My childhood friend of over 20 years got married over the weekend and I had to travel to the state we all grew up in, to celebrate with him. I left Lagos for Ibadan that early Friday morning. It was a smooth ride with no traffic and police drama. I got to Ibadan quicker than expected and I didn't even speed.
At the groom's hotel lobby as we were heading to Church.
It was during the family introduction that I got to know that my childhood friend is getting married to the younger sister of another long time friend of mine. See how life works...I was thrilled and I am happy that I was using one stone to kill two birds since both parties mean a lot to me. Yes, I went for my friend but in the reality of it, I went for my friends. I was home away from my current home in my former home. I know it's confusing for me too but do you get it? Hahaha.
I entered my former city to meet a gridlock of traffic. Thank God my former office was nearby and I had to use that as a stop by to visit them. After using an hour with them, one of them took me through an alternative route to avoid the traffic since it wasn't getting lighter. I went to my grandma's place from there and she wasn't at home. My surprise wasn't a surprise again since I called her and she wasn't picking up. She went to church. I called my amazing nieces that stays with her too and no one picked. After around 20 minutes I left and called the groom for the direction to his hotel.
A selfie doesn't hurt.
I got to the hotel around past 12 (noon) and I met another old-time friend; Femi waiting in the lobby. I was super excited to see him too because I haven't seen him in over 10 years. I exchanged contacts with him and we spoke about what we are both up to before the groom appeared. We were together for the two days of the wedding as we shared the same room in the hotel and had a lot of catching up to do. I admire him a lot because he would give his best always. He is an incredible young man.
The engagement started late but it was enough time for us to catch up and then transport people from different locations and I was behind the wheels most of the time. It was fun being helpful and making the wedding plans go smoothly. We finished around past 8 and we stayed back a bit before heading to the groom's hotel.
The hotels around were all booked out and some were too pricey for me (35,000 Naira = $65) . I was going to sleep for just 4 hours since we got to the hotel around 2 am. We had to look for a cheaper one and we found it at (9,000 Naira = $18). I should have paid for 2 nights but I was convinced to pay for one because I went for cheap and oh boy, we found cheap. Only the fan and electricity were working there 😂😂🤣. AC wasn't working, they didn't have cold drinks, their kitchen had no food and it wasn't because we got there around 2 am, it was just the norm there. That was why I felt compelled not to take the two nights and I paid for one. I wasn't scared of paying money for comfort but I only felt it wasn't making sense since I would be up by 7 am to pay $65 for just a few hours of sleep.
That's me at the front on the "agbada" attire.
Everything went well that Saturday morning as we headed for the Church service and I had my suit on. For the engagement, I wore a wine native attire we call "Agbada". From the Church joining we went to the reception where the bulk of the work was with sitting arrangements, interviews, food and helping people settle in. I was glad all hands were on deck and I granted an interview even though my brain was stressed at that time. I was struggling with the right words but I know I wasn't making too much sense to myself because my mouth was saying something different from the words I had formed in my head 😂😂🤣🤣. Is fatigue your mate? 🤣🤣😂 Fatigue can mess you up...but I am not sure anyone noticed but when you say nonsense, no one knows it better than you.
It was a fun weekend and I met a lot of faces that I hadn't seen in a long while - old friends and family members too... I was happy to see another friend we grew up together; Tomi Atolani. It was eventful and smooth. I left early on Sunday morning around 9:30 and got to Lagos before 11 am. I've been sleeping anyhow since then. Oh... I forgot... We had to move around again after that Saturday wedding and there was no hotel in sight. The good ones with moderate prices were all booked out and we had to go to the hotel I used the last time. The room I used at that time was occupied and had to settle for a smaller room with just a few amount knocked off it. That's why I said I wish I had paid for 2 nights that day regardless 🤣😂. That hotel suffered us...but anything for family and friends...no complaints.
Enjoy the remaining pictures. It's a lot but I highlighted the important ones.
Myself with Lola; the girlfriend of my other friend whose sister got married to my childhood friend.
That's him with his gf.
That's the best man; the younger brother of the groom with his...Erm...never mind. We are still settling this matter.
Getting ready for Church after barely 4 hours of decent sleep.
Warning...never snap with someone that is too tall. See how he made me look like a dwarf and I am not short for God's sake!
See another giant beside me named Kobe.
Yusuf, Femi and myself.
Prostrating to and for the bride's family.
When we were going in for the engagement that evening.
Anastasia came to see me. I haven't seen her physically in 4 years.
Thank you for your time.
My pen doesn't bleed, it speaks, with speed and ease.
Still me,
My tongue is like the pen of a ready writer.
Olawalium; (Love's chemical content, in human form). Take a dose today: doctor's order.