#ULOG 007...MY TRIP TO EDO STATE

For days, I've been proposing to travel to Edo State for my dad's supposed funeral ceremony. I've been undergoing stress lately and I didn't have the energy for the eight hours plus journey. My sister called on Tuesday to find out when I'd be coming home because she's been long expecting me. I told her Wednesday. Little did I know that for certain reasons, I wouldn't be able to make it. She was all vexed up because I couldn't come as earlier planned. I settled finally for Thursday not because it was what I wanted but just to make her happy.

The thoughts of going home came with lots of missed feelings. First I was happy that I would be seeing my family and friends again after about four months. Again I was sad because of the thoughts of dad. It would be like peeling off old wounds that were beginning to heal but I didn't have a choice as it was imperative that I go home. So I went to bed quite early on Wednesday night since I would be travelling in the morning and to give me enough time to rest and prepare my mind psychologically for the journey.

Woke up Thursday morning, had a quick shower and headed for the park. I've always hated travelling by road especially for long hours. It makes me sick in my stomach that sometimes I've had to puke in the car. Ewwwwwwww you say right? So as a rule, I don't usually eat before embarking on a long distance journey. I can't wait to own my private jet so I could fly the world (lol). So, I boarded a bus headed for Edo State. The bus finally coughed into life at about twenty minutes past ten o'clock.

A lady I had never met was seated beside me. I didn't figure out that anything was wrong because I was locked up in my thoughts. She got a call and was narrating to the person at the end of the line how that she lost her mum early hours of this morning and she bursted into uncontrollable tears. I tried to console her as I fought back the tears that were already forming in my eyes. It reminded me of dad. The memory still fresh.

Two hours into the journey, we arrived at Lokoja. I had to buy suya, the Nigerian beef barbecue at lokoja with a can of malt because at this point, I was very hungry and sure that I wasn't going to puke on this journey. Just after we left Lokoja, a little girl about ten started to throw up. I already know the cause and that could have been me. I couldn't help but feel sorry for her because I've been in that position several times. You'll just feel very weak that all you want to do is sleep. She slept for the remaining four hours of the journey.

I was about forty minutes close home. So, I called my elder sister to let her know. She had to wait for me at the junction with her kids to pick me up. It was all hugs and laughter as her kids, my nieces and nephew were ready to fill me in on all that happened in my absence. They talked about how much they'd look forward to my arrival and all that they had done as a way of welcoming me. I laughed really hard at their display of love. My friend @lordjames has taught me never to live life with a sense of entitlement. This lesson helps me to know how to appreciate even the little that comes from people. That's no way to say that I'm willing to settle for less. Just learnt not to build too much expectations on people so as not to get disappointed.

After super, I had to spend time with my sister as she filled me in on what happened before dad finally passed on. I truly appreciated all her efforts because in all honesty, she really tried her best to see to it that he recovers from the ailment. It hurts, I still miss dad but I owe it to him and to myself is to get over the hurt and live my dreams to its fullest.

It's my #ulog and my story. @surpassinggoggle has given me a voice; an opportunity to explore my everyday, the good, bad and ugly. He's made me a celebrity and for that I'm grateful. You too are a celebrity. Inspire us with your story because we are your fans.

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