30 Years...and counting

So my parents clocked 30 years of "for better for worse" today. For them it’s been 30 long years of love and war, of smiles and tears and of hope and despair. I have watched them through my own 20-something years and I have observed that the younger generation still has so much to learn about the true meaning of marital commitment and staying true to the one you promised to love till death do you part.

Its been a rosy ride (yep, cos roses have thorns) and i can remember particular incidences that made me ask questions at those times. But still those two stayed together...sometimes like glue and sometimes like gum and sometimes it might as well have been water holding them, but they stayed.

My parent’s children (including yours truly) are all grown up and away from home now and so the house is back to the way it was some 30 years ago before the intruders came in, before the bills increased, before the sound of laughter or cries or music blasting could be heard from afar off, before time changed everything…the house is now occupied with the original two people, now with more grey hair, now with more wrinkles, now not as active as before (especially in disciplining children) and now better listeners.

Only recently, my mum wanted the recipe for "chin-chin" (Y'all know what that is, right?). She called to ask for it saying it’s been ages since she had to do any kind of pastry making (not quite her fault, seeing she has 4 daughters). My sister and I jokingly recommended that she mixed the dough while her husband cut it up into small shapes for her to fry. The image of them sweating it out left me in stitches.

And that’s how this post was born.

So today I’m dedicating this piece to my folks. I don’t know if they’ll ever get to read this or if they’ll ever know I even wrote this but I want to say thank you

~ for staying together

~for showing me that marriage is not convenience but a commitment

~for teaching me the joy of family

~for not holding back the rod from me (i'd have turned out really terrible..i'm sure!)

~for letting me know that home is more than a location, it’s a place I can be myself and be accepted the way I am

~for making my worries yours and reminding me that you’re there

I know it might sound like a cliché but if I have to come back to earth again after i'm gone…I’d ask for this same set of parents (well maybe with more money especially…lol)

So i'll sing like Style Plus "...30 years don waka...dem stil dey carry go, nobody waka nobody go solo...papa God o, their case o, na your grace o...Imela eh"

Just Sit Still

If I knew what would happen tomorrow or next week or next month....If I knew whether my book would be published, if the job would be mine, if the man I love so much would ask me to be his wife….

If I knew what the decision of that reputable school would be concerning my MBA application, if I’d have only daughters or only sons, if I’ll make more money than my parents….

It’s interesting that sometimes we feel that if knew what the next minute or hour or day or even month held, we’d do things a lot more differently.

My Phone O!

Today, my phone was stolen and i've been so sad about the loss...but what can i do? I decided to dedicate this to my phone (even if you think i'm silly) and i'll be letting you know soon the kind of phone i'll be needing (just maybe one of you'll see how lonely i've become without my old phone, and buy me the new one) :)

Here goes....

Oh, my phone!

You came to me almost 3 years ago as a gift from my brother. At that time, i really needed you seeing that the one i had had gone "blind".

All through the years you were there with me....helping me reach out, communicate, record memories and even psyched me into thinking i was a good singer ( you captured my voice too!)

For a while, you were all i had and even when some other one came along, i still treasured you and let you maintain that special place in my heart.

It was you who showed me messages that made me cry...texts that made me laugh...and with you i heard the voices of the people i love....and sometimes voices of people you brought to me in error.

There were times when i loathed the sight of you because i felt hurt by someone and did not want you to be the go-between....

Oh, my dear phone! If only i had known that you'd be taken away from me so soon, i'd have taken drastic measures to preserve your memories...the pictures, sounds, videos, messages, contacts....everything!

I'm truely going to miss you....and i know it'll be hard but i'll pull through on my own. All i have left is my earpiece...and i'll keep it in memory of you.

I just wanted to say thank you for yourcommitment and strength and for being there all thse times you ....and as you go into a new world, i hope you find happiness and joy. I hope your new owner treats you even better because, you are special kind.

Love...Me

And so i say

Sometimes I get so caught up in myself that I forget to be grateful for the little things that make the most impact. Today, I had an appointment in the hospital that left me feeling immensely glad for the gift of life. On my way to the particular clinic i was referred to, i passed by a psychiatric hospital and saw as a man was being taken in, bound hand and foot. I could not help starring at the scene, just like so many other people around me.

And so i say...