"Clap, Clap. Places, People!!!"

 “Ha. That’s harshly dismissive nau” I replied my friend, Sue. Sweet, sexy but complicated Sue. Complicated* personified.

If ever the word ‘Complicated’ decides to leave the boring world of diction, definitions, literature and possess a human, Sue would get the job. No contest.

 What am I saying. She already has the job. Its ‘Complicated’ that had better watch its back cos Sue might just get its job.

Sue had just tossed one of her usual barb. This time it’s not against some random love-struck guy. It’s against all humanity.

“Everyone leaves you” she rephrases.

I throw her a side glance (more like an up glance) to see if she is up to her usual theatrics, but no. This time I think it’s serious. She looks at me with those soulful eyes and I say to myself…Oh, oh.

“What’s wrong” I ask as clearly as I can. Not an easy feat when you’re trying to speak with pins between your lips  and you’re trying to avoid chuking your apparently sad and distraught friend, while fixing the dress on her.

“Nothing” she mutters “Just stating a fact of life. Everybody leaves you”

I remember that conversation at moments like this when I am going through the same thing Sue went through then. And this is what I told Sue.

Yeah, people leave. Not everyone is meant to stay in our lives. Sometimes they visit to drop a little something, steal our breathe for a while, teach a lesson, lend a hand, shoulder our burdens or to ease some pain. They played their parts. Think about it. Even angels don’t stay forever.

It’s the moment we had with them that matters. Yeah, most of those moments were probably painful, leaving us with feelings of abandonment, betrayal, shock, shame or even fear. But God, I hope never horror.

We’ve lost loved ones through spats. Some betrayed us. Some we betrayed. Some died. Some just walked away. Some are so near, yet far away. And some really did have to go away.  Our experiences in life are rife with stories like that. Nothing new there.

It is however good to remember this verse ‘God makes everything beautiful in its time’. You’ll figure it out. Like I have been.

LoL. I know you’re giving me the same look Sue gave me. That Is-she-high? look. Or what-planet-do-you-live-on look.

I am going to leave us with that thought and we have all the time we will ever need to think it through. That was all I gave Sue that day and it’s all I have right now.

At least this is one ‘stuff’ I didn’t have to search for. All I had to do was search for a moment in time and find the answer I needed for now. I had to find my moment with Sue.

Just in case you are wondering. Sue is now a sexy mama. Yeah. She’s still complicated. I haven’t seen her in about 6 years. We only talk, maybe, 3 times a year? I miss her terribly but she had to go away. However she left something behind. Our moments together. And it is beautiful to me at this time.

PS:  *I really meant to use ‘Complicated’ not ‘Complication’

naijablog: The Fuel Subsidy Removal Protests for Dummies

naijablog: The Fuel Subsidy Removal Protests for Dummies

Of men, dogs and babies

Everyone is scattered around the house, hustling and bustling to get things ready for the party. My mum is in the kitchen broiling a portion of the ram that had earlier been slaughtered for the event. Yep. It is going to be a big party. As usual, I am moving all over the place pretending to be working but mostly avoiding all the heavy-duty chores. Which I think is divine leading anyway because of what happens next.

Monday, that’s the househelp, is downstairs roasting some of the beef cuts and of course I am there helping him kindle the already lit fire. Hero, the family dog is also patrolling the area, providing adequate security against the nosy flies and thieving rodents that might be attracted by the fragrance of the sizzling meat.

Sure of the safety of this particular chore because of the presence of a teenager and a dog, Monday plods off to attend to other chores in the compound.  Hero comes over a couple of times to ensure the beef is still sizzling. So serious does he take his duty that even I am not allowed to get close.

Seeing the seriousness of Hero, I turn away from the mouth dehydrating fire and walk towards the main entrance to the house, hoping to get a glass of water, Only…..I’m not gonna get that water just yet.

I hear a scream from behind me and turn around to see Monday sprinting like an Olympic gold medalist hopeful. The one thing that would have cost him any medal though, are the words spewing from his mouth. I do not speak ‘calabar’ but one look at his face & I know he had to be saying some awful things. I turn back & calmly follow behind, thinking this might be some of his usual theatrics.

Still cursing up a storm, he stops in front of one of the cars and stoops to look underneath. I sashay my way next to him, stoop, look under the car and meet a sight that still has me in stitches even till date: Hero, gnawing on a nice chunky piece of half roasted beef. Still hot too.

We begged, we threatened, Monday cursed, nothing worked. He simply ignored us. The silly dog got into so much trouble that day. Apparently, while rushing to serve himself, he upturned the other pieces of beef into the fire, costing Monday a tongue-lashing from my mum.

Smart dog that he was, Hero knew to avoid Monday through out the day. However, that night, I wondered how he was going to avoid being killed. I was so worried for Hero that I had to go and check on him. On getting downstairs, I heard yelps. With righteous anger, I ran towards the sound hoping to catch Monday in the act of killing Hero. Only, I got to my destination to find Monday rubbing Hero’s belly affectionately. What I thought had been painful yelps were infact sounds of pleasure. Disgusted with both of them, I asked Monday, why he decided not to kill Hero. And that when he said ‘He’s just a dog. What does he know?’

Hmmn.

Lately, my mind has been drifting & dwelling on lots of things. Like times I might have acted like Hero. Disappointed people. My silly mind has many images to support my drifting thoughts but none where someone rubbed my belly. Lol. And I can’t say I have rubbed anyone’s belly after a falling out either anyway.

Making me wonder why we save that sweet, easily-appealed-to part of ourselves for our pets: babies and animals.

I want to be as easily entreated by the flaws of another adult as by that of a baby or my dog. Besides, if I expect people to understand I didn’t mean to disappoint them, shouldn’t I give them the same? I want to be generous in love and forgiveness, the two things we have in abundance from our Creator.

Doesn't scripture say we should comfort people with the very comfort we have received?

Anyway, as usual, this is just the long-winded thoughts of an explorer. I am still searching for my stuffs and I just bumped into this memory and decided to share with you all. May be what your searching for.

This is Mage, laying here, trying not to think of the blisters my mental feet got from trudging up and down on my psychosomatic search. So if you happen to come across my stuffs, please do holla? I shall be eternally gratefully yours…..

……

Mage

XOXO

The World is an Easel. But I need my stuffs....

The world is an easel,

And we must paint.

The world is our easel,

Get to work, don’t wait.

Splash your colours free and wild,

Be spirited, do not be mild.

For earth reward holds,

For painters, strokes bold.

So get to work, pick your pencil,

Sketch, for the World is an easel........

I don't know if age has anything to do with it. Maybe it is my gender or my hormones but the end of last year brought with it an urgency to gather 'STUFFS' together and frigging get to work! It beats me what the 'STUFFS' are but I'm searching. Because God forbid that i get to heaven, angel that I am, and find out its been right there before my nose. Since this restlessness crept into my heart, it's being like standing on a mound of hot coal ever since.

Oh, of course! I am so sorry. Forgot my manners there for a while. My name is Mage. Pronounced M-ei-g. 

Not Maggi or Mag. Nice to make your acquaintance too. Of course, my introduction might just be a waste of time, since you probably know who I am and are reading this because you're my friend or a paid visitor.Lol.

This is my debut as a blogger and it's because I am still searching for those STUFFS ooo and I don't even know if I ever had them. But i sure do need them right now. So maybe if you are searching for STUFFS  too, why don't we help find our STUFFS together? The world is waiting for our Sistine Chapel or our 'Beautiful Imperfection' but we must have our 'STUFFS' to make em. 

This is Mage at the 'The World is an Easel'. If you ever find my STUFFS, please comment or post.

I'll definitely keep posting in here with the hope that it turns out to be your STUFF too.

---

XOXO,

Mage