Dear daddy,
It's been 31 years you have been my father and you haven't fallen short of the title, you have lived through every standard that a dad should have and be, I sincerely thank you.
You don't know how much I owe you though you always tell me that whatever you do for me isn't a gift but a duty. You don't like thank yous from me because you feel I should never thank you for all you have done and still doing.
You could have been like every other father who provided financially throughout my developing years, but you proved to be different.
Thank you daddy for coming home every night after work with goodies for me. You would do abracadabra and you will give me the sweets and biscuits... I believed you so well that you did magic at that time...loool.
Thank you daddy for taking me to the hospital whenever i fall ill ( I use present tense here because you still do). In most families it was their mothers who did these things, but I preferred you taking me and you wouldn't budge or feel any form of inconvenience to take me.... I never saw you squeeze your face to any of my requests and up till now.
June 12 1993, I know you would not like me writing this out, but I will dad. On this day, you suddenly felt a tight grip, you said it happened for a few seconds and you immediately reported to late Mr Olanisebe, a radiologist at UCH at that particular time, he told you what it might be but he referred you to Prof Familusi ( now a very old man I love, he loves me too....lool).
The first appointment I had, we did a few tests and he said to you I had what was called Petit Mal, a lower form of seizure but it could be treated.
1993 was a really hard time for everyone economically, but daddy as at that time, you managed to buy my drugs which cost N1,000 per sachet and I will use my drugs 3 times daily meaning you had to buy a drug worth N1,000 7 days a week. You did this for good six years, I can imagine how much that must have eaten deep into your finances...I remember a few years ago you told me you went to find out how much those drugs cost, and you said it was N8,000 as at four years, God knows how much it is now!
Daddy, I remember the times that mummy went to school in University of Benin, and awon aunty mi Toyin ( Mrs Afachung) and aunty Wumi ( Mrs Ajila) would also be away to school, you carried out the parents duties perfectly well, although you didn't used to give me food for break time, and that was because I didn't like break food, it always went cold and I always brought it back home like that but mummy wouldn't have any of my indulgences, but you will. You gave me money in place of food, you gave me N20 while every other child brought N5 to school.... yes you pampered me a lot! and you still do.
When I got into secondary school, whenever you bought my provisions, there was a difference in what mummy bought, she wasn't up for indulgences..lool.... I had every thing I wanted, and you will add your own to it because you thought I needed them, not because you wanted to spoil me, thanks for thinking ahead for me all the time.
Everyone back in school knew my dad, and they still know him, my nickname was "my daddy knows all" and that was because my dad and I had discussions ranging from politics to social issues to religion as young as I was then, so I knew more than most of my friends, so they couldn't understand the points I was making because i interacted with wisdom all the time, and that was my father. I went to three secondary schools and at every point in time I changed schools, they were reasons you weren't satisfied and saw that I wasn't happy without me telling you, but I knew Aunty Funso's school, The Vale College, was the last bus stop.... she is your good friend and I knew I couldn't complain much.
I remember I always came last in school work, and you perfectly understood, you later told me that Prof Familusi said the effect of my treatment would affect my grades. I quickly moved from 1- 5 of the whole class ( I mean all the arms of my class) to one of the last 5, it was drastic, but you kept reasons private and that trend followed me to secondary school, and you would proudly tell teachers you were my father even though they thought there was nothing to be proud of....
Now, this is cheeky daddy. You know when I am hungry even though I don't know I am hungry! You would say to me, Yejide, you are hungry and I will say no I'm not! then you will force me to eat, only for me to be rushing the food like someone that has eaten in ages, I would smile in my heart, thanking God for giving me a good dad, and you always knew when I am going to fall ill, you once told me that anytime I am craving for gaari means I am about to fall ill, and that has proved to be right, even in this my blooming years.
I can go on and on daddy....I just want you to know everyday is father's day to me and you know it! You asked me to stop calling you everyday because I am now a grown woman, yes I am, but I know I will be your baby forever and you my darling father.
Though I am your only child, but you are a father to many and a true role model.
Thank you daddy for being there always! I am waiting for your 70th birthday, it will be the best party of the decade.
You have truly raised a confident woman and I love you lots.
Happy father's day dad, you know everyday is my own father's day.
Yejide.
No comments:
Post a Comment