I was traveling from province T to S on the 19th of April 2017. I had a stop at a city called Edmonton. The transit was to be for 4 hours. I dreaded the long wait and was thinking of what I could do to while away time. It’s was lunch time and decided to eat my hot fresh meal from my ever reliable thermos flask. I love to take food on local flights especially if i will be air borne for 3hrs or more. It was a nice meal and thank goodness I was able to quickly munch it before an old white lady walked into the room, where we waited to board our flight. There was an empty seat beside me and in my usual style invited her to seat. She was very glad, putting up a very lovely smile and greeted me warmly as she sat down. We exchanged pleasantries.
Me: hello ma’am. How are you doing
The lady: I’m fine, how are you doing too. Can I seat beside you.
Me: sure!
The lady: Thank you so much. My name is Alba
Me: I’m Shade
That was how the conversation started. From her parents to marriage and having her two boys who are 63 and 57 years old now, there was no dull minute. She told me about how her parents migrated to north America in the early 1900. She appreciated the fact that everyone in North America is an immigrant; whether you came 100 years ago or a year ago. She lives in a suburb of Edmonton in a neighborhood of retired seniors, and was traveling by herself to visit her grandson in the city I was also visiting. A very smart woman, she is very current with politics and did not hide her feelings about the change of government in the US. Just about 5 minutes into our gisting, we were laughing, giggling and chuckling to the extent that some of our neighbours attention was constantly on us. They looked at us and smiled intermittently. She was very happy throughout the 2 and half hours chat, and wondered how I was so friendly with her. I told her that I love to talk with seniors because I think about how lonely they are especially in this part of the world. She attested to that but however told me that she watches the news, reads and also play games with her neighbors because she lost her husband 10 years ago when she was 76years old. I felt so sorry for her because she now lives alone. It was time to board now, and she was among the first to be called to board. She was not so happy to leave, so we hugged and said goodbye. The flight was about 3 hours, but I didn’t have a clue which section of the air plane she was seating. I strongly felt like getting up to look for her but I was engaged with another senior who sat beside me. This time, was a 67 year old by name Alice. O my God, the gist never ended. She got married at a very early age to her high school lover and has 3 grown up kids. Her first question was my original nationality. She wouldn’t stop praising her neurologist who is a Nigerian and positively impacting humanity, not only practicing medicine, but going extra miles to support his patients during the healing process. She has been through series of brain surgery and since retired 22 years ago as a result of a brain tumor. God bless this country how they cared very much for me. That was her prayer. We landed at about 3pm the city’s local time, and Alice introduced me to her husband who was already waiting for her at the arrival hall. He was a very friendly man and both of them are not stereotypical. We exchanged pleasantries and I went to get my bag. As I was about to leave the arrival hall, I saw Alba waiting to be picked up by His grand son. She was so happy to see me again and I decided to take a picture with her. She brought out her phone and requested to also have a picture taken with her phone camera too. She requested for my business card which I gladly gave to her. She promised to send me a mail and said to me” hope to see you again before I finally go home” I felt so emotional. We had a very warm hug and said good bye!
Lessons learnt:
1. Be patient when you are with them. They need your company. Whether they are your parents or not. Remember you will be like them someday if God grant you a long life and you will need somebody’s company.
2. Let everyone you meet remember you for good memories. Impact everyone you meet positively, no matter how little.
3. Not all whites are stereotypical. Do not be biased, accept them. We are all created and none is so special.
4. Sickness does not mean death. A brain tumor patient who has undergone many surgeries still waxing stronger. God is the source of good health and the custodian of death.
5. Nigerians are wonderful people and doing wonderfully well everywhere. We are not all fraudsters. Be proud of who you are.
6. We learn every day from the people we meet, no matter how little the knowledge seems to be.
7. Strangers are friends you have just met and may be friends you will ever meet. Be good to them.
I pray that the Lord of heaven and earth should grant Alba and Alice the health needed to complete their journey on earth amen. May He grant us all a long quality life devoid of sickness, sorrow, worry and sorry, but full of merry and curry amen.
Thanks for reading.
Below is the picture I took with Alba, my 86 year old friend.
