By Michel Outridge

LAUREL and Eileen Michael are residents of Green Valley, Wismar, Linden, and are basking in the age of retirement, doing things in and around the home to pass time.

Laurel is 72 years old and was a manager of the then DEMBA Power Company, who retired and is enjoying rearing some black giant chickens and layer birds, as well as tending to his crops of celery, calalloo and numerous plants and fruit trees in his yard.

He is originally from Parika, East Bank Essequibo and after completing his formal secondary education, he was job hunting and his first job was at the Linden Power Company, as such, he moved to Linden for work.

It was after sometime that he met and later married his long-time girlfriend, Eileen Michael, who is also from Parika and she too relocated to Linden; the couple eventually constructed a house in Green Valley.

They raised four children, all of whom are grown and have moved out of the home.

On the other hand, her husband Laurel told the Pepperpot Magazine that when he first moved to Green Valley it was overrun by thick vegetation and people began clearing the land and building houses and took up residence.

It was when the train transporting ore and workers used to pass uphill more than 50 years ago, when things kind of moved in slow motion and a beer was 23 cents, he began working for $1.08, which was a lot of money back then.

“Green Valley as you can see is name and nature, because of its greenery; around here people don’t cut down trees and we have all kinds of fruits and vegetables, so we are self-sufficient, growing our own food and eating fresh,’ he said.

Laurel added that he doesn’t buy greens and fruits since they are plentiful in Green Valley and the people would share their produce.

He related that Green Valley is usually a quiet place where the people do what they must without interference and it is deemed the place of the ‘good, the bad, and the ugly,’ but over the years, the two known bad eggs have moved out.

The elder stated that a lot of good people of high standards come from Green Valley and it is a lovely place that just needs a bit of development in terms of infrastructure such as roads, drainage and street lights.

Laurel pointed out that of the older folk, some died while some migrated and some people living there are descendants of those people, who were the first settlers of Green Valley.

“I have 11 hens, so I would pick up about eight eggs per day and I would sell the eggs and pluck the chickens, that is, the meat birds and sell it right here in the community and plant a few crops; almost every month I would get a bunch of bananas or plantains, so life is reasonably good here,” he said.

Laurel told the Pepperpot Magazine that Green valley is home for him and he also took the time to reminisce yesteryear stories, when he used to spin his toy, a ‘buck top’ which he displayed and talked about the value of those toys in those days, compared to what the children of today have.

The Michaels are well-respected elders in the village and are well known among their peers as the people who made a name for themselves.

Eileen is 69 years old and these days she is tending to grandchildren and engaged in the cooking and household chores.

She was a teacher attached to Blake Primary School for five years, but after marriage she exited the profession and became a stay-at-home mother when the children came along.

Her daughter, Colleen Michael-Joseph, is the headteacher attached to Wisburg Secondary School and two other daughters are also teachers as well as her daughter-in-law.

So it is safe to say most of the women in the Michael family are teachers, while the men are doing different jobs.

Eileen is a very pleasant woman who likes Green Valley and her life there in Linden, where she finds peace and quiet.