"Nna, Luvunus/Sriva, have you eaten? Let me give you more. I'm sure these children didn't give you enough...!" She'd always say to either of her two sons after they must have eaten full and left over close to half of the bowl of meal they'd been served. Their innitial responses usually falls on unwilling ears of Mma, as she'll predictably continue with the defiance of a mother's love. "...Let me give you more meat and fish then...", she'd retort at their expected refusal, clutching the small pot of soup with her left arm and the dispense spoon; already placed under the meat inside the pot, with the other arm. And soon, they'll respectfully and lovingly cease to respond or step away to attend to other issues because she'll keep on with the pressure until the one is out of sight.
But that's just about the way she could show her kids the mother's love at this point.
It was no longer the times of giving them clothes to cover up. Or, Okpa from Orie Amaraku. 'Akara ji akpu' and the likes. It was their turn to do such now, so she offered whatever she had at hand in overdose to show her overwhelming love to her kids which they still were to her.
Aunt Augustina is usually the one that lends her all the time. Or, atleast more of it. Which is never enough, still. Mma would rather forfeit food and have her beloved daughter around and with her, gisting. More like about the same thing over and over again. No matter how long Aunt Augustina stayed before going back to Ezihe or Lagos, Mma sees it as never enough for the most meager details she'd like her to pay credence to. In the end, Aunt Augustina would always have to force her way out before getting an 'ije oma' gesture and prayer from Mma. She still wanted her in her bossom, if possible, as in her infant days. Truely, the children never lacked Mma's love and care. That i can attest to, anyday.
Having witnessed a good deal of Mma's aging life. Shared in her love, widsom, renewed childlikeness and the resultant humour with the rest of the grand children. You know what? Ofcourse, you guesseed right, she never agreed with the young grand children on lots, if not all issues. And rightly so, too!
Otherwise, how do you explain to someone who had lived for seventy to eighty years before you were born that it's no longer cool to go to church on bathroom slippers? That thi's 21st century so she had to pull up on lily heels? Eeh, you want her head over heels or what? Or, still, how do you get her to seat in front of a camera for an interview; like when she was confered with the Ezinne title in the church?
While embarking on such meaned lots of laughter and fun, it, meanwhile, presented us; the grand chiledren and direct children alike, with the opportunity to understand that we've been greatly blessed by the Almighty. For, many only dreamt but never had such moments with their well aged grand parent(s). So, we say a very big Thanks to the Almighty for the lone blessing of having Mma around us for such a long time. Quite long in today's world of sudden deaths. If well checked, Mma could actually be the oldest female at transit moment around the community. If not her exactly, then, certain, she's one of them! Rarity is the word and we bless God!
I'm close to certain, too, that Mma couldn't have asked for more. Came into the world a 100+ years ago, made babies who, right before her eyes, developed into men and women and begat their own children of whom a few's got offsprings aswell, all in Mma's lifetime. Mma must have been thanking God since the day she transitted. It's indeed a fulfilled life.
Mma, listen, we may not have had all we wanted you to enjoy during your lifetime, but i'm sure we gave you all we could afford which was only in reciprocation for you first gave to us.
At this point, we say thank you for coming, for being part of our path into the world. And now that you're very well done with your part of the bergain, we pray God to grant you eternal rest by His side without taking into account all shortcomings that were yours for none will stand if He does.
We also pray Him to grant your own children the grace to see their own grand and great grand children in good health of body, mind and soul. Even so better than yours. And i'm sure we're on the same page on this one. For you wouldn't wish evil on your children. But the best that could be.
We do not bury you at this time, we only commit the dusty container of the real you to the dust while you rest in eternal glory as we've prayed God to grant you and where we hope to be with God and His Angels on our appointed day.
Till then, and for now, we say: MMA.., IJE OMA; TILL WE GET TO 100+ like you!
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