Considering how much you beat the living shit out of me while we were growing up, even for the filmsiest reasons, 😀 please consider this form of public greeting a mild recompense for all those fun times. Sorry, the plane ticket to Britain is beyond me at this moment, or I’d have come over to deliver these cards myself* ;). You’re my only brother after all – as far as I know (haha), and it would have been fun to catch up. But heck, have a blast with your family. I wish you the very best on this your special day. May the rest of your days be the best of your days!
* Besides, even if I somehow make it through to Heathrow Airport, those buggers at the airport entry points would still take one look at my Nigerian passport as they did the last time I had ambitiously marched towards them (on landing after my connecting flight from Lagos in August) and told them that I wanted to spend my five idle hours on the streets of London shopping, looking at stores, parks, red phone booths and double decked buses , and tell me with the stiffest upper lip I’ve ever seen, that “You hold a Nigerian Passport. We cannot let you in… Yes I see that you have an American visa on it, and a ticket that says you’d be moving from here in five hours, but that’s the law here, thank you… Anything else I can do for you?” Damn them! I wonder how you survive. Here’s what my friend George Orwell the British had to say: “Soon or late the day is coming… (that) the fruitful fields of England shall be trod by beasts alone.” Ah-ha, there you have it. I wish you the best of luck. Happy Birthday Brother!
1
Clarissa at http://clarissasbox.blogspot.com
Happy Birthday to your brother!
God, I miss my sister…
Posted at October 29, 2009 on 10:43pm.
2
Kola Tubosun at http://www.ktravula.com
Thanks Clarissa.
Where does your sister live?
Posted at October 30, 2009 on 6:47pm.
3
Yemi Adesanya at http://YourWebsite
I remember those days when we’d play football (soccer) upstairs in the then uncompleted building in Akobo, we jumped downstairs unto the pavement (Now Leke would have a heart attack with his daughter merely climbing the sofa or attempting so slide headfirst on her Masterslide) or when we’d swim belly-on-the-floor in what was meant to be a garage downstairs after a heavy downpour or even bathing under the rain! Those we fun times, happy times.
I remember the many beatings from brother and also the times he made efo riro and amala lafun for us when mum was not at home.
I remember the first T-shirt you bought me (with Chicago Bulls written on it), and a corduroy skirt.
And then the times you came back to Lagos to check on me, afraid I might be down with Malaria.
In all, I feel really blessed to have grown up with you, big brother.
God bless you always, for all you did for me.
I love you.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Posted at October 30, 2009 on 2:30am.
4
Kola Tubosun at http://www.ktravula.com
I also remember the following:
* The so called ere ofoju, which was just hide-and-seek, so named by the famous pastor!
* 5ft-9in, which was at a time the record height in the whole neighbourhood. We had the measurement marks on the passage walls, and we kept staring at how it was possible for one man to be that tall. That man wasn’t me, of course.
* The Chicago Bulls t-shirt, especially because it wasn’t bought for me.
* “Emí ni mí – Emií ni ré,” and many other fun characters that came in and out of our lives those days.
I will have so much fun writing a memoir of childhood times.
Posted at October 30, 2009 on 7:18pm.
5
Yemi Adesanya at http://YourWebsite
Question for you Kola, what made ere ofoju scary to you in those days?
Posted at November 2, 2009 on 8:48am.
6
Kola Tubosun at http://www.ktravula.com
I couldn’t understand the point behind the blindfolding, especially since I was afraid of all the practical jokes of you grown folks at the time, and well afraid of the dark.
Satisfied?
Posted at November 2, 2009 on 9:00am.
7
Olaitan Olatubosun at http://YourWebsite
It’s funny when people use the phrase ‘the brother I never had’ in describing someone so good, they wish were theirs.
In this case, you are the brother we have, and others envy.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge, time and money.
I can’t possibly forget all the good moments we shared…
Well, let’s make a wish and reverse the time.
What do you think? I think it’s worth it.
Happy birthday, Agama
Posted at October 30, 2009 on 8:21am.
8
Posi Olatubosun at http://YourWebsite
Thanks for all the comments. I have since grown up and can manage my temperament better. Well, as for my passport, it is still colour green but I hope to exchange it for the wine colour one by August 10, 2010. That’s life.
Wait o, I heard that Thief Bodwe Gorge gave both of you (Yemi & Kola) N100 each in 1990. Time to make restitution is NOW.
Posted at October 30, 2009 on 11:18am.
9
Kola Tubosun at http://www.ktravula.com
lol @Bodwe Gorge. Funny.
But here is my defence: In 1990, I was still a minor. The money exchanging hands was during a public Christmas Children’s Party at the government house, and I couldn’t possibly have been looking for a contract with the then Military Governor in the well-starched white Navy uniform. Okay! Meanwhile, for restitution, I will go out today and buy a bag full of Halloween candy with the equivalent of a hundred naira from 1990 – or one dollar, in American currency, factoring the inflation figures – and distribute to the kids tomorrow during the Halloween celebration. That will suffice for absolution. And if in nineteen years from now, the kids ever get to be ashamed of me, they will have to figure out their own absolution all by themselves.
Chikena
Posted at October 30, 2009 on 1:17pm.
10
Omolara at http://YourWebsite
Kola and Yemi, you have this comic way of reminding me of the twisted past. Hmn… how time flies! I remember how i secretly thanked God that i was neither the first born of the family nor the first male child. Wonder why? Posi bears it all and paid dearly for it. I still remember vividly how he was “wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our inniquities” all for one simple reason that was not that simple; He was the eldest and should know better when ‘we’ all went astray. ‘Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown’ you would say. It was a helplessly pitiable situation. In all of that, he was still strong, being the head, the first and the man. We, I am proud of you and i can only assure you that one day you will look back and be more proud of all of us your blind loyalists than you already are. We are still following your lead, Ma a ko wa je niso. I love you to pieces, so do Bukky, Yemi, Kola, Laitan and My Deola.
Posted at October 30, 2009 on 12:52pm.
11
Omolara at http://YourWebsite
Wishing you a happy Birthday brother, O yato. How could i forget the only reason i commented to this? Dont mind me this server is frustrating, Bukky is dealing with it too, o ti daa mo, (lol). Yeah this is Naija for you. Ahem, Prof when are you coming back home jare, we miss you.
Posted at October 30, 2009 on 1:23pm.
12
Adeleke at http://YourWebsite
So you guys ate out of Thief Bodwe Gorge’s loot! 🙂
Posted at October 30, 2009 on 2:27pm.
13
Kola Tubosun at http://www.ktravula.com
Do you want some of tomorrow’s candy as well?
Posted at October 30, 2009 on 6:36pm.
14
Yemi Adesanya at http://YourWebsite
LMAO!
Let it go round, send him an e-candy on facebook, and Posi too.
Posted at October 31, 2009 on 4:59am.
15
Bola at http://YourWebsite
Happy birthday from me as well. It was nice talking to you again after such a long time. It’s almost like you’re the elder brother I never had. Love you lots!
Posted at October 30, 2009 on 2:46pm.
16
Bola at http://YourWebsite
Yemi, I got your SMS and replied. But for some reason my message was not delivered. 🙁 My dear, I’ll try to call you tomorrow, promised. 🙂
Posted at October 30, 2009 on 2:54pm.
17
Yemi Adesanya at http://YourWebsite
So what shall I do to absolve myself now of the N100 given to us by Thief Bodwe Gorge, ehn Kola? Maybe I should pay N100 extra tax, plus interest and inflation factor to Uncle Fash? Or pay it forward like you are planning? I’d think of something.
I remember that day, the man’s confusion at to who to hand the money to, since Kola was taller than me. (yes, even back then 🙂 ) I doubt that Olaitan remembers though!
@ Bola, I will be expecting your call, it’s been a while.
Posted at October 30, 2009 on 4:16pm.