Debbie, Dear Debbie 💖

It's New Year!

Messages have been coming in.

At about 4pm, My phone beeps, I check and see this message from my Debbie.

Debbie: Happy new year to my best and coolest sis ever. Wishing you a great year ahead ma. A year full of God's blessings and success. Happy new year!

Thanks for all you do ma.

I appreciate you for the advice and the support you gave me. Thank you, God bless you ma. Happy New Year ma.😁

Me: Debbie😍😘

Thank you my dear.

You are so welcome.

Happy New Year dear

Happy New Year!

You are very cool yourself!

Debbie: Thank you ma

Me: You are so welcome.

God bless you and thank you for taking care of me and ensuring I was comfortable.

I truly appreciate it!

Debbie: All thanks to God ma

I appreciate ma.

Me: You are welcome dear Debbie. 

I'm here, always.

Debbie: Yes ma thank you ma

God bless you abundantly ma. I am so happy I know you ma, you are God's gift to me ma, thank you ma.

Me: Awwww

You are going to make me cry now…

And I did.

Then I shared this on my WhatsApp status;

Debbie made me shed my first tears in 2022, but not sad tears.

You are far too gracious & kind Debbie.

I'll treasure those words. So glad our paths crossed on this side of heaven.

God bless you richly my Debbie.

She sees it and sends this;

Debbie: Awwwwww 🥰🥰🥰

Thank you so much ma

I feel like crying too 🥺🥺🥺🥺

Thank you so much ma

Me: Please don't

You are welcome!

Thank you too.

You see, we meet people in the most unlikely places and never know the extent of the impact we make in their lives or how far the 'relationship' would go.

She actually did all the caring and more caring. I was always glad to have a companion because I was on some type of retreat/vacation and she was the only other human I was seeing constantly. I enjoyed talking with her and sharing my experiences as per 'egbon'. We talked a lot and she took care of me. She really did...

The truth is, i wasn't in a very good place,

I needed to rearrange my life and thoughts. I was at a crossroad and needed to make a decision that could mean altering and rewriting some portions and years from my life. It was tough. It was hard. It was emotional but it was something I needed to do if I wanted to make progress and move forward.

Then I'm chatting with Carl and mentioned, 

"I need a change of environment. I need to go somewhere for sometime."

"Would you mind flying over? I'm hardly around though, so you won't really get to see me like that." It's because of his work. "You'll have the place all to yourself. Think about it and..."

"I'd love to" I said, not waiting for him to finish, not considering the cost implications. At that moment I wasn't thinking straight but...

"Okay cool, some of our staff are actually in Kaduna at the moment, I'll make arrangements for you to fly back with them. The flight is chartered by the way, so you have nothing to worry about''

Ha! 

Me? 

Private jet? 

Yesu! 

Who would have thought????

"They will call you, in the meantime, get set. They return on Sunday."

Wow! Okay!

So I informed my siblings and my friends, Marvin and Lola about the trip.

"Have mad fun darling, forget this matter, it will fall into place. Relax and enjoy yourself." Marvin said. That made me cry because he knew what was up with me.

"I will" I assured him before packing my bags. He will be on my matter if he as much as senses I'm not enjoying myself.

This conversation happened on a Thursday. Sunday morning, 5:00am, my phone rings.

"Hello"

"Hello, is this Kim?"

"Yes"

"My boss said to call you, we are supposed to 'airlift' 🤣😂 you from Kaduna to... Can You be at the airport by 7:00am?

"Yes, sure," I replied, checking the time. I had about two hours. It can work. "If I leave in thirty or forty minutes, I can be at the airport before 7:00am" I calculated, rushing into the bathroom.

As i boarded the aircraft that day, I knew the direction I was going to take."It's not going to be easy, but follow it I must." I resolved as the 'very nice and smiling people' gave me a seat "buckle up ma'am, we'll be taking off in a bit" The usual 'pre-takeoff' instructions wasn't needed.

"Okay, thank you" 

"Would you want anything before takeoff?" 

" No, I'm fine," I said, smiling back.

"I'll check back later then. Enjoy your flight"

"Thank You!!!"

See levels! I hope I get to tell you all about this private jet experience someday.

When I got to my destination, my host wasn't available to get me but had left instructions for my movements. 

"So which of the rooms did you pick?" He asked after all the pleasantries. He'd just gotten back, this was at about 10:00pm. I hadn't picked any. The house was massive five bedroom bungalow with rooms almost the size of a football pitch. "None yet" 

"Let's see which you'd prefer, '' he said, taking me around. I picked one then he took me to the kitchen and the store, showed me where I could find anything and everything. My favourite spot was the Tea cabinet 😂 where an assortment of 'Teas' were displayed. 'Buzu tins😉'

"What would you want to eat now?" I was too tired and exhausted to think of what to eat. So I opted for a very small portion of rice and a piece of chicken along with my favourite fizzy drink, of course to top up with some Shayi before sleeping 😋.

"What will you eat tomorrow morning? Let me make arrangements now." 

"Ha, no need now. With all that you have shown me, I'll be fine" I assured him.

"Are you sure?"

I nodded, "Very"

"Okay. Should you need anything, ask Debbie. She'll be here in the morning"

"Okay. Thank you"

"I'm off to bed now, I have an early start tomorrow. You might not see me in the morning but I'll call later in the day to find out how you are settling in."

"Okay. Thank you so much." He nods and turns towards the direction of his room.

"Goodnight"

Like he rightly said, I didn't see him the next morning but Debbie was there. That became the routine except on days I deliberately come out early, remembering my home training of being a 'good guest' 😁 by making sure I see and greet my host before he leaves for work.

On one such day he asked, "So you come out this early just to greet me?" He didn't wait for my response. 

"I thought you were here to rest? Please rest ko? Your morning greetings will not increase my salary" 

Mogbe!!! 

Me that was trying to be a good child fa. I relaxed from then on.

Debbie! 

Debbie was the housekeeper/supervisor. She supervised all the workers and cooked our meals. My clothes were sagging when I got there but by the time I was leaving, they fitted nicely. 

First thing In the morning she's asking me "what would you like to eat?"

Ha! "This cup of tea would be fine for now," I'm usually already sipping it. "I'm not an early eater" I added the first time.

"Okay ma. So what time would you have breakfast?"

This girl! "Maybe 10:00am?" I said, looking at the clock.

"Okay ma. What would you like to eat by then?"

Na wa ooo!

Then She won't let me finish breakfast before she's asking "what would you like for lunch ma?".

Hian!

Ikon Allah! "Debbie leave me ooo" I'd exclaim. "No food for me till evening."

"Are you fasting ma?" 😅😂🤣

She was persistent. She was consistent.

We eventually settled into a comfortable routine. Some days I'd tell her, "don't worry, I'll be fine. I don't want to eat anything yet. When I feel like it, I'll find something. On such days, whatever she makes for her boss, she makes extra just in case I choose to eat that.

Besides giving her meal ideas for her boss, because she was sometimes lost as to what to cook, Oh, and then the times she had to inform him of the need to restock on some items, I'm not sure she got the best of me but her words proved otherwise. I still don't understand why she was so scared of someone so... Well, probably because she didn't know him and she rarely saw him anyway.

Even in that period of my life, where I didn't give her my best, she saw beyond that. 

Somehow, somehow... 

Okay. 

That means that even at your lowest, you are capable of making a difference and impact. A lasting one at that. 

Make it a good one. 

Thank you!