Daddy has rested.........

So

it comes as a bit of a shock when you wake up on a Sunday morning, and casually glance at your phone and see missed calls and messages, please call me back. Thats what happened to me on the morning of March 26...I called back my sis in Dar and she broke the news, thats not what i was expecting to hear! I mean we knew he was down and she had visited with him the day before and informed us that yes he looked weak, but he was ok. And that that night at 11pm he was to get another injection....kumbe that was it!! waaaaaaaaaaaa

I cried

I felt sad

More for him, really, that dealing with diabetes all these years then thats what actually floors you

waaaaaaa

I had to be one to tell my younger sis since thats the only person who didnt know. She leaves closeby, and that was not easy

waaaaaaaaa


and in such cases, one just has to dry the tears and together, decide on what needs to be done. See my father had many children, and we are the older ones, the ones in Nairobi, so we were well aware that the main plans would emanate from Nairobi. Mercifully one of us was in Dar and so could keep us informed

My bro flew out that evening and it was really great that he could do that, BUT I can only imagine the strain he went through since the group in Dar was adamant that Mzee Mawanda be laid to rest very soon and not April 8th as we had hoped

So April 1st was set as the date. That sounded so close, but we managed

That week was a blur, so many things to be done, travel documents, newspaper adverts, programs, attire ....so much to be raised....friends coming through like you cant imagine...despite the short notice....forever grateful....

About 23 people came from Nairobi by bus via Kampala to Bukoba and a good number from Dar es salaam by bus and air. My sis had gone to Bukoba earlier than all and kept writing that its raining and very muddy, and sure enough the bus we were in could not go past a given point to Bibi (my 91 year old grandmothers) home

March 31st was the vigil night and April 1st after a somber mass, then there was the viewing - thats when it hits, since i had not seen him in that state before

waaaaaaaaaaaa


It looks so final, dont know what this verse means, but it passed through my mind

1 Corintians 15:
54When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come to pass: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” 55“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” 56The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the Law.…

Fare thee well Daddy

So many memories
So many  lessons
Watch over us

Till we meet again