I CAN DO BAD ALL BY MYSELF

The loud bang of a firecracker gets me jumping out of bed. I try to open my eyes, but it feels super dry and itchy like I’ve got a gazillion sand flies in them. I feel my way to the vanity, switch on the lamp and realize I had slept off wearing my contacts again. Luckily, my eye drop is on the table. I use them, take off my contact and wear my glasses.

It's 12:05. I missed it!

I had set the alarm for 12noon, not 12 pm. Gosh. The magic minute that ushered in 2018 was gone forever. The phone beeps and my attention is drawn to notifications that reveal myriad goodwill messages from family, friends, and colleagues. I consider ignoring them and going back to bed, but the phone starts to buzz. “Mum” appears on the screen:

“Hello Mum, Happy New Year”
“Yes my daughter, Happy New year. God bless you abundantly. Are you in church? I am on the second floor”
“No mum, I had some deadlines, I couldn’t make it”

Mum spends the next 2 hours (ok, maybe just 4 minutes)being the typical African mom and lamenting over my choice to stay at home and work on an article, rather than enter the New year in the house of the lord. Before she breaks into worship songs and prayers, I let her know I will visit in the afternoon.I feel a little guilty, not being the perfect daughter who loves the lord like mama…but I shake it off.

I switch on my laptop and pull out my to-do list for the day: 4 articles to write and 3 e-mails. No party to attend. Nothing remotely fun. a not pops up at the top of the screen “update your Steemit account” ....and here I am!

Officially, I am Nkem Ndem Vivienne…but I guess “Viv” rolls off the tongue quicker. You can call me that. I am a freelance writer and editor who can be reached for content creation(web, T.V, radio), writing and editing (blog, magazine, text), screenwriting, ghostwriting, copy proofreading and reviews.

I currently live and work in Lagos (although I'm obsessed with Dubai and cant stop visiting). I have had stints with Jumia and SpiceTV Africa e.t.c. Now I work with Glam Africa as Online editor and BellaNaija as Features writer.

Check me out on Instagram @kem_dem, twitter@ndemv and Snapchat @ndemv. And you can also send me an e-mail via [email protected].