The Late Great Man

 Life moves first; from the first time when you cry and everyone around is all happy to an all over and happy child to a struggling confused overjudgy teenager to that time when everyone is gloomy over your send off. You know things move soo faster and before you realize it, it has taken almost a jubilee of your life; no wonder the sages say  life's alchemy starts at 40.

It's being 6 years now. I must admit that at first I never knew what this meant but now it's evident you need no explanation. 

When grandpa handed me a bow and a quiver full with several arsenal[read arrows] I thought it was too early. I was barely 13 at this time and my naïve unexposed mind couldn't comprehend all that. Within few months I was to his hut again, this time not for ammunition at all but for something else. A treasury. A gem. In the rear of his shamba-it wasn't big though- laid and hitherto lies an apiary. Lemme tell you about beehives and what they mean to my country people. 

It was a silhouette of wealth, a well sketched formula for acquiring wealth legally - just imagine producing 50kgs of honey for each beehive annually! And for that matter the old man had 5 of them! With today's market! 

And of course I won't let the fact that a beehive could secure you a wife if not several slide away, but this wasn't the case with this man. For this was guarantee that the mel from these hives would be source of food for all; honey is a complete food at it's own. Someone reminds me that the Israelites moved to Canaan as they were promised this viscous sweet fluid from plant nectar and milk. 

The skeps symbolized respect, maturity and of course came with responsibility. Acquiring one took alot, even some permission had to be sought from the ancestors, some libation poured and communicating with them men of sages.

I'm the only son of the first born male and this means alot, being a sluggard was a total shame to the continuity of the family. To the feminists and all egalitarians; apologies for this was Africa and being born from a conservatist setting you've to adhere to. I must admit things are different now: we're all fighter! 2 hives were put under my custody and the rest to my 2 male cousins. I don't know about the females as they weren't even present in the presenting ceremony. I do know how to harvest honey and maybe this is a skill passed from my name Mwaniki; I don't know. 

This old man with white hair and a warm broad face enirely coupled with a smile that always raised his cheeks whenever he did smile-it was literally an ear to ear smile-taught me the simple yet sophisticated principle of living a happy life;LOVE. I don't know if this was from the letter of Paul to people of Corinth chapter 13 or from just life's experience because I don't remember him going to church, he said he only did church! I must also admit I never really got what this meant because I was only interested in the loaves of bread he would bring whenever it was time to get his retirement benefits. The loaves were delicious, a real grandeur, a whole whopping full broad was something I could "dry-run" in minutes not forgetting the fact that each one of the 7 grandchildren had his! This was a feast. Waiting for him a kilometre away to snatch yours was the norm. And which grandparent doesn't delight when their little ones bubble with ecstasy from them? 

We used to go look after the cattle with my cousin Davie who is barely 4 years older than me or lemme be honest,we used to accompany the old man whenever he went to graze for reasons known to us only. With our mischief and boy's mentality we would hide and take a feast in the wild fruits or sunbathe in the sand half-naked. This seems like a fiction though, but yes I used to. Leave alone that, we would also collect firewood and pass over the river get a jerrycan of water; this would definitely prevent us from the wrath of our moms who were always on our neck! Seems more of a fiction again on this? But just like any other artist who's self-obsessed with themselves,  I never let that assumption slide away. 

After years of interacting with humanity when I went to a strolling metropolis of schools and met with different calibre of people, I now can write a whole book about what grandpa taught me about. A simple onefold yet most intricate word; LOVE.... living a life of no regrets or lemme be honest fewer regrets,a purposeful and meaningful life entails passion and compassion for humanity; a philanthropistic mind. Love all hate non! Why don't you say hi to that next store neighbour or a just a thank you coupled with smile to that mama mboga or smokie guy who has just served you? Why don't you show appreciation to that bodaboda rider who has just delivered your order in time? You mean even that simple Good morning to that colleague of yours or that classmate of yours is soo expensive? A simple genuine compliment without flirtatious intentions can't cross your mouth? Staying calm during argument and using rationale is soo hard? These were the rhetorical questions grandpa would always ask whenever it was time to pass the sages. One by one, slowly and calmly. 

And grandpa as you continue resting in peace, our covenant is still intact, but I must admit it's not easy. Human beings can turn to you and take advantage of these traits and virtues you taught me. But I'll try nevertheless,and still impacting some few more wouldn't take a calorie. I'll do it! 

So grandpa I know by now Moses must have taught you how to separate waters with walking stick; unfortunately the land that you left for us continues to be dry. I know again that by now you've assumed the role of washing God's servant's feet because that humility is all I associate you with. And lastly grandpa I know you have reminded Peter that you don't deny your friends in times of tribulation as he did with  the Son of Man: because for your life on earth,showing up for a friend who was in need was encoded in your genes completely condensed in your chromatin. And again grandpa, remind Moses that you just don't get angry over humanity when they go wrong; he should have corrected them with love as you taught me. Love is tolerant. 

It's my humble request grandpa, greet The Trinity and make it known again to them that in my yearning soul, my mind and all my body and even in my Whatsapp status, I'm constantly asking "Who will cry when I die" as it were with you grandpa. 

#Continué paix à son âme grand-père.