DANCE ALL THA WAY

I love to watch people dance...although, I am not a good dancer myself. As a matter of fact I am a horrible dancer. However, I watch all the dance shows, musicals and take particular interest when I see people dancing.

The motion that goes into the art can be innate instincts sometimes, while other times, people actually go all out to learn the fantastic dance steps.

I was at a wedding a couple of weeks back and was treated to an abundant dose of dance and drama. needless to say, it brought on a state of nostalgic flashback to my own wedding last year. I watched with interest as the bride literally set the dance floor on fire. Ironically, the groom was no where to be found around the scene. That struck me with a vivid clarity! Men are usually not as expressive as women. As happy as the day was for both of them, it was the bride that did most of the dancing, while the groom perhaps, have already started juggling a myriad of minute details in his head about that next deal!

Nonetheless, dancing is a way of expressing one's feeling of joy, happiness and excitement. For some it is a professional calling, while for others...it is just a plain old way of having fun.

NOSTALGIA

Without change there can be no nostalgia.

Change makes everything become antiquated. And over time, change has been identified as the only constant in a complex of variables.

For a while now I have been feeling this nostalgic sensations about my past, and how I have traversed through different stages in my life up to this point. All the changes I have made and all the different mistakes, successes, pains, joys and frustrations.

Thinking back I must say it has been festering for a while. People have asked me, friends that is, about my childhood. Strangely, I never say much. Why, I really don't know. Possibly because there is so much to say or maybe I try to run away from leaving myself too "open".

Early this week I thought of one of my friends from childhood. He is Idowu Gabriel. Lovely chap. One of the first to summon enough courage to want to be my friend. Chap just walked up to my front door one day, so that we could walk together to our summer school classes (not to glamorize too much: LESSON) together.I was completely flabberwhelmed.

However, all through primary school and secondary school we were fast friends. But, I guess we moved on somehow.

I remember that time when I went with a group of naughty boys to swim in the Idi-Araba canal. It was just newly constructed then and it was really clean. I can't swim u see, but I nevertheless went to "feel among". It was going fine until another group of boys from another school came along.

One thing led to another and stones started raining from both ends, at the end someone from our camp was successful with a very good throw. Next thing I know blood was spilling everywhere...we ran like the demons were after us. Those boys however traced us to our summer school, and started fishing everyone out. I was missed out though as I had removed my uniform leaving just my inner shirt.

Then there was that time when one boy almost closed down the whole school. You see, I went to Birch Freeman High School, a public boys only school. And teachers are always insisting on instilling discipline on a bunch of boys just looking out to have fun.

So that day, a particular teacher decided he was going to teach one of the "big boys" a lesson. He forcefully cut his curled air and humiliated him...kind of. He shaved the student's hair clean right in the middle, so he looked like Abija wara (you know in that popular Yoruba series Koto Orun). It was so funny that other students laughed at him and called him exactly that.

And true to type of the character in the series, he went home to Mushin (yes, the dreaded Mushin) and came back reloaded, with a horde of terrifying looking thugs. We all trembled that day o. Those guys were looking so fierce, but thanks to the quick intervention of police from Alakara police station.

Yes, I remembered all these incidents and many more. All the way to my days in Ojere, Ogun State. But, I must say, nothing is more troubling to me than the fact that I have lost so many friends along the way. Friendships to me are sacred and I am always careful how I make friends and who I call a friend. For  me friendship is to be jealously guarded.

When I remember all of my so called "friends" I become so disappointed. Is it me or is it just that they weren't good enough in the first instance?

I am still feeling it. I am in a really nice mess. Thanks for reading this.

LAGOS SWIMMING UNDER WATER

What would these Lagosians do?

Watch out for mo' updates....

THE SCENE FROM OUT MY WINDOW

I like to sit back at home weekends.

It is probably a bad idea, but it works fine for me. Not with the weekly hustle and bustle. And if you live in Lagos, Nigeria, you will understand what "hustle and bustle" means. What's more? If you are a resident of Ikorodu and environs (a suburb or what some will call new settlement), then you will definitely understand what "hustle and bustle" means.

All the same, I relish the life. The easy going weekend lifestyle. Not going out, unless it is unavoidably essential.

From way back since I can remember, I have always been a "family type" kind of man; the kind of man who loves being around loved ones. Rather than go out and have a wild-time-out-on-the-town I would prefer to sit back in front of the TV and watch movies, play video games, board games or just gist away with friends or family. Even when I went away to school it was the same way and I was lucky enough to surround myself with friends who had a somewhat similar lifestyle...not to say we didn't have fun! But probably not in the way others may find "interesting".

My low-key lifestyle has earned me all kinds of personality characterizations: efiko (book worm),  arrogant a**hole, uptight fellow, great bore etc.

I don't bother (in most cases) to dispel such notions, because I only show to people what they want to see....you can call me a two-face con artist if you want. However, some people are just the way they are because it is who they are and it suits them fine.

So, it is not surprising that most weekends I find myself at home doing the odd domestic chores and peacefully savoring the beauty of my surroundings.

 It is definitely a bucolic setting, but I do relish the very many dimensions and perspectives it presents me with every time I sit down and observe what goes on around me. I am beginning to make it a point to studiously observe and learn from the every day nature presentations. It is beautiful and breathtaking.

From sunup to sundown, I present you with a one of the typical and breathtaking nature presentations I am regaled with.

Enjoy.

Sun breaking through the morning clouds...waking up to this sight is somewhat stimulating.

Early afternoon with the clouds is a kaleidoscope of colours

Mid-afternoon is glorious and  a heartwarming sight to behold.

 The sun setting is so...

                                                    Majestically B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L

And the rising of the moon is magnificent enough to bring on cathartic benefits....

And when the moon is full, I can go to sleep easy knowing I have once again witnessed one of the most beautiful works of art.

THE CELEBRATION THAT WENT UP IN SMOKE

So we celebrated eventually?

Wow! But the part I can't wrap my head around is how much was spent in such vain celebrations when there are serious environmental, social and political issues begging for lasting solution.

Some of the money devoted to hosting foreign visitors, who in the first place care less whether Nigeria survives or not, could have been better deployed caring for the needs of the millions of impoverished and deprived peoples of this country.

I still marvel at such callousness by our public officials. What could have informed their decision to spend so much in celebrating a country where several millions groan in pain and struggle in poverty and lack of the basic structures to pull them out of  the quagmire? The money deployed in such fanciful and wasteful display could have been better utilized, if the government really cared for the people.

The bomb blasts shouldn't have come as a surprise. The security services have also become impoverished. We have constantly heard tales of security forces being overwhelmed by the superior firepower of criminal bandits; hence, why should a bomb blast right at the backyard of the venue for such debauchery cause such shock? The security services can only muster as much a result as the equipment they are bogged down with can conjure. In the face of stark antiquity of such equipment it is easy for the security networks to be penetrated by dare-devil militants.

My only hope is in the people of this country, our ability to never say die and penchant to always call on the Nigerian Factor in whatever situation we find ourselves in.

Government has promised to cater for the families of those who were victims of the bomb blast. But I ask, is it only when calamities befall us that the government should think of doing something for its citizenry?