It was Christmas time in 2011. It was the last Christmas I and my siblings would spend with my Daddy of 75 years old. He died of diabetes on January 25th, 2010 after a wonderful Christmas celebration. As Christmas is tomorrow this year, I am reflecting on the lifetime that we spent together.
My father was an excellent man, loving, caring with a good and tender heart. His lifestyle attracted so many people from far and near to him. At Christmas time like this our compound would be filled with our relatives, friends, neighbors, Ministers of the Gospel and church members.
Though he married many women with many children, we never stopped celebrating Christmas in a big way, of which we are very proud. That day, our home was filled with love, caring, kindness, joy, the neighborhood kids and their pets. This is a memory that usually lives in my innermost heart on every Christmas Eve. It always remains a very poignant memory.
Also, I reflect back to 1990. I cherish that last Christmas we spent together. Our relatives, many friends, neighbors, Ministers of the Gospel and Church members were all present. The whole compound filled up with people. Daddy had bought enough food, meat and anything drinkable for everyone and gift items.
He shared a Christmas gift to all of us to present to all who came to celebrate the birth of Christ with us.
He gave me and my siblings two thousand five hundred naira only, a huge sum of money back then as Christmas pocket money despite the clothes, shoes and everything he had put in place for the Christmas to be a nice one.
It was Christmas Eve and it’s quiet in our playhall of two hundred sitters. It’s just daddy and all the children with our reveries, listening to Christmas music while drinking juice with fried chicken.Daddy pulls close to us and says, “My pride, have I made you happy?”
“Oh, yes!, you have,” we told him. “You showed us love and made us happy.”
Daddy began to advise us, " NO ONE KNOWS TOMORROW, TRY AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE TO BE KIND WITH EVERYONE ." And after that, all others were invited to the hall for an official warm welcome and Eve celebration with us.
What a memory? Sadly, in 2011, in which we had a different Christmas celebration contrary to the one of 2010 till today, no one could organize or coordinate Christmas Eve again for us, no fun again, no gathering again, no advice and togetherness again.
Today, Sunday , December 24th being Christmas Eve I'm just with my family alone, no family members, friends, neighbors and so, so and to identify with me. You are invited to celebrate with me tomorrow at Christmas village, Uyo, time - 3pm.
I have lost a great moment of fun in my life with Daddy and friends. There is no Christmas without the love, the kindness we share with family, friends and all available to feel the special vibe that comes with the Christmas season.
Happy Christmas to you all and a very prosperous New year 🎉🎉