Greetings!
For all the months of this year 2024 so far, I think March has been the most significant highlight for me because it happened in a grand style.
For someone who travels home just once a year, and mostly towards the end of the year during the festive season, I was made to travel home in the month of March. Though the reason was a burial ceremony, it was a celebration of old age and a life well spent—my paternal grandma's burial ceremony. She lived for 87 years.
This woman had a lot of children, among whom my dad is one, and these children already have grandchildren. So, imagine the kind of reunion it was!
As much as the month was sweet, entertaining, and lovely, it started with massive expenses for me. I had to send a good sum of money home to support my parents with the financial demands, which were massive because they needed to entertain a lot of guests. Apart from that, I spent on the compulsory white native wear, and transport to and from home, plus other expenses, were just too much.
One of the biggest highlights of the event was meeting relatives I hadn’t seen for so many years. Some of them grew up with me when we were small but later moved to different places as life demanded, and ever since then, we hadn’t seen each other. It was just pure joy. We took a lot of photos as well.
I was called “uncle” everywhere, and along the way, money kept leaving my pocket uncontrollably because I needed to match up with the “uncle” title.
The day after the event, a senior cousin and I went on a tour of the village, visiting places we hadn’t been to in a long time, especially the rivers at the end of our street. It was sheer joy seeing those sites, chatting, and taking photos.
I’m not so into drinking, so I deeply settled for the food.
You know, living alone deprives someone of eating their heart’s desire, especially when the person is not financially buoyant. While on this vacation, I ate like I was never going to feel hungry again after leaving the village. Many kinds of food were available, but I settled on swallow and egusi soup made with goat meat. Oh my goodness! One of my favorite combos!
There was so much food that I even had to take some back with me to my base. I wish life could always be like that.
Throughout the period, I made sure I took a lot of photos for memories. In fact, I covered the event right from the cooking stage to two days after the ceremony because moments like that are hard to come by. Even during Christmas seasons, we don’t gather in full length like we did this time. Yes, I needed the memory in full.
Thanks for reading!
This is my entry to Hivenaija prompt of the week
Photos are mine
