08/25/2024
Resting peacefully.
Papa, exactly a year ago today, life paid you a visit as it had done for 113 years. However, instead of giving you what it had given you for 113 years, life chose to take everything from you, your smiles, your laughter, your brilliance, your prayers, your gentle disposition, your curiosity, your love for people, your generosity, your humility, your ever gentle voice, your peace-lovingmind, your thoughtful words and thought -provoking questions, and your sharp mind. Life visited you, took everything, even your last breath.
What we thought would never end, ended without much fuss. In your usual peaceful, non-combative manner you neither argued nor struggled with life. You let life had it's way. You gave life everything.
One year later your memory is as fresh as the morning dew. I see your face daily. I use your wisdom daily to navigate life. I listen to your words of wisdom and encouragement when I'm down. I play back our conversations when matters get knotty. I ponder your nudging question "isn't there one thing that can make you change your mind?" I stare at your photo to look for my next move when I'm lost in life's game of chess. Your steady gaze provides answers to the unspoken questions which you and I deeply understood.
With you resting peacefully, my daily 20 year phone call routine to you also went to rest. Needless to say, sometime I still jump thinking I've forgotten to call you only to remember that you were not there.
We miss you daily.
I miss you dearly.
Babayo, continue to rest in peace.
Oriki:
Oma Gbabijo lurere.
Olorere fanranfan.
Oma agbowo okun l'obiren. Oma adogho nogodo ghun obiren tu.
Oma okonren godogbo ren tarare, tarare.
Oma manarare, jifo oun nonen.
Oma agbo ma biwon.
Oma agbo ma dahun, ofi aidahun dawon lara.
Oma oburen-buren serun wuye-wuye. An ji kiwo mije ke?
Oji oun mije esusu ale ana.
Oma usu ghule, eh'obe.
Obe kan yi ghule dodidan.
Oma oneje sikun, adigunle tomane.
Adio Oje. Oma Semuse-Itujanla.
Sun re o.
Awa oma re se ule de re o.
