I could not believe what I just heard.It was hard to comprehend the fact that she was no more yet we had talked over phone just a few hours before.What amazes me is how mothers can love.The undying love they have for their children is incomparable.What they go through for the sake of our own happiness and well-being is undisputed.This woman was in pain,she was dying from the inside,yet she calmly talked to me with her usual questions of,"Mitihani inakupelekaje,huwa mnakula nini,kunanyesha uko?"and the latter is such a common question that annoys sometimes,ask any kalenjin abroad.
We talked for a while before she said she had an appointment at the Salon.Little did I know that it was the last time I had conversed with her.Could it be that she was preparing for her death?Could it be that she had seen it coming?These are one of the many unanswered questions I still Postulate.
The news hit me at a wrong time.I had a series of exams in line and I was broke,like damn broke. By the way, I wonder why many back at home, especially from the villages or those who've never been abroad always presume that money here is literally harvested.Yes I said it.Well,we do hustle way a lot.You can imagine working to cover all the bills,from the health insurance to rent and then study.....in German!This in essence means one has to study thrice as hard and then there's someone home who'll still have the audacity to ask me to buy them a car,or send them the 4 million as capital they intend to launch a business project with,or that relative who wants 5000 € ya Soda Madiaba. Well,where was I?
I didn't know what to do or where to commence from.Whether or not I flew home,I had to chip in something. Like Maina Kageni says it,a kadabo dabo was so essential at that point.My mates didn't know how exactly to comfort me,and of course they joined me in the midday Kadabodabo escapade.After a few days,I had my ticket and I will explicate how this miracle occurred.
The flight itself took ages,I had a 10-hour stop in Dubai....let that sink in.10 hours!And with my 'mediocre' Kenyan passport, I couldn't get any access out of the airport.....as if I'd seek asylum if I got that freedom,puliiiiz! I also had mixed feelings.On one hand I'm going for a burial,grief and sadness engulfed,and on the other,I will meet with those relatives I'd never have had a chance to meet on normal occasions and the fact that it was winter!Sema kuhepa depression.I found the idea of being at a place,known as a source of happiness and fresh breath of air refreshing and appealing.You know you're home,when you read 'Only Kenyans' at the customs and the Swahili language being spoken,okay let's say sheng just for the sake of my point.You know your language is one of the best when it's being offered in quite a number of Universities abroad.The pride that comes with it is immense I tell ya.
I had finally arrived,almost home.Don't get me wrong,I love Nairobi,but Eldy is just like a safe haven to me.The friendliness, reception,sincerity and the environment generally is incomparable. A hater will say,it's because I'm a kale(njin) and was brought up there but hater who?
I got to the site of the funeral and I could not believe what I saw.The number of mourners,and the whole arrangement in general and this is one thing that I commend us a people,we come uninvited to weddings and during happy moments,however, we're also there during our most trying moments. Well,I couldn't wait for the funeral to be over,the wailing and crying broke me down.
I do understand that celebrating one's life is okay,I really do but why should people weep when she supposedly 'went to a better place' and that 'God loved her most?'I thought people should have been celebrating that she's in a 'better' place.The irony is still not grasped enough in my brain.And why people presume that every dead goes to heaven is beyond me as well.Let me not offend any person of faith hehe.
My two younger siblings are the people I most felt sorry for.The bond they had with that woman was brobdingnagian(Don't know what the hell that means),and now she was no more.People gave their condolence speeches but only one touched me.I vividly remember what he said.'We should not wait until someone is gone to appreciate them or speak of their good deeds or accomplishments.'It got me thinking,Did I at one time ever say thanks to my mum for the sacrifices she made?No I didn't. Did I ever at one point say,mama,I love you?You're right no!I was heartbroken,and this should be a challenge to you.Most of the time we fail to say a simple thank you,I miss you,or you look good today.How often have we said these words,how often have we appreciated the little things done for us?
Ask yourself those questions and see how you fair.Let's learn to say thank you, to appreciate the little things people do for us.They won't cost a penny.It may mean less to us but a lot to them.They may not expect anything in return but we can lighten their souls,make them happier and revive faith in humanity. Let's learn to appreciate those close to us,and I mean those who are there for us during hardships,like my friends,who raised money for the ticket without my knowledge,made my journey possible without expecting anything in return.I will never cease to be grateful for what they did and how they sacrificed their energy and time to comfort and be there for me. Let's learn to celebrate and love unconditionally.To spend time with them,to laugh,to cherish and to live lively for we never know when we could lose them.
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