Fathering the next generation...

    Nnamaka

My father clocked 79 years last month. If I could describe him in few words – Dependable, Disciplined, Time-Conscious, Hardworking and Intelligent will readily come to mind.

Growing up, he was my Atlas, Dictionary and Encyclopedia, all in one. I always beamed with pride unlocking Post Office box 4379 opposite the National Museum of Colonial History Aba, to pick up dad’s regular subscription of Time, National Geographic and Newsweek magazines. Those were my very first introduction to the world of ‘oyibo* news’ and global science. I got accustomed to hearing Voice of America (VOA) news on the radio as early as 0430hrs in the morning.

He told me endless stories of what happened during the civil war from 1967 – 1969 and he kept a nice drawing of our family tree to trace our family lineage. He bought my younger brother and I ‘water colour’ to draw and paint pictures which we displayed with pride even though looking back those paintings were without form and void.

Dad’s handwriting was and still is part of my treasured collections (apologies if yours is like chicken’s scrawl). I still have letters he wrote me in the university. Those letters usually started with ‘Dear Zn’ and ended with ‘the times are changing and we must also change and trudge along’. I bet he may not remember all these but how can I forget?  One particular occasion during exams, I was so ‘broooooke’ in school when I met a friend Chukwuma travelling to Port Harcourt. I asked him to check on my dad just incase he had anything for me. It was impromptu but dad ransacked his kitchen and sent me a big loaf of fruity-oval-shaped bread that had been cut, Cadbury bournvita drink, Nido milk, tooth paste, some amount of money including some tablets that mistakenly found their way into the bag and a letter. Chukwuma waited to collect his share from the parcel while sorrowfully narrating how he missed meeting his dad who had travelled by the time he got to Port Harcourt. There were no mobile phones then.

My dad may not be the most perfect dad in town but together with my mom, they both trained all five of us and today, we can at least stand respectably in a crowd.

·       To every great father who keeps propping us up higher than we could ever reach on our own, may you continue to soar in strength and wisdom.

·       To the amazing father who keeps encouraging and lending his giant shoulders for us to mount on and take giant leaps, may you live to reap the fruit of your labour.

·       To every father struggling to find his footing owing to ill-health, harsh times and any form of crisis, may you receive divine strength to accomplish your purpose in life and be the pillar you have been designed to be.

·       To fathers-in-waiting, your time of joy comes soon!

·       To all the ‘Nnaemekas’* in my life, Happy Father’s day!

*oyibo – Person of white descent/White Man

*Nnaemeka – Father has done greatly well.

*Nnamaka - Father is good.