WHEN the sun sets in Black River, St Elizabeth, the community is left in pitch-darkness. Headlights from passing cars and the moon illuminate the space, giving a glimpse of the lingering destruction — a haunting reminder of the rampaging Category 5 Hurricane Melissa.

Yet, in the midst of the apocalyptic scene, Christmas lights and cheerful music from William Phillips’s house bring much-needed warmth and holiday cheer.

The 74-year-old told the Jamaica Observer that despite the damage to his house and the lack of electricity caused by one of the most powerful hurricanes of the 21st century, he is grateful to be alive and refuses to let the events of October 28 dampen his customary festive spirit.

“[Last week Tuesday] I searched in my house after the hurricane and I found two [packs] of Christmas [lights] so I said I would just put them on and let me see what they would look like, because it’s Christmas. I [was] born on the 13th of December, and December is my month, so I started to [spread] the light of the Christmas season.

“Nobody else around here is doing it. A lot of my friends came by and said, ‘Oh, you see Christmas.’ Yes, I see it…I’m playing my two music and balancing my mind. I am not penetrating on what is going on because I have life and life goes on,” he told the Sunday Observer during a visit to the area last week.

As he spoke, bright red, green, blue, and yellow lights, woven between the branches of a tree in his yard, twinkled. A generator — the source of electricity for the Christmas lights — illuminated the rest of the house, piercing through red curtains that added to the festive atmosphere. In the background, music heard in whispers from the main road played softly.

A blue tarpaulin, which added a pop of colour that further brought life to the space, also covered a section of his damaged roof. Phillips said his roof and the inside of his home were damaged by the devastating storm. Three days after its passage, however, he was able to effect repairs using zinc he had in storage.

Phillips still has more repairs to do and furniture to replace but he refuses to sit and complain, instead he’s slowly picking up the pieces.

After tending to his house as best he could his wife advised him to wait until it was closer to Christmastime to start the festivities, but he could not contain his excitement.

“Christmas is happiness, because if you live through 11 [months] and you did not fail at the end of the year, which is December…I see it as happiness. Regardless of what it is, life is here, so I going to enjoy. I move on. Even if I drink sugar and water and eat crackers, I am alive and I’m well; I’m not sick.

“I’m 74 years old as I’m standing beside you and my energy is here, so I celebrate my Christmas…I play my music, drink my one beer, and I’m happy. I wish the same thing for the whole world. Enjoy happiness, put everything aside, and enjoy happiness. Christmas is a time of enjoyment for everybody,” he told the Sunday Observer.

Phillips recounted that when he’d first plugged in the Christmas lights, he was immediately filled with joy.

“I got a glorious feeling,” he recalled. “I am happy, because life could have [been lost] but I am alive and well. My wife is alive… Don’t fret over the material world because material things come and go. You have a car, you drive on the street and some guy [hits] you and crash it, life is saved, life goes on — that is my philosophy about life.

“Life is just for living. Life is not death. Life is an outstanding creature in all of us, regardless of who you are or where you are from; life is for living,” he insisted, a smile plastered across his face.

At the mention of some individuals and organisations downplaying Christmas this year because of Melissa the 74-year-old frowned, adamant that the spirit of the holidays must be kept alive.

“I am not going to [downplay] mine — I will be putting up the brighter lights. I wish I had some more to string around the housetop and let them see that where there is life, there is hope. When you have life you have everything… It doesn’t matter what age you are, enjoy life and be happy for what you get in life and move on — one step at a time.

“Don’t get weary because you see something happen. You see, when something happens and you get weary, you are weak and you get carried away. But if you get up, stand up, and fight, you will be alright,” he encouraged.

When asked about his wish for Christmas, Phillips smiled and said: “Happiness to all.

“Let us live as one and unite this Christmas. Do like me: Get a little light, put it up at your gate or somewhere. Let us see the vision of Christmas like we used to.

“I am saying to Jamaicans, and even the whole world, let us live in unity and love. Support one another, because we are all created by one man — God Almighty. He created us, and he said we should live as one. Do unto others as you would like them to do unto you. Give and you will receive, ask and it shall be given, knock and it shall be open. Let us all unite and live as one,” he urged.

In the midst of the darkness in Black River, St Elizabeth, light from William Phillips’ Christmas tree shines bright bringing holiday cheer last Wednesday. (Photo: Tamoy Ashman)