After hours of journey on bumpy, dusty roads, arriving his village was euphoric for Ikem.

Mama did a little praise dance when she saw him, and did some more praise-singing, showering him with edifying names when he brought out the things that he came back with.

Friends and cousins equally returned, it would be a good time.

He went greeting kith and kin, strategically launching his new clothes and holding his phone conspicuously for all to see. It’s show time for everyone and he has no intention of being the poorest looking cousin.

Christmas Eve’s night service was a hit as usual. A gathering of old, new, returnees and home bound indigenes. It is doubtful that half of the people at the church service came for the prayers.

Sweethearts fell back in the dark shadows of twilight to hold hands and whisper sweet nothings.

Young rascally boys scared the maidens by tossing penny banger’s in their direction, their squeals of fright an entertainment for them.

It’s a dreamy time of the year, lavishly spent relaxing, binge eating, showing off, going to look at and running from the masquerades, attending a lot of social events….

Eligible young men returned seeking handpicked brides from their villages.

Marriageable girls strut their stuff at Obodo Ukwu, Obodo Ububo and everywhere the opportunity rose, to attract proposals from the city boys.

Hi-Life music blares into the air till the wee hours of the night. Nuptial introductions and lots of traditional marriages are constantly taking place in one clan or the other.

Mama wants to know when Ikem would choose a wife. In fact, her heart and eyes were set on one of Ifemeka’s daughters Kanyinulia.

From Mama’s assessment, the girl is quite sturdy, with nice child-bearing hips, very industrious and pretty too! She makes her thoughts known to Ikem.

”Nna, have you seen Ozo Ifemeka’s daughter Kanyinulia?” ”That girl will make a good wife for you.” ”It is my thought that we should express our interest in her to her family.” ”Her mother is a good friend too you know..”

”Ha! Mama, please not now.” ”Maybe in a few years time.” ”Let me get to Onitsha first and see how things go over there.”

”Hei! My son, if we waste time, another family can pick her out for their son o.” ”That girl is a good catch.”

”Mama, let us pray that things go well, then next year, okay?”

He is happy he visited home. His cousin has agreed to accommodate him at Onitsha while he seeks his future.

He joins his age-grade in their outing masquerade dance.

His satisfaction is soul deep. He knows that his future holds brighter times ahead.

Links to earlier parts of the series are at the top of the page.

Quick Glossary:

Banger: small cheap fireworks that make a lot of noise.

Ifemeka: Igbo name which means ‘things have happened.’

Kanyinulia: An Igbo name for a girl which means ‘let us be happy.’

Nna: An Igbo word for ‘father’. Mothers at times fondly call their sons by such pet name.

Obodo Ukwu: ‘The big square’ A social gathering ground where people go to be seen, to see and mingle.

Obodo Ububo: ‘The sweet/fun square’ A social gathering ground where people go to be seen, to see and mingle.

Onitsha: A city with one of the largest commercial markets in West Africa. It is situated on the river port on the eastern bank of the Niger river in Anambra State, southeastern Nigeria.

Ozo: A highly respected title to a worthy male indigene of a village. Not a cheap process.

Its fun to dig in my neighbours gardens and I never come up empty. Links for you to enjoy.

Leannenz photos fascinate me.

Understanding your child’s anxiety and how to help I found this article informative.

Steamed Fish lovely recipe from Katblogs.

Mega awww photos found at Chris the story reading Apes blog via Itsgoodtobecrazysometimes

Angel messages beautiful short messages that speak volumes.

A small inspiration from Yinglan.

Free yourself a message for you found at Its me Its me Saraa’s blog via Dream big, Dream often

What you shouldn’t share while on vacation by The reporter and the girl via Fun Simplicity.

Do what you love a motivating quote from the stables of Kay Morris.

Does having more money solve all our problems? For me, its a no, but I can’t speak for you.

That’s it from me folks. Have a blissful weekend. Thank you very much and God bless.

Hey! Dee-Jay, turn that music on!!

A photo shot from my traditional marriage over 15 years ago.

My cousin Mimi (Ifunanya) and her groom on her traditional wedding day

My handsome Papa; Late Ozo James Orjiekwe

Hope · Life · The Daily Post · Writing

Friends of my heart…

October 30, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha20 Comments

Growing up in a small university community like I did, had lots of plus sides and that included having lots of childhood friends with whom I played and carried out our escapades until the ever present flow of life’s change caused us to drift apart.

I was lucky to have such childhood friends of my heart who occupy such special place in my memory bank and between these friends and large family, you had no need for an imaginary friend.

Thankfully, I am able to reconnect with a lot of them with the help of social media, while, unfortunately some of them have crossed over to the other side of the divide where the links of social media cannot traverse.

There are some of them I am yet to trace and a number of them come to my mind ever so often.

Dear Chinyelu Okonkwo,

Now and again I think about you and wonder if life is treating you well and where you are.

I haven’t seen you since we were ten and in my minds eye, you have stayed the same ten year old, precocious, vibrant friend of mine.

Naturally you would have aged like everyone else but for some reason, I can’t seem to visualize you beyond this age.

Whenever you come to my mind, I remember our child’s play of running round the school block of University Primary School, Nsukka, during break time and singing silly song’s.

I have searched now and again on social media, to see if I can find you but it hasn’t yet yielded any result.

Who knows maybe one day in this lifetime, if we still walk this side of the divide, we may yet reconnect.

Another childhood friend whom I wonder how she has fared with life is from Bangladesh and I had no idea that the name ‘Anu Misra’ was quite common until I attempted to trace her.

I found so many Anu’s, I have searched so many faces, but I couldn’t recognize any.

Maybe, this splendid exercise might yet yield some positive results. We never know these things.

In response to The Daily Post prompt Imaginary Friend

Many of us had imaginary friends as young children. If your imaginary friend grew up alongside you, what would his/her/its life be like today? (Didn’t have one? write about a non-imaginary friend you haven’t seen since childhood.)

Devotions · Hope · Inspiration - Motivation · Life · Poetry/Poems

Have You Met Lady Grace?….

October 30, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha22 Comments

Let me tell you about Lady Grace.
Fine one that arrives wearing filigree lace,
Everything done with Grace always changes the race,
When she comes, she must surely leave a trace,
For your outward expression will certainly change pace,
Reflecting inward harmony of soul around your space.

♦♦
Wields a lot of power, she does; our Lady Grace,
Her power consumes, you wish not to be a disgrace,
She can shape-shift just in case,
You ponder how she will fit into your space.

♦♦
Grace is not blind even if she keeps a straight face,
As she watches your scramble from low grass to trophy case.
She is clothed in dignity with warm human face,
Encouraging arms she extends to thee embrace.

♦♦
Should you ever seek to replace a false face
A bone deep desire to erase can take place
For there is always a meeting place
To invite the mighty Lady Grace
And she will touch base
In your living space.

Creative Writing · Fiction · Short story · The Daily Post

Just One of Jane’s Days…

October 29, 2015October 30, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha25 Comments

It wasn’t a good idea to turn off the alarm clock for a few more seconds of snooze, Jane chastises herself as she huffs and puffs downhill in a haste to catch the bus. The few seconds of snatched snooze turned into a lost hour of precious time.

Her pencil skirt is not designed for hurried steps and neither are the heeled pumps made for sprinting, but hurry she must.

An attempt to hike the skirt up her thighs for more leg room yields a rip at the slit and it is not a joyful sound to hear.

”This is simply dreadful!” ”Not today of all days.” ”I can’t afford to be late.”

The tail light of the bus leaving as she arrives leaves her gaping unhappily and hoping the next one will keep to it’s fifteen minutes interval schedule.

As the next bus runs late, her plan to arrive for her interview looking composed and capable dwindles by the seconds and to top it all, it starts to sprinkle.

Rummaging in her bag for her pocket umbrella – which she stores for days like this, when the showers come unannounced, she discovers she has the wrong bag in the first place.

Whoever, created this nonsense of carrying different bags in the first place? She sighs in frustration.

Out of habit and in her haste, she had grabbed her usual every day carry on, leaving behind the nice office tote containing her file, purse and umbrella.

With a sinking feeling in her stomach and her sensible bun fast turning to loose tendrils like limp noodles in the rain shower, she trudges back uphill to her tiny apartment but she cannot get in because her door is a jam-lock and the key is inside in her purse.

”What a fine morning and why do these things happen to me?” She mutters in exasperation, forgetting that she stays up late to watch all the reality shows on television.

In response to The Daily Post prompt Comedy of errors and bonus assignment

Murphy’s Law says, “Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.” Write about a time everything did — fiction encouraged here, too!

Bonus assignment: do you keep a notebook next to your bed? Good. Tomorrow morning, jot down the first thought you have upon waking, whether or not it’s coherent.

Inspiration - Motivation · Love · Poetry/Poems · Weave that Dream

LUST at first SIGHT..

October 29, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha38 Comments

Thrumming heart beats, with butterflies in stomach pits,

Entangled in the first kiss,

It’s simply sweet bliss,

Hurtling off to the bed sheets,

A hurry to meet,

It’s a tangle of feet.

The ardour cools off and off goes the heat,

They sigh and ponder, where is the love beat?

Off to search for the next hit,

Becomes a habit,

To satisfy the hungry lust,

Seems to be a must,

Failing to realize

That lust

Is just

not

LOVE!

♥

The Daily Post · Travel · Writing

Those Heebie-Jeebies…

October 28, 2015October 28, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha56 Comments

Don’t bother about trying to convince me with any pep talk. It simply won’t work! There are some experiences that I can live without henceforth.

There are some things that mere thoughts of them gives me sufficient heebie-jeebies and for all the curry in India or tea from China I will be glad not to encounter or repeat such experience.

I literally break out in hives at the sight of a snake and would gladly walk barefoot over hot coals than come close to one. I have been known to go to zoos and completely by-pass the reptile zone.

My kids even make fun of that fact. You will hear them whisper conspiratorially, ”if mummy sees that sign, she will start screaming” and my youngest champion will get all protective of me. He would say, ”mummy don’t look!” ”You will get frightened like a little girl.”

”Well son, I shall not look, but if truth be told mummy is a little girl in a big body.” With a stiff upper lip, I go and settle myself on a bench while they go off to look at the vile creatures. Urrgh!

I am not a cat with nine lives and even if I have twenty lives as well as a parachute bigger than a house, I am never going to jump off a plane in the sky. There is no point killing myself with palpitations.

The adrenaline jolt that I get inside the pages of my books or watching National Geographic is sufficient, besides, my ifly simulated experience was all well and good. Several days after, I was cross-eyed and walked with a squint like a drunk sailor.

Those dare-devil roller coaster rides are experiences called ”ONCE is enough.” My last experience at Abu Dhabi Theme park, made me realize that one could have a cardiac arrest in one of those contraptions. I went on a crazy roller coaster ride and spoke in tongues all through the ride. I think my heart stopped beating and restarted after we came down. I had to go and recuperate quietly with a large cup of ice-cream to soothe my frayed nerves.

The kind of horror movies that is peddled these days are not designed for the squeamish and they would frighten the whiskers off a cat’s face.

I find the amount of gore and unbelievable diabolical acts perpetrated so revolting, that sometimes it makes me ponder at the deranged state of some human mind. I won’t spend my time or money just to feel sick.

In response to The Daily Post prompt Fright Night

What’s the thing you’re most scared to do? What would it take to get you to do it?

Devotions · Family · Hope · Life · Little rants · Social Issues

How Can I Repay You?…

October 28, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha37 Comments

Today’s Gratitude challenge on Colline’s blog meets my heart filled with a lot of appreciation.

How can I repay the Lord for his goodness to me?
I will raise a cup of Salvation, I will call on the Lord’s name!
My times are in your hands and you are my God!
Even though I walk in the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil!
Unto you O’Lord, I give my all!

I am thankful that I am seated here right now talking to you and not at the hospital nursing broken bones or one of my young.

Yesterday evening, as I went for a walk with the children, we had just turned round the bend onto the zebra crossing which is a few meters from the house, when a Mercedes sports with it’s open roof came barreling round the bend. It appeared as if it even accelerated as it bore down on us. We barely managed to jump out of harms way by the whiskers of our teeth!

Luckily, I was clutching my youngest son’s hand as we dove for safety because he tends to lag behind. A lady with her child in the stroller, tripped over her Abaya as she also hurried along and fell in the process; luckily she wasn’t hurt and the baby didn’t tumble, except for her startled nerves and a small scrape. Zooming around in snazzy cars with a load of impatience seems to be the bane over here.

I will try not to exaggerate here, but as I shouted angry expletives, the fine lady driver stuck out her lacquered finger in an effing sign at us and zoomed along.

It was truly a struggle to stop the stream of swear words that were bubbling up to my lips and I am not sure if I would have stopped myself if not for my children. I try not to scandalize their senses.

Do I have a reason to be grateful or what? So many ugly scenarios had painted a picture in my head.

Thank God that Mercy said NO!

A heart filled with Gratitude, O’Lord.

Inspiration - Motivation · Life · Personal story · The Daily Post

My Roller-Coaster….personal story

October 27, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha32 Comments

Life is a constant flux of change and naturally as all humans are prone to, mine has evolved in little and huge ways.

My cycles have gone through mountain peaks and deep valleys, through Tropics and Savannah and each evolution has contributed to my story; to my growth in personality and maturity of mind; to the pathway of better understanding of myself as a complete entity.

Some changes have been premeditated while some, were thrust on me by Providence, but the most important aspect of these changes has been the strengthening of my inner mental core, resilience and spiritual walk.

For close to two decades, I have gone from a care-free single, all career guns blazing young lady to become a wife and proud mother. From formal employment, to part-time/voluntary service and self-employment/entrepreneurship.

In this space of time, I have migrated within 3 different Continents and when you are talking about leaving; I just left Texas to United Arab Emirates a couple of moons ago!

It has been a major shift especially in culture mentality. I am still in the bid of catching my breath even though I know that my sojourn in this place will not tarry for too long.

The challenges that such changes predisposes you to, which goes beyond leaving your comfort zone and familiar grounds to places of new beginnings are numerous, that the experience alone can constitute a book.

However, the trick in handling these things, is to keep a very broad and positive mind. Make a concerted effort to have a positively motivated outlook and become a sponge that soaks in all the good vibes around you.

That way, you will acquire the best experience that your life is teaching you at that point in time.

I am presently focusing on self-development and as I continue to transform, my hope is to cascade my support outwards to others and also to persevere in my efforts as a writer.

In response to The Daily Post prompt If You Leave

Life is a series of beginnings and endings. We leave one job to start another; we quit cities, countries, or continents for a fresh start; we leave lovers and begin new relationships. What was the last thing you contemplated leaving? What were the pros and cons? Have you made up your mind? What will you choose?

A link to my neighbours/Community · Devotions · Hope · Inspiration - Motivation · Life · Love · Tips for the day · Weave that Dream

What Are You Doing?…

October 27, 2015October 28, 2015 jacquelineobyikocha33 Comments

The quote above is my third quote in the 3 quote series and it speaks for itself.

In my quest for positive transformation, I try to base a lot of my actions and reactions on this guiding principle which also applies to everyone else.

This quote is simply not a biblical tenet or any religious balderdash!

It relates to everything that pertains to our lives, even this blogging exercise that we are engaged in. For instance, when you stretch out a hand of fellowship and engage others, 99% of the time, it is reciprocated and vice-versa! Keep your circle as positive as possible.

Our actions revolve around us as surely as the Earth revolves around the Sun.

When we are in search of happiness, the first question we should ask ourselves, is what seeds we are sowing?

Happiness is not something that we get from other people. The happiness we feel is in direct proportion to the love that we are able to give.

Take a peek at those embittered people who expend so much energy pulling others down; they forever remain miserable.

They fail to realize that in the attempt to keep someone else down, they hinder themselves from rising to their optimum potentials.

Be loving to yourself and others and you see that love reciprocated.

It is the law of Karma which works every time, whether we are aware of it or not. It occurs in the small things and in the big things that surround us.

It is also wise to remember that treating others right does not imply being blind to their shortcomings or giving them permission to treat you poorly.

Leannenz, I sincerely thank you for inviting me to participate in this quote series. It is a good opportunity to reflect on those things that matter and I think I am going to continue the quote beyond this stage 🙂

I would like to invite 5 awesome bloggers to share their favorite quotes in the series of 3.

A Reading Writer

The positive black woman

Ladies who lunch reviews

My mama – Lynz Real Cooking

Edwina Episodes

Warm regards to you all. Be happy.

PLEASE Feel Free To Share. IT’S ALL PART OF LOVING ♥ 🙂