remember. Without being out of the US, I have lived in 3 sections of the country and carry them all with me.
I miss grits, shredded pork
and biscuits that you can only get in the South. I miss Lake Michigan, fog horns and the DJ on the beach in Grand Haven. it's nice to remember.
But I am happy to be here in the NJ/NYC area,
mostly, enjoying the great diversity and amazing cultural creativity. And with Substack, we reach into the far corners of the Earth and enjoy the funny, poetic, musical, storywriting artists and photographers who feed our hearts minds and souls daily. Thank you and enjoy your life and time away, Toots 💙🦋🙏
'missives to the mouth and heart' - I'm LOVE that phrase.
This is why I love this space and YOU.
We all carry our places and feed each other with them. 💙🦋🙏
Happy Holidays my friend.
Thank you for being here 🤍🫂
Love you, but with more than words ❤️
OKAY you win hahahaha
hahahaha yourself. We're both winners.
Enjoy your evening, lovely human.
It is freezing here and cold.
Find the love that keeps you warm, beautiful lady🫂
I really enjoyed this post. Your 10 commandments cracked me up. As a Medium exile, I immediately resonated with the first commandment. lol! I appreciated the music you shared, your beautiful Christmas ham (yum!), and your special suitcase filled with real, tangible, palpable love. ❤️❤️❄️
Hey Luna
I feel like our food and our music may share similar elements.
Thank you so much for reading.
Have a terrific Tuesday!
I really laughed at the ten commandments - so true! I listened to both parang styles and preferred the first - I could imagine everyone up on their feet dancing and enjoying themselves with big grins on their faces. The ham and loaves look fab - good on you for home cooking. Hope you have had a wonderful rest over the festive season. Looking forward to your 2026 take on life.
It was a lovely break. The hubby and I headed to Vegas, and apart from the gloomy weather, it was fun.
Now back to the grind, ugh!
Thank you for always supporting my writing, Tina.
So happy you loved the soca parang :)
We might be hitting Vegas in April - there's a big family birthday to celebrate!
oooh nice - It's lovely there in April
I love the nightlife in Vegas.
Loved this. Thank you for sharing your experience so honestly. 🩷🦩
On another note... I have a confession: I’ve absolutely entertained the sourdough channel idea. If anyone cracks AI-assisted fermentation, I’m in.😅
bahahahahaha
Thank you for making me laugh, and thank you for supporting my article :)
Apologies for the delayed reply.
Happy New Year to you!
Happy New Year, Neela!🍾🩷🦩
Thank you Neela for taking the time to bring me into your world a little bit. Somehow, what makes this season special is truly human caring shares like the one you have gifted us with. My best to you and yours in this season of reflection, caring, introspection and an added bit of socialization even for those of us who protect our introvert tendencies. Be well and may you experience added bits of joy during your holidays.
Happy Friday Leni
I hope you had a good holiday.
Here's to all of us introverts finding that sweet balance this season. Warmest wishes to you and yours 💛
Thank you so much for being here.
Loved the essay — full of flavors, love and fun but couldn’t stop laughing at the amendments in the beginning
Thank you for being here, Shruti.
Merry Christmas to you and your family 🤍
This is so lovely and left me brimming with feelings. I am grateful that our paths crossed. You are a fabulous writer but even better human. Sending you hugs from across the continents ❤️❤️❤️
The feeling is so mutual. I'm constantly in awe of your generosity and how you show up for people. Thank you for being exactly who you are. ❤️
Merry Christmas to you and your family, sis!
Happy holidays to you! Glad I got to know you on here this year, it's been a pleasure being part of your journey.
Giggled at the substack commandments and what a lovely story about your mom's postcards ❤️
Thank you, Sophie.
Happy Holidays to you as well.
So glad our paths crossed this year too. And honestly, I've probably broken half those commandments myself, which is why I know them so well 😂
See you next year, friend! 🤍
Beautifully, wisely and humorously written, my friend Neela. It’s been a very great pleasure to know you this year, or know the part of you that you share with Substack. I wish we were neighbours because dammit I want me a piece of that coconut bread. Have a very Merry Christmas and see you on the other side ✨✨
Happy Holidays, Steve,
You're the best kind of neighbor even from a distance. Next year I'm mailing you coconut bread, I don't care what the postal service says about that hah. Thank you for being such a light this year. 🤍
I love the commandments, haha... #8!
Thank you for sharing your Christmas traditions - and your Mother's postcards! What a treasure to have those (my Mom passed away 6 yrs ago, Christmas hasn't felt the same since).
I love that you & your husband make the Coconut Sweetbread for the people who have become your makeshift community. We need more of that.
I'm grateful you're here ❣️
Have a very Merry Christmas, Neela!
Happy Christmas Eve Kim,
I'm so sorry about your mom. Six years, and it still changes everything - I get that completely. The sweetbread tradition has become our way of staying connected to something that feels like home. Sending you so much love. ❤️
I am so grateful we connected here.
Love your ten commandments Neela - a lot of truths there! Have a lovely Christmas. 😀
Happy Christmas Eve, John,
I wrote those commandments while definitely breaking at least three of them 😂
Hope your Christmas is lovely. I am so happy we connected this year. 🤍
I broke so many commandments 🫣
Did you save some sweet coconut bread for me? They look delicious. Now that I have started baking I’ll have to try this.
And Thank you Neela, for introducing me to Parang and Daisy Voisin (for a split second my brain tried to translate the voisin as neighbour 😆). I didn’t understand the lyrics but I love the rhythm and energy.
Have a joyful celebration.
Happy Holidays ❤️
Happy Christmas Eve, Salima,
We ALL broke the commandments, that's why they're funny 😂 I can send you any recipe. Just say the word. And yes - voisin = neighbor in French!
The Spanish-French-English mix in Trinidad is real. So glad you loved Daisy and trini music.
Thank you so much for being here 🤍