Decades: Chunks of Time

"Open the door!" he heard someone shout in Hausa. When the shouts would not stop he rose up in alarm, then quickly did a head count as the other people at home came to the living room to ask what was going on. No one was missing. Who dared to make such a ruckus in the staff quarters of the University of Jos? Who had the audacity? He glanced at his two Corper friends, then strolled to the door, sure that the three of them could defend the home and protect his three sisters and mother. Fifteen minutes later, all three young men were lying on the carpet, their heads severed from their necks. The cuts were neat - yes, they were dead. The mother sat on the floor in shock. Her daughters were crying silently. Her only son was dead. The murderers didn't touch her or her daughters. They came to slaughter only the males, they'd said. The last 25 years rolled by in front of her eyes - his conception, his birth, his growth, his progress from kindergarten , to nursery school, to p

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Wipe your eyes, wipe your eyes, My Child. What is the use of crying. Clean your tears, clean your tears, my daughter, it brings no solution. But Father, I am all alone. My very life is not even mine to plan. It seems everytime I look up to You with a smile, and say Thank you, there is always some drama waiting to happen around the corner. Everytime I look ahead with bright hope, and plan ahead with such faith, it falls to shambles because of some unforeseen blockade, some unbelievable occurrence. Others walk the same path, and its smooth, their feet barely touching the floor as they hurry by, but mine... my own is full of potholes, of unimaginable limits and delays, some stupid reasons why I cannot move forward. I am tired Father, I am tired. I don't know why my own must be different. Who did I offend before being born? Who is it that I must appeace once and for all so that I can move on without a hitch? What did I do to deserve all this? I know how you feel my Child but it is the

Last week, I got chatting with my ex-boyfriend. Actually he was the first guy I ever dated, and we parted ways because of many issues including the fact that he said he would not marry until he was 40 something (and he's just a year older than me), and I could not wait for that. Anyway, there were other things, other principles I held dear that I refused to give in to, like wearing makeup and dressing up fancy ALL THE TIME ( I didnt see the use of that because I wanted my dressing up to be for special occasions as that way it will be appreciated). I digress. My apologies. We parted ways (I broke up with him - on the internet, and before the comments start flowing in, I have apologized for being so wicked and we are over that) and he didnt speak to me for two years. We are friends now. I have my Vicky and he told me has someone special. In our conversation, he asked me a question - he said something like this: "I hope u still are not having that same mindset you had?" When

Thank God for technology - I was on the phone with someone in another state when the results were announced that Barack Obama had won. I ran to the TV and put it to a local channel that had the foresight to show it live (another thanks to technology in Nigeria). The speech was preceded by prayers and that alone is a sign that Christianity was back in control in that country. I have to confess that I cried throughout his speech. Not just because of his words but the enormity of it all. A Kenyan is the next president-elect of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. A BLACK-SKINNED MAN was going to rule the WHITE HOUSE. A Black Family was going to be the First family in the world. I cried and sobbed because his words were what we all wanted to hear, words of hope, words of encouragement, and words of affirmation. YES WE CAN. There is no limit to what we can do. Nothing is impossible [for God]. We are here to help each other. We are here to ensure that progress is made. We are here on earth to make

He who finds a wife, has found a good thing, and obtains favor from the Lord. The day was filled with soo many things that I love...let me start listing them: I love my cousin's wedding dress, It was a lovely sequinned dress with a sloping wrap that fitted her like a second skin. It had a lovely thin veil that was like cobwebs spun in a pattern, and she was soooo beautiful (am tired of using that word, but it is soo appropriate). I love the cool look her groom was in, the smooth suit, and the lovely smile with tears in his eyes. I love the ties the grooms men were wearing. I love the dresses we had on - so glad I was part of the train. I love the vows they exchanged - I had to fight tears several times during the service. It didnt help that I look so much like the bride and everyone was staring at me and wondering where I sprung from. and you know when I cry - my face just screws up, and I didnt want to spoil the lovely makeup I had on. I love the pictures we took afterwards at the

Friday was....was....I am trying to find the right word to describe how it was. Friday was a lovely lovely day, and the bride was beautiful beyond words. We had so much fun. It turns out I am not the only one that was a bridesmaid for the first time, so it was an experience for me. The engagement party was for 800 people, and it was covered by two television stations (Channels TV, and NTA Network). The bride and the bridesmaids had to wait to be called, in a friend's house, and eventually we entered in style. We had to dance in before the bride, and we had to carry bags around for people to bless her with monetary gifts. The hall was decorated in an african setting, complete with painted gourds and woven palm fronds and local mats on the raised platforms. It was beautiful. I could not stop smiling in happiness, cos we are many that have been praying for this day and it had finally come. She was soo lovely, so beautiful and enchanting in green and gold. The groom's family were f

Well I knew beforehand that there was going to be a party for the birthday celebration of my cousin, and I was amply prepared. I wanted to have a good time, and I did.The traffic in Lekki is seriously handicapping people o. I magine spending 2 hrs in traffic on a road that barely takes 10 minutes in a normal situation - it is a straight road for God's sake! Something must be done about that road. Someone suggested a fourth mainland bridge but I am not too optimistic about that bridge moving from fantasy to reality in my lifetime so that is out of the question. Anyway, I got home to meet a small crowd of nice people, just chilling and waiting for night to fall more darkly. I ran up the stairs and had a shower, and assumed that the party downstairs was IT.I ate late (8pm is late now you know), and spent some time gisting with other people, thinking that the party would end right there and there in the house at the appropriate 10pm.Boy, was I wrong! At abt 10.30pm, my cousin announced

We did more exercises last night, and between you and me, I must tell you. I cannot feel my waist down anymore. But I can now run up the pedestrian bridge like I was in the next Olympics team. Progress is sweet.But I still cannot feel my waist.... HELP!!!!!!

I moved in to the bride's house yesterday, and spent the evening mixing and mingling with family and (new) friends. The highlight of the night was when all the guests had gone and it remained the bride (to-be), another bridesmaid (lives in Austria and speaks German, French, English and Dutch fluently, named Aero henceforth) and me in the house.I'd commented on Aero's lean physique earlier in the day, only for me to hear that she would be er...'gym instructor' for the bride till Dday. I quickly signed on, but ten minutes after we started doing crunches that night, I was ready to run.Needless to say that my waist down feels like needles have bn stuck in all over, and I can barely breath in (remember I still had to wear my girdle to sleep).I know it will work but I am dreading nighttime already. My waist is on fire!!!

Ok, so yesterday, I went for the bridesmaid dress fitting. The first agony was locating the Tailor's shop. I had to reach Ojuelegba before taking a Mushin bus that took me back in the direction I was coming from but on the other side. The shop is called La - Beth, and they are specialists in making women's corporate suits and other stuff. I know she's a professional cos my cousin's mum has been using her services for the past 20 yrs - and believe me, if the lady can satisfy my aunt's impeccable, society-conscious taste, then she's on equal grounds with international designers anywhere. After locating the shop, they had to locate my dress, and then I entered the cubicle to wear it. It looked exactly like what was in the picture, but the arm holes were too oblong, and one pad was missing (Ladies, I didnt know that there were pads for the bra area too. Is that supposed to make the dress more fitted? Or to encourage the braless phenomenon since the nipples are not e

I have only lost 2kg. Only 2 kg! This is not it at all! I must be realistic sha. I have not been really serious, but at least I got results. These days I eat only when I am hungry, and I find that really satisfactory. It goes down well. That means I eat only once a day. Still five more days to go. And I need to lose a bit more. I think I will be taking swimming very very seriously. This means I will be swimming throughout sunday. Yes, the whole day! Hmm...Have to pack a few things. Pls pray for me o! The fitting day is drawing nearer! And pls try to understand - its for my own good!

Fasting begins! No food or water till 5pm. I have a Gala Meaty to use to break then. Then I wore the girdle to bed last night. Found out I went to the restroom more often that usual. My back is ramrod straight right now, but I will soon adjust, I know. No lunch today.....God pls hear my prayers o!