And It Came To Pass (We Are Good To Go)

It's almost one year since I came into Lagos, sent by The National Youth Service Corps to serve my country. Lagos looked like a fertile ground to many. When they asked you where they posted you and you said Lagos, they kinda looked at you with some how-I-wish-it-were-me look. Some immediately conferred on you some respect for having 'longer legs' than theirs 'cause they tried and didn't get it. Well, Lagos to me, came on a platter of gold; I couldn't refuse it. The other option I had was to go to Abuja, but I chose Lagos. I wanted to explore my talents and I felt Lagos gave better room for it. Thankfully, I didn't regret the choice. 

Camp was fun. Click here for my camp experience. After camp, I chose to go to a primary health care centre 'cause I didn't want any 'stress'. While others were gathering locums (other jobs in private hospitals), I was comfortable with the PHC work that afforded me 6-7 hrs, 2-3x a week with not more than ten patients to see per day. It was a great deal for me, seeing that I had just come out of an arduous house job . I really needed the rest. Besides, I loved the time it afforded me to do what I really came to Lagos to do—explore my other talents. I joined the theatre group in church, I started attending a dance school, I enrolled for voice training. I was always so busy. At some point I ran into trouble for leaving work while the Oba of the area was still in the hospital for inspection. He threatened to have me redeployed to the north. Click here for the story. Thanks to God I escaped that one. 

I made quite a number of friends. From my Community Development Service group : music CDS. We were able to produce a single dedicated to Nigeria. The song is titled Living In Peace. You'll be hearing it soon. From church, the theatre group, Snapshots ( I did my first stage play since secondary school), from the dance crew that hosted the show, Allegiance and from my dance school, Dance Deal Academy.

I had some frightening experiences too. My house got flooded once and left me with 12 buckets-full of water to scoop out, clothes and books to dry, some clothes to condemn and a spoilt laptop.

Armed robbers visited my compound also. The account of the event is properly described here. And had me battling with post traumatic reaction: palpitation every time I heard the sound of a door's protector while sleeping. This continued for a long time until The Lord delivered me by reassuring me in His Word that 'In Peace I will both lay down and sleep, because He alone makes me dwell in safety'. It has become part of my daily confessions.

I had some romantic moments too. (Now Your ears are pricked up). Yeah. I fell in love a couple of times (won't tell you how many). I met sincere people and crazy ones too. Lagos is just a home for all. And I learnt a lot. 

I joined a living church led by a Spirit filled Pastor and I was so glad to be fed with real meat twice a week. I was happy because back in Enugu, it was quite difficult to stay in one church. I just wasn't really getting fed except for the times I was at Kingdom Word Ministries which is a non-denominational, non-Sunday meeting fellowship by my Pastor, Pastor Bankie. It was relieving to finally find a regular Sunday-meeting church that shared the true Word of God. My church is Covenant Christian Center led by Pastor Poju Oyemade. I discovered new truths about faith and the power of confessions and how to handle crisis.

Looking back at the past many months, almost getting to a whole year since I came into Lagos, I can only thank God for bringing me here. It has not been a journey of regrets but that of fulfillment. I've discovered myself more, I've learnt a lot and I've been a blessing to many by being here.

May the good Lord who led me here by His own hand, be the one I'll keep following till the end. Amen

©Radiant~ February 2015

Holding Hands

Sometimes I know what to say but not how to say it

I go in circles, complain of your quietness, your indifference 

I accuse you for not taking a picture with me

But all I want to say is

I really miss you holding my hand

It meant so much to me the first time you did it

Each time from then I felt your love in that simple act

So when you stop, it says something to me

I may be wrong but I can't think differently

Because you won't hold my hand

I notice you've not smiled much today

I notice you've not talked much either

Or cracked your usual jokes or tease me

You say you can't come and it feels like it's true

What my head's telling me just might be it

I go under my shell

I decide not to talk either

I hoard my smiles

I don't gesture to hug

If someone's not feeling it, I shouldn't force it

Let's see where this takes us

Maybe someone will soon talk

You notice my disposition

And you're concerned

'You look sad', you tell me

'What's wrong?'

I say I'm fine

And I feel worse

You should be the object of scrutiny

Not me

I open my mouth to talk

Nothing comes out

This is insane

You started it

I know what to say but not how to say it

I go in circles, I complain of your quietness, your indifference

I accuse you for not taking a picture with me

But all I want to say is

I really miss you holding my hand

©Radiant~ February 2015

One For The Books (Night At Cream Slices)

It really feels good to eat some ice cream and not have to confess my sins after. In fact, this time I even asked for extra and didn't feel guilty at all.

Last night, I went with my bosom friends to this ice cream shop called Cream Slices. It was the in-thing in Lagos for one of them before Coldstone came in and filled the whole place. I particularly refused to go to Coldstone 'cause last time I ate their ice cream, I felt so guilty I couldn't finish it. Really, as I downed each scoop, I calculated how much calories was entering my system and how much exercise I needed to do as penance. So this time around, I asked to go somewhere else. It was somewhere in Surulere (see below), a small house, kind of like a small coffee shop. Just had 2 rooms with about three round tables each.

The aroma from the door was inviting. I had a variety of flavors to choose from and I was permitted to taste before ordering. I thought that was cool. So I tasted Berry blah-blah, Rocky blah-blah, Blueberry blah-blah and Butter Pecan. I already knew how Vanilla tasted 'cause that has been my favourite flavour ever since I was like 8. I remember doing a TV commercial for one unpopular drink, Energen drink and I was to say, 'Mom, I like vanilla' and I really preferred the vanilla flavour to the chocolate and coffee flavours it had. Well, if you ever saw the advert, on Minaj TV and some stations in Anambra, that little girl that radiated so bright as the sun— yeah, that was me. Those days, once the advert began, my siblings would call me and I'll scurry to the parlor to watch myself on TV. It was amazing and surprising too to see how fair I was. 

    

So for my first round, I ordered for Vanilla and Butter Pecan. It was heavenly. Sorry, I withdraw that. It can't be heavenly. Nothing can be compared with heaven, so let's say it was delectable. I also had Red Velvet, Chocolate and Queen cup cakes with my friends. We took pictures, had lots of fun. And asked for more. The second time, I ordered for the Blueberry without tasting it. I was already feeling like a joker 'cause it was like I was tasting everything. It tasted like cough syrup. I quickly dropped it. Thank God my friend loved it, so I just handed it over and ordered for the Rocky blah-blah after having a taste. I had learnt my lesson. And this time I didn't care if I had to taste all the flavours to make up my mind on the one to go with. It turned out nice but still didn't beat my beloved Vanilla. It had a lot of grains in it. I think I could recognize some nuts and something unchewable, guess it was cocoa 'cause it was dark like chocolate, but hard. My friend said that's why it is called Rocky. The salespersons were nice. The background music was cool too. The serene environ— a good place to have a date and the prices were good too. *wink*

I wasn't asked to do this. But, good things are good. That's why I'll recommend them any day, any time. Just that they have to obey the commandment of multiplying and filling the earth, if they won't be swallowed up by Coldstone 'cause it's fast taking dominion over the Ice cream world. Bon appetite!

Cream Slices Cakes And Desserts

109 Ogunlana Drive, Surulere, Lagos, Nigeria.

©Radiant~ February 2015