I took birthdays for granted. I mostly remembered my date of birth either through notification of people’s wishes on Facebook and my parents. And for the past four years, through Faith.
This year’s would’ve been the same, but for the crude dawning on me that one of my parents, the “vehicular” human that brought me into the world is no more. My mother died.
So I got reflective weeks and days to today. I am still trying to get hold on to at least the fringes of my breezy, thought garment. But I am pleasantly surprised where the years have gone to. 10 years ago I was a starry-eyed, dreamy teenager. 10 years on, I’m just three steps towards completing my third decade on earth. Wow
Now my featured image was the first selfie I took outside of my motherland…outside my mother’s orbit. My mother saw this photo. I had fears and hopes as I took the photo. I took other photos more in hope and I shared them with my mother, and she’d comment first and foremost: “Weldone, my prof,” before going on to profess good tidings mothers are only capable of.
But my fears became a nightmare.
And I’ve had the longest settling down in a faraway country from my mother who took that forever flight away from mother earth.
I still take photos and share it with my mother on her WhatsApp, even when I know she will never view or comment on them. My mother nonetheless had hopes and strong will which have propelled me all my life, and have been the plane on which I have travelled to everywhere her dream and mine imagine. My journey is only starting. She told me all the time. I’m a testimonial of what a mother’s labor and daring dream could realize. I’m forever omo mummi. Omo Victoria Oluwatoyin Idowu. Iya onike.
Tobi Idowu 