GRANDMA
This week marks the one year anniversary of my grandmother’s
death. It was a hard event in my family, and harder still to deal with. I
remember one of the last times I spoke with her face to face. She was unable to
really walk and stayed mostly in her room, which was hard to see because that
was so different from the woman I had known her to be. I went to her, hoping
and praying for a return of her health and strength, but knew the odds weren’t
favorable. We talked for a bit, and at the end of our conversation, I asked her
to give me a middle name (something I legally do not have) and she said “ToboKeye”.
This means Golden Child, I’ve already spoken/blogged about the importance of
names in my country and culture, but this had a much more significant meaning to
me personally. It not only came from my grandmother (a respected and loved role
in our family dynamics) but I also resounded in me a desire to live up to that
name. I knew that I wanted to and would live my life that
would make proud each and every day. I will honor her through my interactions with
my family, friends and community, be it my home or school community. I will be
the blessing she named me to. We all miss her, the pain hasn’t really gone
away. But my brother, wiser than his 10 years would have anyone believe, said
at the start of the week “The show must go on” and it has, and it will with my
grandmother looking after us/me.
Maria Afianzuwah Warri Nagberi
(March 25 1923- April 30th 2014)
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