Decades: Chunks of Time

This is a poem I wrote for a friend that is having issues....she enjoyed it and has permitted me to share to the world as well - someone out there probably needs the upliftment.... Its family thanksgiving day. Everyone is in church, seated with their families, children, grandparents and all. The pastor calls out all the couples that are a year old, and my husband and I file out with the rest. 10 couples in all. And only one couple is without a baby. Us. It felt like the sore thumb, always sticking out. It doesn’t help matters that both my sisters-in-law are among us. I can’t help but feel like everyone is staring at me, wondering why, wondering when. Well, I don't know too! And I don't like it either! I don’t like not knowing when God will finally answer my prayers and give me the twins I want. I don't like not knowing whether I will menstruate or even ovulate each month. I don't like not knowing how my body could fluctuate between weight levels so rapidly and often. I...

Sorry folks, I know this has been long over-due. You can read part 1 , part 2 , part 3 and part 4 first. =-------= =-------= "Mummy, open the door!" Ajibike shouted as she jumped up and down excitedly at the entrance to her home. She had just come back from a photo session with her best friend, Lanre. They were neighbors- the Adekomi's stayed on the ground floor while their family occupied the upper flat of their building, which was among the staff quarters on campus. Ajibike had been scared at first when her mother had told her Mr. Adekomi would be taking them there, a man so tall that all she ever saw were his long long legs. The only time she ever saw his face was the one time he had carried them all to school, when he yelled that she had not closed the door of his VolksWagen Beetle car properly, and after that, she had cried that she never wanted to follow him to school again. It didn't help that his cheeks were lined from one end to another in tribal marks...

Sorry folks, I know this has been long over-due. You can read part 1 , part 2 and part 3 first. =-------= "What do you think happened?" asked her husband as he joined her on the balcony to watch the coming procession. "I don't know," she replied, "but it cant be good for 7 people to be carrying our daughter home." "She's alive isnt she?" the father mused. "Then it can't be that bad. Just calm down." Thirty minutes later he wasn't sure of his conclusion anymore. The crowd had arrived and were taking up the space in his living room. When he asked what the problem was, they all tried to explain at once. "Silence!" bellowed Daddy Eko. "Only one person should talk." "She has a bead stuck in her nose." the sunday school teacher said. "Is that all?" her mother asked, sighing in releif. "She didn't beat anybody? Didnt steal anything?" "No Ma." replied the man. ...

Well, I never thought I would do this, but here I am. I had an 'eureka' moment while watching....wait, let me start from the beginning. In 2006, I looked forward to graduating with the rest of my class, only to find out the hard way that my name was not on the list of graduands - yeah I found out by checking the late brochure, while sitting in the graduating hall, while my family were waiting to start eating (get the full story here). Anyway, that was ages ago, And I wont rehash the pain and agony I went through trying to rehash the recent past then, trying to find out what I could have done to the department's results coordinator, my course adviser, favourite lecturer and mentor, Mr. Sawyerr. Needless to say his singular action of excluding me from the list caused me a lot of delay in my life's plan, but - I digress. While I was watching 'Being Erica', it all came together for me. You know, when you sit/stand somewhere, and something flashes in your mind from t...

This is my first post this year and to my readers I apologize. I apologize because it took a threat from one of you to come here. Its been hectic - Getting adjusted to 'After-The-Wedding' life and new working environment and all that. Although someone will say that working from home isn't a new environment but believe me, it is. I spent Primary 5 and 6 and all of my Secondary school education as a Boarding student. My Mum usually had to resort to threats to get me to come home when I was in the University, so for me it is a new environment. The daily routine is ...different because I spend more time working unconsciously. Normal working hours are 8 to 5, but I find myself working longer because I never really leave work. I didnt really see it in this light until my mother came visiting. "What is your husband having for breakfast?" she would ask, to which I would just point to the fridge. "What will your husband eat when he returns?" my Mum would as...

Its here. The D-Day is here. Well, almost. By sunday night, I am going to be a married woman. My name will change, everything will change, even my body. It seemed so far away six months ago. All the shopping, all the mother and daughter fights, everything looks so trivial now. The cake isnt ready, the gown is ready. The bridesmaids dresses are alright, the chief bridesmaid's dress has not even been sewn yet. The flowers for everybody has not arrived yet. And my hairdresser wants to rob me blind, but its too short a notice to get another. I cannot remember where I hid the marriage license and I am looking for some of the gift money. One of my bridesmaids is acting very funny and we are thinking that the service boys from the caterer might not cover the whole event. Why do I have to fix artificial nails? And must my hairdo be gel? Can't I just set my hair in a curl or wave? The video guy is bugging us for his advance payment, and I still have to pay for the hair pieces for the br...

Tis amazing what we take for granted everyday...Got to church yesterday in less than 10 mins thanks to Bikermice from Mars [I'll miss them when I move to Abuja!]. As I went up then down the ped bridge briskly, all that was on my mind was getting to church. I stepped into Church and all that changed. It seemed my hip had shifted. I could barely put any weight on my right leg. It was awful. I developed a limp as I entered the church. I gunned for the very first available seat at the back. I could barely put pressure on the hip even while sitting. I wondered what I had done to cause it to happen. Was it my diet? For two weeks I have stayed away from rice, white bread, and yam. Considering that that was the staple in my household, you can understand that it was with supreme effort that I was sticking to that regime. I am loving the effects already as my clothes are really loose around my body, but I am lacking carbohydrates - it would have been total if not for the spaghetti I consume ...