One Picture, One Story Week #69

Greetings to you my amazing friends and steemians of this lovely community. Trusting God we are all doing good?
Thanks @suboohi for bringing up this contest.

A visit to my maternal grandmother

This was a visit to my maternal grandmother. The visit was on the second day of January 2025. I traveled home to celebrate this festive period with my Mom and Dad and other members of the family who also came home for the festivities.
As usual, after waking up in the morning, we gathered as a family to say our morning devotion. After that, we all joined hands to do the house chores and ensure we tidied up everywhere. Once that was done, I notified my parents that I'll be visiting my Granny, though I've informed them earlier before then. My maternal grandmother is the only grandparent I have left. They rest have transitioned to Glory.

Due to the high cost of fuel, I didn't drive but rather patronized the services of bike men often known as Okada or achaba in hausa language. The journey is approximately a 45minutes ride on bike from my family house to my Granny's village. The bike man was a very friendly fellow as he keeps engaging me in conversations till we got to my destination. Unlike other bike riders who are known for their reckless riding, this one was very matured, calm and rides on the normal average speed. He actually won my heart. I had to pay him a double of the price we bargained earlier cos of the so much sense of humor and maturity he's got.

Getting to Granny's place, I was warmly welcomed by the kids around. One of the kids rushed to Granny's room to announce my presence. It was indeed a great moment to behold. While still playing with the kids and every kid greeting me and asking for happy Christmas (Christmas gift), Granny was already out. I gave the kids some tokens and requested they go show it to their parents first (it's a normal tradition in Nigeria for kids to show their parents any gift they received).

Granny was so much delighted to see me once again after a long period of time. She asked about the welfare of everyone at home and I told her they're all doing good.
Granny lost one of her eyes to glaucoma. Despite the fact she had a surgery on the eye, she still couldn't see till the eye went completely blind. But we thank God attention was given to the second eye so it also doesn't get affected.

Granny loves gist a lot. But before then, she requested they brought a drink for me. That was the drink I'm holding in my hand. It's called "kunun zaki" in hausa. It's a drink made from sorghum or millet. It's a household name in Nigeria as most families resort to this type of drink during any festivity. Aside the fact that it is very easy to make, it is also very cost effective.
We also have another type of local drink gotten from sorghum or millet. It's called "burukutu" or "BKT" for a short form. I called this the fermented form of kunu as it is a locally brewed alcoholic drink and it makes you very tipsy if drank to a level above what your body can take.

As I was sipping my kunun zaki gently, my Granny engaged me in a conversation.

Granny: I was told that you have graduated from school?
Me: Yes oh, I return the Glory to God Almighty.
Granny: oh, that's great. I also heard that you now have a job that has taken you away from home?
Me: yes Ma. That is why I don't get to visit you as often as I used to do before.
Granny: I'm so proud of you. (She said a short prayer for me and gave me a lot of advices. Not to pick what doesn't belong to me, not to lie at work place, to be obedient, not to be lazy and all that)
Me: Amen. Thanks a lot Granny.
Granny: oya, back to the main deal. As you can see, I'm already very old. I can hardly hear and I've already lost one of my eyes. I have just few years left to live here on earth before going to join my ancestors.
Me: oh, Granny, you won't join your ancestors soon oooooh. I'm praying for you always. You will live long like Methuselah.
Granny: hmmmmmmm. You this boy. Will you keep quiet and listen?.
Ok, so as I was saying, ever since you've been coming here, I've never seen you come with a lady that you want to marry yet. Do you want to bring my grand kids to my grave?
Me: God forbid.

Jokingly I told her I wished to go back to the seminary school to become a priest.

Granny: You mean you want to be like those people wearing whites and standing in front of the church everyday?
Me: Yes Granny.
Granny: you mean you want to be like those people that don't marry?
Me: Yes Granny.

Granny was was furious with me that she told me she's coming to see my parents and that she will disown me. I had to tell Granny that I was only joking and I promised that I will come visit her with the lady I will be settling down with the next time I come visiting. Granny starting grinning from ear to ear when she heard that.

Granny prayed for me and blessed me. She also gave me a she-goat as her gift for me. Would have also included the goat in this picture but they kids went in pursuits of the goat. I'll ensure I nurture the goat very well so it can bear more kids.

This is one of my best visit to Granny.

I'm inviting @deelyt @tripple-e and @vickyson to also participate in this contest