Growing up I was taught never to quit. I was taught that even when the seas are rough, if you stayed focused and kept faith with your goal, that treasure would be found. I have tried to live with this in mind whenever I run into challenges as I have a couple of times on this journey called life. I have come to accept the scars of life are the stripes of having lived. Don’t get me wrong, I am not glorifying mishaps or hard ship but life is a journey not a destination, it is a marathon not a sprint or dash. You win some and you lose some. It’s not about falling but getting up each and every time you fall and trudging on until the good Lord calls your number. It therefore behoves on us to keep hope alive.
Last night was Family Night for us, our fortnightly ‘ritual’ where we sit in the family room and shoot breeze until we all hit the sack. For yesterday, the honour of the ‘last person standing’ was Danju’s.
Sampi should be excused after working for five hours at MacDonald’s where she’s being exposed to the reality check of life. Working not because she has to, but because she wants to. She’s been loving it so far and now with her high school grad behind her and university not starting until September, it helps put some loose change in her purse and keeps her away from trouble and mischief.
Danju and I had gone to our recreational centre – Servus Place; I, to the gym as always while Danju went shooting hoops on the court with some pals of his. Papa elected to stay home and catch up with his friends online having technically finished grade 7 that day.
Thereafter, Danju and I went over and got some Pizza, chicken wings, carrots and veggie dip (yes we have to get people eating healthy somewhat) and on the way back picked up Sampi from her job. When we got home, Papa had laid the drinks, chips and for the movie of the night it was “Wedding Crashers”.
We woke up this morning and witnessed the last hope for Africa in the current soccer world cup contest, the ‘Black Stars’ of Ghana ease past the US team for a spot in the round of eight. Hope is alive afterall. I must add that this is only the second time Ghana is competing at the senior level in the soccer world cup. In their debut, they got to the round of 16 again beating the US team on the way, talk of lightening striking twice.
So while I feel for the US team who played with so much passion and commitment, in my inner most heart, I am glad Ghana is still in the race and carrying the flag for Africa. Hope is Alive…!
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Dad's Birthday
There are feelings that words seem incapable of capturing, feelings of love, pangs of pain, sense of grief, intense joy etc. I experienced such a feeling of deep and sincere love listening to the smile in my dad's voice when I called this morning to wish him a happy birthday. Dad turns 72 today!
Being so geographically far away (I'm in Canada - the true North, at this very moment while my parents are back in Nigeria, my dear homeland), and thanks to technology I had sent him a text message at exactly 6am local time in Nigeria in an effort at being the first to wish him a happy birthday. In my dad's family (I have to make that distinction since I'm raising a family of my own), it is gradually becoming a cheery contest to know who's the first to call on a birthday whenever any one of us has a birthday. So today I guess I was in a pole position with my text message. I then secured my 'position' with a phone call a couple of minutes ago and I could feel the 'old boy' smiling on the phone. Danju and Papa who were set to catch their bus to school also got in on the conversation.Three generations of my family!! I keep counting my blessings.
Being so geographically far away (I'm in Canada - the true North, at this very moment while my parents are back in Nigeria, my dear homeland), and thanks to technology I had sent him a text message at exactly 6am local time in Nigeria in an effort at being the first to wish him a happy birthday. In my dad's family (I have to make that distinction since I'm raising a family of my own), it is gradually becoming a cheery contest to know who's the first to call on a birthday whenever any one of us has a birthday. So today I guess I was in a pole position with my text message. I then secured my 'position' with a phone call a couple of minutes ago and I could feel the 'old boy' smiling on the phone. Danju and Papa who were set to catch their bus to school also got in on the conversation.Three generations of my family!! I keep counting my blessings.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
What has soccer got to do with it?
I have just finished watching the soccer game (pardon my holding back a lot of emotions at this time) between Nigeria and South Korea; a game that Nigeria needed to win by just a goal difference to qualify for the round of 16. Do I hear anyone say that Nigeria’s performance at the fiesta in South Africa has been sub par (except for that by the goalie Vincent Enyeama) that progressing to the next round would been an injustice to better prepared teams or that getting out of round one would only have exposed Nigeria’s inadequacies even more.
So what was the issue with Nigeria? Some say it is a reflection of the fire-fighting attitude that has become commonplace around us. Others would argue that it is an outcome of nepotism and the federal character principle of sacrificing quality and performance for an all-inclusive political correctness. There are those who wonder why some half-fit players made the selection and yet another group asks what on earth made Nigeria allow a couple of over-the-hill, tired legs to board the team airplane to South Africa?
That then brings me to the caption – what has soccer got to do with it? Why do we as human beings seem to lack the will power, ‘the mojo’, the spunk, the gumption and the decisiveness to make those hard decisions that should be made in the interest of equity and fairness? As I ponder this thought, I also think of how we are faced with similar challenges in our private lives.
There are tons of stories of relationships that never should have been. There may be an equal number of liaisons that should get the axe. It was fathers’ day on Sunday in North America (and may be in some other parts of the world too) and greetings and felicitations were flowing back and forth from east to west and from north to south. In the midst of it all, a friend had wondered aloud if there was a difference between merely being a biological father and being a real dad ready to meet all the tough challenges that come with fatherhood. While I am a dad, I do not think I know it all and so would ‘plead the fifth’ in this case. I am also raising three lovely children and wonder if I am empowering them and exposing them enough to ‘stop the bleeding’ when it becomes absolutely necessary that it’s the right thing to do as they forge relationships in their lives in the future.
So as people take stock of the performance of the Nigerian soccer team to the on-going world cup and with all the passionate and strongly held (albeit contending) views, I ask again – what has soccer got to do with it? Is this purely a case of soccer or is it symptomatic of a larger human issue about decision-making? We live and learn daily don’t we?
So what was the issue with Nigeria? Some say it is a reflection of the fire-fighting attitude that has become commonplace around us. Others would argue that it is an outcome of nepotism and the federal character principle of sacrificing quality and performance for an all-inclusive political correctness. There are those who wonder why some half-fit players made the selection and yet another group asks what on earth made Nigeria allow a couple of over-the-hill, tired legs to board the team airplane to South Africa?
That then brings me to the caption – what has soccer got to do with it? Why do we as human beings seem to lack the will power, ‘the mojo’, the spunk, the gumption and the decisiveness to make those hard decisions that should be made in the interest of equity and fairness? As I ponder this thought, I also think of how we are faced with similar challenges in our private lives.
There are tons of stories of relationships that never should have been. There may be an equal number of liaisons that should get the axe. It was fathers’ day on Sunday in North America (and may be in some other parts of the world too) and greetings and felicitations were flowing back and forth from east to west and from north to south. In the midst of it all, a friend had wondered aloud if there was a difference between merely being a biological father and being a real dad ready to meet all the tough challenges that come with fatherhood. While I am a dad, I do not think I know it all and so would ‘plead the fifth’ in this case. I am also raising three lovely children and wonder if I am empowering them and exposing them enough to ‘stop the bleeding’ when it becomes absolutely necessary that it’s the right thing to do as they forge relationships in their lives in the future.
So as people take stock of the performance of the Nigerian soccer team to the on-going world cup and with all the passionate and strongly held (albeit contending) views, I ask again – what has soccer got to do with it? Is this purely a case of soccer or is it symptomatic of a larger human issue about decision-making? We live and learn daily don’t we?
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Everyday is a Gift
We are often told and reminded in holy books, by sages, in random talks and writings and by several other sources, that like life, everyday is a gift from the most high Lord. On June 12 at the Shaw Conference centre in downtown Edmonton in Canada, my daughter and first child Sampi along with 200+ other excited teenagers had her high school graduation ceremony in a very colourful and very formal event. Almost daily since that momentuous day, I have wondered what kind of gift Sampi would be to the world. I have prayed and continue to pray that she turns out as the heavenly Father would be pleased she did.
Wow I got so carried away that I almost forgot to apologize and explain my absence and failure to update this Diary since late last year. With Facebook, Twitter and Skype added to the time consuming responsibility of quality fatherhood, the Diary took a hit. I found myself promising and failing many times over to get back here and update you my readers. Today therefore is a gift that I promised to share.
So much has happened since the last time I was here. Danju's basketball tournaments; Papa's Football team, the Colts had played the Edmonton Chargers in the Zonal finals. The Chargers went on to win the Provincial trophy beating the champions of Calgary. The track meets among junior high schools, Danju's graduation from junior high, Sampi's bikeathon at Bellerose Composite High-a highly successful fundraiser over a 3day period, my two trips to motherland to keep my cherished networks alive and to explore opportunities for contributing to the edification of the Nigerian renaissance etc. And now Sampi's grad. Phew! It has been as exciting and interesting as it has been challenging at times, depressing at other times and in all cases, thought provoking. While I have hardly made any new friends in St. Albert I thank God for the friends I have made both online and during my trips to Nigeria in recent times. I was introduced to one such acquaintance in 2008 during what I have termed my short tour of near voluntary duty in motherland. He has since become a friend and no longer just an aquaintance. You are a gift Doctor Joe of 'j-wood' in VGC for graciously allowing me free access to and accomodation in your home during my visits to motherland in December last year and May this year respectively. There are a couple of other 'gifts' that I am grateful for who due to space constraints cannot me individually mentioned here. I thank them for being my chauffer, cook and sounding board at different times, roles played without a single complaint. What gift would life be without sincere friends. Everyday is indeed a gift and as I count my gifts and my blessings I am the more humbled by how undeserving I may be for a lot of them. In closing tonight, I thank you Lord for all the gifts and blessings bestowed on me and my family and my wish is that everyone receives as I have and continue to receive. Good night people, the Diary is here again. Read, enjoy and comment as the spirit moves you.
Wow I got so carried away that I almost forgot to apologize and explain my absence and failure to update this Diary since late last year. With Facebook, Twitter and Skype added to the time consuming responsibility of quality fatherhood, the Diary took a hit. I found myself promising and failing many times over to get back here and update you my readers. Today therefore is a gift that I promised to share.
So much has happened since the last time I was here. Danju's basketball tournaments; Papa's Football team, the Colts had played the Edmonton Chargers in the Zonal finals. The Chargers went on to win the Provincial trophy beating the champions of Calgary. The track meets among junior high schools, Danju's graduation from junior high, Sampi's bikeathon at Bellerose Composite High-a highly successful fundraiser over a 3day period, my two trips to motherland to keep my cherished networks alive and to explore opportunities for contributing to the edification of the Nigerian renaissance etc. And now Sampi's grad. Phew! It has been as exciting and interesting as it has been challenging at times, depressing at other times and in all cases, thought provoking. While I have hardly made any new friends in St. Albert I thank God for the friends I have made both online and during my trips to Nigeria in recent times. I was introduced to one such acquaintance in 2008 during what I have termed my short tour of near voluntary duty in motherland. He has since become a friend and no longer just an aquaintance. You are a gift Doctor Joe of 'j-wood' in VGC for graciously allowing me free access to and accomodation in your home during my visits to motherland in December last year and May this year respectively. There are a couple of other 'gifts' that I am grateful for who due to space constraints cannot me individually mentioned here. I thank them for being my chauffer, cook and sounding board at different times, roles played without a single complaint. What gift would life be without sincere friends. Everyday is indeed a gift and as I count my gifts and my blessings I am the more humbled by how undeserving I may be for a lot of them. In closing tonight, I thank you Lord for all the gifts and blessings bestowed on me and my family and my wish is that everyone receives as I have and continue to receive. Good night people, the Diary is here again. Read, enjoy and comment as the spirit moves you.
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