Who is daddy to me?

Seventy four days from now it will be 25^th December and my Dad’s going to be 60. Got a call from one of his friends several weeks ago asking me to write something on “Who is daddy to me?” After procrastinating until I couldn’t anymore, I turned in something yesterday. At work now, thinking about what I wrote I’ve decided to drop it here, I just hope it makes sense…

Who is daddy to me? Like seriously, what kind of question is this? Daddy is daddy of course! I mean y’all have to know I postponed writing this so much that if I had my way; he’ll be sixty-one by the time I’m done. And that’s not just because I’m lazy which is true, I almost don’t know what to write or where to start from. But since I must…

I really don’t know where to start cos I have to describe someone who has been a part of my life from the beginning till now. How far back in time can I cast my mind? I’d start by saying daddy has been a father to me. *Big Hugs* He provided the necessary protection and support I needed as a child, and as far as I know he’s done his best in grooming me into the man I am today (yeah man, not boyJ).

He’s caring. I still can’t figure out how you suck mucous from anyone’s nose – your child or not! He’s responsible. He tried to meet all my basic necessities and some extra more over the years *thumbs up* (thank goodness they stopped after having four of us) – I’m sure he’d have done a lot more if he could. He’s supportive. Just tell daddy what you want to do, and if he’s in synch, be sure he’ll be with you all the way. Am sometimes tempted to think that’s what a dad is meant to be but we don’t want to ask kids who have seen the other side.

My dad was tough, tougher than he is now. Or maybe his gimmicks don’t just work again. I always used to run into the room whenever I heard his car honk (that blue volks beetle of blessed memories – ijapa!) when he gets back from work cos rolling tires in the compound with other kids was way too much play for my old man. He didn’t always have to talk – he had a way of winking those eyes of his you’ll know you are dead meat if you don’t stop what you are doing wrong. I couldn’t sneak into the room with my dad sleeping cos according to him, his ears don’t sleep and he hates to be disturbed. That has changed largely these days – if I have to get something in his room, I just can’t wait till he wakes - sorry dad *tongue out*

My dad helped in setting a high standard for what I consider to be excellence in academics. I recall when I was in primary one and everyone was celebrating my being third best overall. He got back from work that day and saw my prize, the look on his face was so “duhish” – he muttered something like “I thought you came first, what’s the excitement about?” I never forgot that. (Funny, I was first in my class though *big grin*)

We always joke about my mum loving to work so much, but she’s not alone on this. Paale na workaholic! A lot of people know him as a pastor and an accountant. I recently joked about him being an Engineer and I got this “don’t underestimate my dad” sought of look from my lil sis. This man is just too much to be described by any one profession. He’s an accountant, a pastor, farmer, carpenter, engineer, welder, teacher, contractor, estate agent… plus and including father and husband. E no easy… lols.

Daddy is passionate. Passionate about everything he does. Once he sets to do something he just can’t understand why you haven’t caught the same fire and that’s a cause for his frustrations many times. I think this trait has increased with age, or maybe I was too young to notice. It took me a while to understand this and I’m working hard at keeping upJ. Be warned!!! – You need a lot of energy to be around this man. Please, don’t let me catch you call him stubborn. No! – He’s passionate!!! For an Ijesha man – he isn’t doing badly.

Now this is becoming an epistle L

One last thing, my dad’s a counselor. As much as I’ve allowed him to, he always had an advice for every issue. Sometimes though, his advice isn’t what I want to hear. Looking back over the years I’ve come to the conclusion, with some of my friends too, that “these old people always have a way of being right”.

I’m beginning to think I can go on and on… thank God I didn’t know how to startJ. Words are not sufficient to describe all I know or how I feel about this man. Maybe I just don’t know how to use them well enough. *shrugs* At least am happy I have the opportunity to express a bit of how I feel about him while we still live.

Some of you reading this, like my dad, have no father *sad face*. But for those of you that do, treat them nicely while you can and TRY to listen to them too. I’m proud to call mine DADDY.

Me to dad… “I know you’ve not stopped aspiring for greater things and a better life. I pray God will grant your heart desires in Jesus name. Happy Birthday dad!” *drops pen*

I want my name back :’(

Well, first I should say am not about to entertain you. I just feel like whining. I have a problem with several names and to be precise Yoruba names. It seems to me that there are not enough Yoruba names out there, I mean if you are Yoruba, or you have Yoruba friends, then you know someone that bears either Seun, Tope, Yinka, Bola, Biola, Biodun…. etc…. there’s an endless list of these blehish unisex names. And to worsen matters, Kemi is no longer for girls, just like I almost know more girls bearing Femi than guys. :s.

Like them Yoruba folks will say “tori komo le daran la se n somo loruko” (which means “you’ve been christened to make identification easy when you commit a crime” – my fair attempt at a literal translation). If that’s the case, I expect a great deal of ingenuity in naming children to aid this identification. Instead what do we find, people just naming children after their fathers, mothers, uncles and what not…. So actually a lot of Seuns, Seguns, Wales and Bisis should actually be called Junior or Seun IV, Wale XI or Bisi II. *mtcheeeew* Maybe we should revert to our “oriki” naming convention – like the Aina, Alade, Ayinla, Anike, Amoke etc but am sure we’ll soon run out of stock with these too.

Enough for the first names, at least people cover up for this with their surnames. Unfortunately, I almost can’t think of a surname more popular than mine – Ajayi! So my mum (a Lagos state teacher) goes for her headcount and they are like “just write your surname and initials, except you are an Ajayi – please write your full names!” I recall there were 12 Ajayis in my JSS 1 class (of course we were 103 in all) – don’t ask me, I finished from Ijebu-Ode Grammar School.

I feel jealous when you read people’s bio and all it says is “google me”. Last time I checked there were over 120 Seun Ajayis on facebook – the reason my facebook page isn’t www.facebook.com/seunajayi. Note, I chose my fb ID on the same day fb went live with IDs but I guess I wasn’t fast enough. Lucky though, I could settle with www.facebook.com/ajayiseun. Why do you think this page isn’t http://www.seunajayi.blogspot.com/? Cos one of us has it! And then this morning I get to work and get several chat messages and calls about one of us, “Seun Ajayi listed among UK’s 10 most wanted fraudsters”. Now ayam tayad!!! If I was a girl, I’d be hoping that the name will change after marriage – note the word hoping, cos weirdly I have an aunt that married an Ajayi!

Thank God for middle names! That makes is kinda better. Though again, I’ve met at least one person that has all 3. You’ll understand that since am a Christian and most of us are either Samuel, David, Emmanuel, Joseph, Isaiah etc… not such a long list too. *uhmmmmmmm*

Just so you know, I consider all other Seun Ajayis name snatchers… and I want my name back :’(

Enough whining! I have to go back to work. Guess I feel a lil better now… Come to think of it, am not the only one who will suffer this. My children? Dem go hear am too cos I can’t crack my head – let’s see what names their mum will come up with.