MY VALEDICTORY SPEECH (as written by 2014)

Dear You,

It's with mixed feelings I write this speech. I, 2014, am finally leaving this earth. My stay with you has been quite eventful so I don't know how you would take my departure.

When I came to your house that morning of January 1, you were not at home. Your neighbors told me that you went for the watch night service so I decided to wait. What's the hurry anyway? I was going to be with you for 365 long days. It seemed like eternity at that time but now it has come to an end. I notice you were happy to see me because you thought (or rather, hoped) I brought lots of goodies for you. Well that was my plan too but these things don't always happen the way we plan them.

Through January, Febuary, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November an even December, i watched you struggle to make the most of my stay with you. There were good times between us where you felt on top of the world and there were also bad, even terrible moments where you wished me away. I was there when you cried your eyes out, sitting on the floor because you were tired of me and all the bad luck you felt I brought.

Today, you are smiling as you read this speech not because my stay with you was pleasant and rosy all through, but because you heard that my younger sister is coming tomorrow. Yes, you made a lot of mistakes while I was around but I didn't say anything to you because I wanted you to pick yourself up and learn from them. You feel my sisters presence will make a difference in your life but the truth is there would be no difference if you don't plan towards what you want to achieve during her stay. I saw you writing some things down on a paper last night, things you want to stop doing and things you want to start doing. Well, they look nice and all, like the perfect life I wish for you but I didn't see where you wrote (if you wrote) how you are going to achieve them. Please go back and analyse properly, the steps you would need to take to achieve them.

Hey, don't look too sad, I'm not rebuking you. I just want to make sure I leave you in the right frame of mind to receive my sister. Our father in heaven is sending my sister to you to avail you another opportunity in life. To right the wrongs made during my stay and to see how much you've learnt from the mistakes made. He was there throught my stay with and he's not going anywhere anytime soon. Anytime you feel alone, confused or just want to talk to someone, call his name and he'll be there in the twinkle of an eye. 

I'm happy now to take my leave because more than anything, you've grown in age, strength and mind. You know much more than you knew when my elder sister was around. I trust you to stand firm and weather the storm that may come with my sisters stay with you. Don't expect too much from her but be rest assured she will be good to you.

Till I come alive in your memory some time,

Yours in 365 days,

2.0.1.4

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

WHEN THE GRIM REAPER WALKS INTO A ROOM

When the grim reaper walks into a room

Silence fills the place

Everyone stares into space

The tears leave the eyes drop by drop

Memories begin to fly in

The life, the times

The happy moments

The sad moments

What did and didn't happen

What offense was committed 

Why her? Why him?

Why now?

How did it happen?

Couldn't it have been avoided?

What did we do?

What didn't we do?

We look at life with a new sense of respect 

Or rather a new look of disdain

If this is all it's worth 

Then what's the point

Some questions would never be answered 

Like; who's next? When next?

Arms folded in

We sit still, waiting for it's next victim

When death walks into a room

We remember that we are all spiritual beings

Traveling this earthly journey

With the cloak of death hung on our shoulders

This is for those that left with the year 2014;

Those that died in the air

Those that died on the land 

Those that died on the sea

Those that died from the Ebola epidemic

Those that died under the surgeons knife

Those that died from the bomb blasts

Those that disappeared in unfathomable circumstances

Those that died while birthing the heritage of The Lord.

Those that were knocked down by accident and left to die

Those that died in search of their daily bread

Those that died in the comfort of their homes

May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God, rest in peace. To those that are left to mourn them, may God's peace be your strength. 

Teach us lord to number our days. Surely, the coming year would be better!

CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY!!!

Dear Diary,

It's been a great year so far on this blog. A lot of changes and reformations took place. New sections on the blog; monthly reviews, photoblogs, poems (that I once dreaded like crazy...lol) and even #Almostabride 

These things I'm thankful for couldn't have been possible without the keen follower-ship of ardent readers like you. Page views practically tripled beyond my expectations and for that I'm very grateful to y'all. For those days of writers' block and blank pages in this diary, I thank God for his directions. Words are not just enough to show my appreciation. 

In celebration of the holidays and also a way to say thank you to you, today being the 12th day of the 12th month of the year, yours truly would like to give a very dedicated follower of this blog, a box of 12 sumptuous cupcakes baked by her. Yeah, apart from writing, she bakes professionally (HQ!)

To win the box of 12, you must be living in Lagos, Nigeria (I can't be crossing the 7 seas for you -_-) This cake is yours for the taking and eating, only snag there is that you have to answer a tiny-winy question :D

"Which post on this blog has the  highest number of page views?"

This is an equal opportunity for everyone to win. Whether or not you have been following the diary, you can always go back and read through to see if you can guess the one with the highest number of page views.

This is a giveaway question, ladies and gents. Make your answers known in the comment section if you can and if not, mail them to youngblackwoman@gmail.com and make momma proud :)

The winner would be announced 12 days from today, that's the 24th day of December. So get reading people! Remember to tell a friend to tell a friend even as we spread the love this season.

See y'all in 12 days.