How Sisi Eko (Lagos babe) and "Bobo Mazda" met.

WARNING: If u're not a romantic junkie or one who believes in true love and purity, PLEASE, DON'T READ!

I never used to be so mushy mushy, so emotional. But these days, i surprise myself, by going, "Aww, that's so sweet," to things i'd have considered dumb, or described as "love wan tintin" before. I guess i'm becoming older, and learning to appreciate love (i used to dread that word, before). It's such a nice feeling to love and be loved, with no strings attached, no selfish motive. To love someone inspite of their flaws and all.

Anyways, i was in church today, and today happens to be my Pastor's wife's b'day. Let me digress here, my Pastor never (even when they're at home) calls his wife by her first name. He always says, "My bride" and they've been married for 20 years, but met 31 years ago. They're both oldies (mid 60's) but even after so many years of marriage, he still calls her his bride. How sweet, right? The first time i heard that it was an Awww moment for me. Towards the end of the service, he called his wife out to the front and prayed for her, appreciated her, extolled her virtues for like 5 minutes, sealed it with a kiss and a hug. I got teary-eyed, and i didn't even bother to hide it. That was another Awww moment for me.

By God's grace, when i get married, i don't want my husband to call me by my first name all the time. I even have pet names (about 7 at my last count) made up already. I'm not going to put it up here, for fear that some of u may steal it (LOL). The 7 names i made up, are kinda unique or i've not heard (well except for 2) anyone use them. Some of the names sound kinda goofy, but Oh wells??? For real, i think i'm becoming a hopeless romantic. May God help me.

Another thing i do, well i've been doing it for a while now, is that whenever i have this weird feeling that i can't explain or i'm too shy to explain, i write letters to my future husband. I swear, i'm not a teenager. I'm a big girl, but it's my way to let out those deep feelings i can't share with anyone. I was just reading some of the things i wrote in my journal last night, and i couldn't believe i wrote all that stuff. Nothing bizarre or gross, infact i'm not scared of my mum stumbling on my journal, just 'cos there's nothing R-rated in there. One day, i hope to share my journal with my husband. I really do wonder what his reaction would be. Shock? Appreciation? Pure joy? Will he shed tears of joy after reading it? I really do wonder.

Let me tell u guys, how my mom and dad met. They've been married for 22 years now. My mum had had 2 boyfriends before my dad, and the 2 were pretty serious relationships. Infact, according to her, she thought they would result in marriage, but the great I AM already had everything planned out. His ways are truly not our ways. It had been 3 weeks, since her last boyfy broke up with her, and they had been going strong for 2 years. His reason, 'cos he met this lady that was a U.S citizen and suddenly fell out of love with my mum, they got married within the twinkle of an eye, the courtship with this other lady lasted less than 6 months.

My mom was really heartbroken after the break up, 'cos she didn't understand why all of a sudden, dude would fall out of love with her. She even started thinking whether it was due to something she did or didn't do. If u know my mum, u'd know she has a very healthy dose of self-esteem, so imagine how i felt about the dude, when she said she started second guessing herself. She then embarked on a month's praying and fasting regimen, for God to bring her Mr. Right to her. You guys may not believe this, infact, i wouldn't have believed if not that 'twas my mum's story and i know my mum would never ever lie to me. On the last day of the fasting period, she met my dad.

My mom had just completed her first degree, and was serving (doing her National Youth Service Corp) at Concord newspaper company, owned by M.K.O Abiola, then. She had just alighted from the bus, and was walking to the office, when this drop-dead-gorgeous guy (my dad) driving a Mazda honked, which she totally ignored, then he pulled up beside her. My dad, was now referred to as "Bobo Mazda" (the guy with the Mazda car) by my mum's girlfriends. Of course, trust my Sisi Eko (Lagos babe) mother to do "shakara" (pose) for Bobo Mazda. Anyways, since Bobo Mazda wasn't/ and he still isn't one to give up easily, he continued the chase. Finally, my mum stopped to say hello. Of course he gave her a ride to work (That wouldn't be a wise move in this present age, to enter into a stranger's car) and they exchanged numbers and addresses. So my dad and mum met on the streets of Lagos, but not in that kind of way (u know the Allen Avenue types, Nah!).

Their courtship lasted for about a year. Like the apostle Paul said, "If God be for us, who can be against us?" I tell you nobody. When man says there's a casting down, that's when God uses the opportunity to lift you up. My mum's previous boyfy before my dad, thought he'd done his worst, but that wasn't God's testimony concerning my mum's life 'cos he had everything planned out. As God would have it, about 10 years after my mum got married, guess who came visiting at her office? Mr. Boyfy. I happened to be at her office on that day, i think i wasn't feeling well, so i skipped school. Anyways, that was when the guy told my mum how the lady he got married to was AS (he's AS too) and didn't tell him, they had 3 kids, out of which one died, the other 2 were alive, one of them is a sickler (SS), how they're always in and out of the hospital, how their marriage isn't working, how everything's going wrong, how he regrets not marrying my mum, how he wished he could turn back the hands of time, and everything. My young mind couldn't understand what was going on of course, but as my sister and I grew older, my mum narrated the story to us, and asked me if i remember the day that uncle that bought me American candy and cookies came to her office.

Of course, my mum felt sorry for him, but there was nothing she could do. They just weren't meant to be together. I take that back, he messed up his opportunity. I don't think my mum keeps in touch with their family, and there's no way i'm gonna ask her that. Of course, life wasn't a bed of roses, when my mum and dad got married, but in all of it, they've learned to take all their trials and tribulations to the great I AM. Sounds like a story from a Nollywood (Nigerian movie industry) script, right? I kid not. This is a true story y'all. My mum's story i know is a testimony and the God that did it for her, would do it for all u ladies out there, myself included looking for Mr. Right 'cos he's the same yesterday, today and forever. I wish y'all a wonderfully blessed week ahead.