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Being an Aunty & Ijeomi Umebinyuo's poetry...

Sunday, 24 April 2022

 




Last year (2021) on my birthday,
I woke up at 7.30 am on Saturday to carry out Aunty duties.
I drove for 45 minutes  across town to my brother's house.
He had to take the newest female member of our family for routine immunization.

"So many women
so many women
whose blood I carry
so many glorious lives
living inside of me."~ Ijeomi Umebinyuo


Questions for Ada is a must read. 
It speaks of, about and for our Grandmothers,
our mothers,
our Aunties,
our sisters,
our female friends
our female cousins,
our daughters,
and our granddaughters.


My mother, my mother's friend's and my maternal and paternal aunties, 
all played a part in my upbringing.
I must continue the tradition and be 
available for my nieces (and my nephews too!)
So I woke early and drove across town on my birthday,
because my niece who was barely a year into this world
needed to know that she was worth it and so much more!

"I am walking her into sunshine
gathering her beauty
please visit another day."~ Ijeomi Umebinyuo


I have had strong women around me all my life. 
They taught me how to be, 
they often remind who I am.
They told me tales of where I am from,
not just through words but through their actions. 

"I want to write about the women that prayed for me
in a language so beautiful English would bow" ~ Ijeomi Umebinyuo

I am immensely grateful to have the opportunity to be an Aunty. 
To play with them,
To cuddle with them,
To cook for them,
To laugh with them,
To calm their nerves,
To reassure them that no matter what they are loved and accepted.  
My mother is no longer on this earth.
By me carrying out these actions with her grand children 
I feel like I give them a little piece of her to keep alive each time.

"you are here. you are becoming
isn't that enough?"~ Ijeomi Umebinyuo

Please go buy Ijeomi's wonderful book here or at your local book store 

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Taking Stock- First Birthday in Zambia

Monday, 11 April 2022







Making: A new life. I did it. Packed my bags, got on a plane and I moved to a new country during a pandemic. I started a new job. Now let's see what I make of this year...

Drinking: I am trying to return to my two-litres-of-water-a-day routine.
 I am taking it slow because I want it to become the norm again. 

Reading: I have started my masters studies in public administration- social and public policy .
 I spend most of my time reading for coursework. 
It has crossed my mind to write about my experience on the blog, not yet sure if I will.

Watching: Wow...where to begin? I have been watching a lot on Netflix and Viki. 
Here's my complete list so far

Hotel Del Luna 
Inventing Anna
Tinder Swindler
Young, Famous and African 
The Ultimatum: Marry or Move on
Love is Blind Japan
Bad Vegan: Fame Fraud Fugitives 
Tiger King: The Doc Antle Story 
Bridgerton Season 2
Trust No-one : The Hunt For The Crypto King
Lovers of The Red Sky 
Jimmy Savile: A British Horror Story


Listening: Not much to report here. My podcast game is sadly lacking. Do the ones I listen too as part of my coursework count? The most recent one was about mixed methodologies in policy research.

Wishing: For healing. 

Loving: Having a washer and a dryer. Laundry days are so easy and enjoyable!

Eating: The best French toast and blueberry jam instead of birthday cake at 3 Trees Cafe



Knowing: I am getting older and it is scary sometimes. 

Thinking: I am getting older and it is scary sometimes.

Giggling Over: Ugly Beauty...it wonderfully written fun #Kdrama that shows the awkwardness of being a teenager so well.

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