Today's Queue Stories
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THE YEARS GONE BY (February 2005)

From: Georgewaters Ojeigbe

??“ Lagos, Nigeria gojiegbe@jhplc.com

One thing to me about history is that it hardly changes, what ever we feel is only happening to us had one time or the other happened to somebody somewhere.  I have my own story to tell of the years gone by.  It can sound similar to someone??™s story you have read before, the similarity rest where the difficult-times or good-times stands, nothing extraordinary.

I come from a royal home (not relevant now).  My grandfather was a warrior who left his own land in Agbede, Bendel State of Nigeria now called Edo State to defend another land, Iruah still within the same zone.  His assistance was hired to help defend this helpless people.  Another version of it states that he was hunting and came across these helpless villagers in a deadly war and he fought on their sides in the war where he was able to defeat the Ishans??™ enemies.  After the victory, he was made king of this village and believe that up till today the linage is still on the thrown.  Although, it has been long since I visited my village (for over 17 years now, so I wouldn??™t know if the MOMODU??™s family is still ruling).  Momodu is my compound name.

My grandfather married two wives (I am sure of two at least; he might have had more than two wives).  Out of his wives my grandmother the queen was more prominent as she engaged herself in the trading of oranges and other fruits gotten from her plantations.  She organized lot of women organizational programs which most leaders??™ wives of my country today are giving different names such as ???better life for rural woman??™.  She was highly respected and well greeted wherever she went to.  She pioneered lots of women movements during her time. She was able to teach the local women how to be useful to their society.  Well, the truth is that she was never educated in a school.

As usual in Africa societies the call and use of black charms or voodoos was very high then.  This I learnt was used to harm my grandmother by suspect who was believed to be one of the king??™s wives.  This was so because my grandmother??™s upspring were excelling more out of the king??™s children.  There was confusion from my grandmother??™s side (her children) which made the one who brought me up to run to England where she schooled and worked as a nurse for 20 years or so.  Another one was made worthless as he resigned his good governmental job; when working in our society was worth it and respected ??“ corruption was far away then (he held a kind of ministerial in the ministry of finance).  For my father he lost his senses as he became ill until his death when I was about nine years old.  All of these were believed to be as a result of some voodoo spell cast upon my grandmother and her children.  Anyway, my grandmother died a year after I was born; 1971.  The one that brought me up was prominent but she hasn??™t got a child of hers; she should be clocking 70s years by now.

I learnt that after my birth (April 21, 1970), by then the country was just recovering from the inter-war called BIAFRA War of the 60??™s.  Due to the unpleasant and troubled filled day to day living in the family house my mother had to leave me dieing in the village.  It was an aunt of mine who came to my rescue.  I was with her for at least 6 years (these I can??™t remember whether it is true), though she is late now.  She died of breast cancer in the early 90??™s.  At the time my mother in quote and her husband returned back from England because they both got married in England, they had to take me into their custody.  Later they took my elder brother and sister also who were living with some other relatives too. 

The trauma I went through in the home of my aunt and her husband after they returned from England was terrible, terrible to the extent that suicide was already in my mind at the age 11.  Many times I had looked through the balcony railings wanting to jump from our first floor place of aboard.  There was a time I would have taking poison but a voice within told me to stop the act.  Many times when I go out of the house I feel like not returning back home but I always found me returning.  I wanted to die, but death refused to accept me.  In fact when there was trouble or bad omen I was easily alerted or saved from such occurrence by unknown force better still by God??™s interventions.  One of such instances was the day a snake was behind me, creeping towards me.  As it was about stinging me a bird gave me the notes until I was aware of where I was.  I was saved from that.  Some I have told in one of my early stories titled ???Only the Strong Survive in Politics??™.  

Where other cousins of mine where sitting on the couch (sofa) I was asked to seat on the ground, where others ate rice I was given eba (local starchy food made from Cassava roots).  While others were drinking soft drinks I was taking water.  I mean, it was just a lesser being that I was taken for.  If I were to be living in Britain I would have called this discrimination, but this was going on in a family house and my country.  My story almost sounds similar to that of Jane Haire or so.

When my mother left for somewhere else at the time she abandoned me, I assumed she remarried.  All these while, I have not heard or seen anybody who told me the way she looks like or where any of her family resides.  All I got from my mummy in quote??™s husband was insults calling me bastard and other unmentionable names.  I came to Lagos to stay with another aunt who was not better than the one in Benin City.  She would also call me all kind of names.  I was the slave to her children for years (my cousins) until she died.  After her dead I decided on what to do for a living and that was how I found myself in my present profession, although, I did ventured into lots of trainings during those years. 

After 34 years of existence, nobody came forward to claim to be my mother or my younger brother, although, the brother and sister that I am aware of are halves blood; we share same father and not mother.

My elder brother always travel home and in the process of doing this I learnt he encountered my younger brother who now wants to see meet with me, I also learnt that my mother is somewhere.  I have not made any enquiry to that extent; it is possible that the young one is from my father but I am not too sure.  The truth is that I have lost zeal and trust in family, I just can??™t stand facing someone who I have never met in life before telling me that he is my younger brother or my mother.  Naturally, I am a shy person and that is why I love to talk a lot to drive away my shy nature. 

This very morning (8^th February, 2005) he called my phone telling me that he is my younger brother and that he has been trying to reach me on phone for a long time.  I felt bad for I couldn??™t figure any excitement in me, I just kept replying emm, emm, okay, ennn, okay, which I knew was bad, but I couldn??™t have faked any excitement.  Now the arrangement of meeting him by Easter is thin, I do not know how I am going to welcome or behave.  The other problem is that I do not speak my language; I can only speak Yoruba (Lagos) due to some other reasons (another story).

My fear is I just don??™t know what to do.  I am like a confused person now.  My story is real, but it seems to be a trance or dream.  I feel like changing things.  Over the years I have been used to friends alone, friends have made me happy all through my life.  I have never had any relatives making me smile.  All they ever did was to make me frown, cry and feel bitter.  To me it seem too late for that closeness.  When I needed them most they were far away.  I am still trying to bring myself together and see how it will work out fine for me and my family.

This is just part of my story ??“ I am a symbol of experience of this wicked world.  I have really experienced the debt of this world and seen lots of things.

I really hate to tell people this part of my story but it has to be told one day, it sounds like a Kangaroo story. 

My story is not new to the world or worst than any other person??™s own but it has happened and it is just so.

THE END!

Georgewaters Ojeigbe

gojiegbe @jhplc.com

BIO-DATA

I was born on 21^st April, 1970.  I live in Lagos, Nigeria the most populous city in Africa. I sing in a Church music group where I fellowship.  I love sports.  I love admiring the heavens and other wonderful works borne from Jehovah??™s hands.  I discovered the power of writing stories, encouraged by Carol.  Thanks for her existence!  I am pet lover minus snakes; I so much hate this creature called snake but others I prefer.  I like to do lots of home works like creating my art works, gardening, making some home furniture, fitting electrical appliances etc.

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  HEROS

By: Joseph J. Mazzella

     My wife is a hero. I think I have known this for a long time now. My wife is a hero in the way she has helped me to raise our two handicapped son??™s with so much caring, love, and strength over the years. My wife is a hero in the way she has stuck by me through all the years of struggle and financial hardship we have gone through in our marriage. My wife is a hero too in how she decided to follow a life long dream and become an E. M. T after 17 years of marriage and bringing 3 beautiful children into this world.

     Even though she was already in her mid-thirties and working a full time job my wife took the E. M. T courses for months on her free days and got her certification. She started on a new career of helping others with her talented hands, intelligent mind, and kind heart. I think I got the full view of just what a hero she is when we were on a family outing and watched a horrible car accident happen right in front of us. Without a second thought my wife sprang into action.  She had my daughter call in the location of the wreck while she ran to the scene to help the injured. I watched on with pride as she did her job with skill, caring, and calm. I felt honored to be married to such a wonderful woman.

     Being married to my wife has given me a new respect for all the heros out there who put themselves in harms way to protect and help us all. I thank God for all those who have dedicated their lives to being E. M. T. ???s, police officers, firefighters, and soldiers. They help all of us to spend our days in peace and safety. Their sacrifices help each of us everyday to live freer, healthier, more joyous, and more loving lives.

    Is it hard being married to a hero? Actually, it is one of the easiest things in the world. My hero brings out the best in me. I always choose and share more love and joy because of her.

 Joseph J. Mazzella
joecool @ wirefire.com

Joe lives in West Virginia with his wife

and three children. Various dogs and cats

have adopted Joe and his family for their

own. Joe enjoys his family, beauty, love

and hearing from his email friends. Joe

likes to take the time to smell the

roses and enjoy the beauty around him

s he goes about his daily life.

Poetry Section

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Dear Lord

Sue Walsh

The Bible says that if I have the faith of even a mustard seed

I can move mountains and change the course of rivers

Please help me to have faith large enough to remove obstacles from my life

Help me to quiet my anxiety and stress.   Help me to climb the highest mountains and soar with the eagles

By climbing the mountains my faith which may have started as small as the mustard seed will become an acorn, then a tree and then a forest

Dear Lord thank you for helping me expand my faith till the forest became a reality.

Amen

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Dear Lord

Sue Walsh

I know when I feel abundance in my life and am thankful for even the

smallest blessings like a smile from a stranger, a sunny day or a sweet birds song at sunrise that you are pleased.

I know that being thankful for what comes my way allows me to be and feel abundant.

Please help us to see our blessings and to count them rather than complain.  If we have a roof over our head, shoes on our feet and food on our table we are far more abundant than some.

Let us give thanks

                                     Amen

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Dear Lord

Sue Walsh

I know there is a time to harvest and it only comes after a time to sow.

In our impatience to reap the rewards it is difficult to know how long to wait before the harvest can begin.

Sometimes it can take many years before an idea bears much fruit and the length of time it takes directly impacts on the amount of fruit which will be received.

Dear Lord help us to be patient to sow with best intentions and to know the harvest will be bountiful with your blessings.

Amen

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Dear Lord

Sue Walsh

Please help me release the fear and anger

That I feel because of the terrible destruction

Of lives not only of those who were killed but

Those who were left behind and have to put their

Lives back together without a loved one.

Please help me release the pain at not being able

To do more to help those suffering from burns and lacerations

Let the leaders release the hate of their fellow man and release your

Love, peace and guidance into their lives.

Help those left behind release the grief so that they might move on more quickly and let them feel your love wrap them tightly like a new born babe.

Dear Lord  at this time please release all your Angels to every corner of the world to guide the human race back to peace.

We ask these things in your Holy Name

Amen

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Dear Lord

Sue Walsh

We pray for peace upon all the lands.

We pray that each parent may put their children to bed at night

Knowing that they will be safe.

We pray each day as we go to school or work or play that we will return

Home safely.

Dear Lord we pray for your love, harmony peace and safety to rule

Supreme

Please show the leaders in each nation a vision of your

Peace on earth so that they can see what a beautiful world

We will live in when we live in harmony with each other.

Amen