I started writing
yesterday about 2011, a year that has given me great highs and very low lows in the same breath. Allow me to tell you why I say so. Mind you, this entry is mainly about things that happened to me on a personal level as opposed to professional or career events.
By the beginning of the year, I was planning my wedding and eagerly looking forward to marriage. The planning was a wonderful experience filled with lots of excitement and frustrations. And it's one I'll love to do again.
Anyway, six months of planning culminated in two beautiful ceremonies. The first on the 5th of May 2011, which was the Engagement (this is a traditional marriage ceremony officiated by the heads and elders of the families of the two individuals getting married.) The event was really lovely and well attended considering it was on a Thursday, a day when people will be busy at work. The day was also very emotional and a bit difficult to go through for me. Even though my sisters, uncles, aunties and friends were there, I kept thinking about my mum and dad. My dad had to go the hospital for treatment and my mum had to be with him. I kept thinking how happy my parents would have been if they were at the Engagement.
Anyway, the second was the Wedding itself;officiated by a priest and witnessed by family and friends. Then my wife and I went on a really wonderful honeymoon touring the Eastern Region of Ghana (I might write about that...you never know, lol.) The highlight of the wedding was the presence of my dad. You see, my dad was at the time was undergoing chemotherapy (yes, it's what you're thinking.) His presence was a beautiful gift to my soon-to-be wife and I; one my wife was super excited about when she saw him coming up to sign the marriage certificate during the wedding ceremony.
Ok, then life seemed to proceed 'smoothly', actually it wasn't that smooth since my dad still had to keep going to the hospital for treatment. And this era of him going in and out of hospital was difficult for us all. The pain, anxiety and frustration at the seeming slow hospital response to his needs is something I don't even want to think about.
June, the month my wife and I were born looked to be a nice month, filled with birthday gifts and birthday parties of other friends. A day to my wife's birthday, my dad had to go to the hospital for his usual treatment. He was asked to come back the following day to continue his treatment. The day was a Friday, nothing unusual about it. He went there to be attended to by the doctors. After work, I went to see him and he seemed fine. At around 10pm, me, my sisters and mum said our good byes to him and promised to see him first thing in the following morning.
Well we did, actually my mum and sister saw him in the morning. My other sister and I went there later that Saturday to visit him and chat with him a bit. Again he seemed fine (considering). I had a cold that day so I didn't want to get too close to him fearing I might pass it on to him. So I just hovered around his bed having small talk, and attending to his little requests. His brothers and sisters were there to see him that day also. At around 8pm, I said goodbye to him again explaining that I wanted to take care of the cold I had and that I'll see him the following day. One of my sisters had an event at work to attend so we left together. This was a day after my wife's birthday.
At around 9.50pm, I got a call from my sister(mind you, at this point I was often anxious receiving calls fearing I'd hear some bad news about my dad.) She simply said I needed to come back to the hospital. I enquired what was wrong, she just said I should pick my other sister up and come over. Well you can imagine what went on that evening.
18th June will be a day I will never forget. How could I amidst all the tears. The next couple of days that followed my dad's passing were humbling and tasking at the same time. Anyway, the funeral and organising the logistics for it all went really well. Friends and family members were so helpful I don't think I'd have been able to manage it all. My wife was a pillar by my side, just amazing with her support and thoughtfulness.
Hmmm, so the year started great with me getting married. Continued with the passing of my dad after a lengthy battle. I have faith December will be a high point to close the year for me. Even if nothing exceptional happens, there are many things I am grateful for in 2011. The first being my marriage. The second is the gift of my dad's life - let me explain. You see, my dad could have died any day any time but he didn't (I know it's not his choosing, I'm just saying). He could have passed away on my wife's birthday, which would have made the day a mixed day then on but he didn't. Thirdly, my sisters and mother are doing really well after my dad's passing. Considering we were a very closely knit family, I think we have all taken his passing well. We are still tightly knit. And perhaps lastly, I have faith that God will do something wonderful with my life.
So, this is my review of 2011. And I will say it's been a good year for me. How has 2011 been for you? What will your resolutions for 2012 be? Share with me.
