The Ramblings of A Nigerian Mom

She was shivering and sweating profusely as her hubby stood by wiping the beads of sweat off her fevered brow. Her brave clear eyes sparkled with unshed tears as she struggled to keep faith in line with the many verbal admonitions. As she had been doing for 5+ painfully long weeks. Bravely enduring the pain wracking her entire being with all the tubes passed into her, the thirst and hunger...muttering to herself at intervals...praying the pain would go away...praying she would walk out of that room to be with her baby...praying the administered drugs would work the required miracle...keeping faith... Faith...

Deceased I just read this on  Punch Online  and I'm tearing up right now. This sad story just re-opened the scabs of the wound my family has been dealing with in the last three months...would probably share 'my' story soon. So heartbreaking... ................................................................................................................................................................ When Omowumi Shonuga tapped her husband that her water had broken at 5 am on Thursday morning, being a sign of labour pain, anxiety took hold of him. Although he, Ayobanji Shonuga, was remotely happy that his second child was about to be born, he was as nervous as many men would be in that situation.

S oftly she sways to the rhythm of the winds A s the sweetly singing birds lure with their soothing melodies F ar away in a distant land where no rancor dwells E ven as she closes her eyes in utter contentment I n, the melodious tunes beckon her battle-weary soul N o wailing could deter as she breaks free from the bonds of love T rust in the upward pull, she whispers as she floats away H olding on tight lest the singing stops and the spell breaks E scape, sweet soul..escape from the woods into eternal rest W ords, soothing but searing, brings little respite O little ones, smile at the winds and sway to the songs O ut of the woods, blissfully all will be someday D espairing not at the vain glories of the woods S afe in the woods, nobody ever is.

Source January started on a high note in our home...until we got the sad news that our Pastor had been 'called home' after a 9-month battle with colon cancer. Terrible terrible news on a new year day. Cancer...again.

Just yesterday, the rate at which bleak and bleary news kept fleeting by left me woozed . You know, every time I checked the news, it just kept getting badder and badder ...this post is really going to be full of a couple of unconventional words without abode in the dictionary. Bomb blasts...bloody news...beheading...shooting...

No more hurting people...Peace.

Prophet T.O Obadare Growing up in Akure, the Ondo State capital was fun and the memories will always be held dear. Also, growing up was without the perks of the present day. For instance, there were few colour TVs back then, fewer computers, no cable TV, no GSM to mention a few of the priviledges we take for granted in the present day. Back then, we were members of the St. Stephens's Anglican church where mum and dad were very active members and after service every sunday evening at 4pm, one voice and face that was a weekly constant on the State TV (OSRC) was that of prophet T.O Obadare. He was very much part of my growing-up. Even though he was visually challenged, yet his personality and spirituality was so strong that thousands would travel from far and near just to listen and watch him speak and preach during his monthly “ Koseunti ” crusades.

Stop Press Ladies....and Gents. The media has been agog recently with the news of the sudden demise of our own Goldie, at 31. Quite young. She has been laid to rest earlier today. May her beautiful soul rest in peace. Cause of death: Hypertensive heart disease that triggered Intracerebral Haemorrhage . Long and nasty name for a dreadful disease, full stop. Just read another sad news on Daily Mail a few minutes ago about a 19 year old promising woman, Charlotte Mayes who passed on late in 2012. Very young. Cause of death: Undetected heart ailment -  hypertrophic cardiomyopathy which causes a thickening of the heart muscle forcing it to work harder to pump blood. Both were relatively young, beautiful with dreams, shinning aspirations, lofty ambitions and their whole lives ahead of them before death came calling.

I have keenly followed the Oscar / Steenkamp 'case' since the avoidable tragedy occured on February 14, same day Nigeria lost Police. Murder or accident, nothing changes the fact that a father has lost his daughter in the most cruel circumstances; Réeva's siblings and friends would never again hear her talk or laugh anymore. If you are reading about this for the first time, this happened in far away South Africa on February 14. Oscar (who is also known as the 'blade runner') is the South African Olympian/Paralympian who shot to fame / stardom during London 2012 Olympic games

    Time was 4.30pm, Sunday June 3rd. I had just gone into the kitchen to get ribena for one of my little men when my younger brother came out of his room and announced that he just heard there was a plane crash somewhere at Agege. First reaction was disbelief. "Are you sure of what you are saying?" My 'bambinos' momentarily forgotten as I raced to bring out my laptop to check the veracity of his statement. Logged on and there it was, anybody's worst fear coming to play, unraveling before our very own eyes. It has been four days, weeping still endure at the various affected homes and pains in all our hearts. Even though I do not personally know anybody involved, yet the pain is still so poignant and surreal.