"Rum Punch and Reefers" by Arlene Mandell

 — Oh, what the hell—go be one of the guys!

My panicky gut sent up red flares!  

Arlene Mandell is an artist living in Linville, North Carolina, proudly celebrating her 10th year at Carlton Gallery in Banner Elk. (carltongallery.com/arlene-mandell). A native New Yorker, relocating to the Blue Ridge Mountains with Captain Dan ignited a passion to write. Her “6-minute Stories” podcasts include: “Eye of the Dolphin,” “Artist Borne,” “Gobsmacked in the Gulfstream,” “Renegade Daughter,” “It Started with a Typo,” “Shopping for the Homeless,” “Thirteen Candles in the Dark,” “The Promise of Romance,” “At Five & Ninety-Five, Mother Was a Star,” “In the Heart of Trauma,” “The Jig Is Up,” and “Getting a Head Start.”

Author’s Talk

“IRIE, MON!” (Everything is fine/nice/good.) 

“Little Red Riding Hood” (aka Arlene Mandell)

Writing this story took me straight back to the colorful world of Jamaica, swaying to the irresistible reggae rhythms of native-born and wildly popular Bob Marley—everywhere! 

Tasting for the first time, “Jerk Chicken,” “Curry Goat,” “Saltfish & Ackee” and “Callaloo Soup”—one of Jamaica’s diversely delicious soups—surprisingly welcome, I discovered, even on hot days. 

Topping off meals with fresh-roasted Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee, ground from beans proudly grown under unique conditions at elevations of 3,000-5,000 feet (currently selling around 27 USD per pound!). 

Gliding the peaceful Martha Brae River on a professionally guided bamboo raft; climbing in a single-file group as we laughed all the way up challenging Dunn’s River Falls; horseback riding along the shoreline’s turquoise Caribbean water; strolling through sanctuaries resplendent with exquisite Redbilled Swallowtail Hummingbirds.  

Exotic beauty abounded! 

And then, there was ganja…