This is a guest post by Wamuyu Wang'ombe.
Dear grandma,
How are you? It’s been a while since you went to Paradise. How is the place? Is it as beautiful as people describe it? I will join you once my work on earth is complete. Our Father in heaven will have called me by then.
I really do miss you. I miss the stories you used to narrate to us in the evenings as we sat by the fireplace. Can you recall how you used to place your legs closer to the firewood for your feet to dry? As the heat increased, I would watch you rub your feet. I would try it but couldn’t stand the heat. You would laugh at me and tell me, ‘Nyinyi watoto wa Nairobi hamuwezi kukausha miguu hivi.’ (You Nairobi kids cannot dry your feet like this) We were used to using towels to dry our feet. If I had a smart phone then, I would have recorded you do it. I would be watching the video right now and putting on a smile like the one I have now. From the kitchen, you would escort us to our rooms. Make sure we are in bed and cover us.
Just before we slept, you taught us to pray. When morning came, you were the first to wake up. You ensured that our breakfast was ready on time. You didn’t buy bread when we weren’t around. However, when your grandchildren were around for holidays, you made sure we had bread and some cakes. If it was a less busy and a good morning, you would prepare some pancakes for us. I have never learnt how you made your pancakes. They had this extra-ordinary taste. As it went down the throat, there was this urge to eat more that was created. I really miss the pancakes.
We would go to the farm together. You would remove the hurdles on the way so that our feet were not hurt by thorns. You taught me how to dig the farm. During the coffee season, we would do it together. I felt happy when you sent me to take the coffee berries to the factory. I would get a chance to pass by the shopping centre and buy biscuits. I have a confession to make, sometimes a crusade would steal our attention as we were heading home, a reason why we delayed sometimes.
You would warn us not to go to the river. We would sneak out when you had gone for the women’s group meeting. We would play and swim. Our rural home being a hilly area, you could clearly see us down at the river. Afterwards I could hear you calling us to get back home. As we knew we were in trouble, we would fetch firewood on our way back to sweet talk you.
There was a time you came to visit us in Nairobi. It felt so nice having you around. We made sure we cooked at home because you didn’t like eating out.
I wish you were still alive to see the lady I have grown to become. I have been having challenges with my youth. I was wondering if you also went through all this when you were young. I have some good news. I have a relationship with God and it is awesome. I never thought I was qualified, but His grace has been sufficient. He has kept me. Am almost through with University. You had promised to be there during my graduation but plans changed when you left. I still love you grandma. Will miss you and cherish the memories we share. Bye, until we meet again in Paradise.
With love,
Your granddaughter,
Naomi Wamuyu (Nash)