Thank You My Friends

Today I was going through my friend list on Facebook and I came across the name of a classmate of mine back in primary school Tunde Brown, I was about sending him a message when I read through his time line only to discover he died last year, May His soul rest in peace. So this a piece trying to say thank you to friends I have made over the years I have spent on earth, some of whom I have not spoken to or seen in decades. This is dedicated to you all from Sherryville Junior School, Ogba Grammar School, Effective coaching centre, St. Theresa Catholic Church Ifako, Obafemi Awolowo University, and to friends I have made on twitter and everyone out there whom we have met and spent days together.

Looking back over the years I have spent on earth, I have come to realize friends are treasures to keep. They come into your life and leave indelible marks, difficult to overlook or ignore as the months rolls into years, as night becomes day and days gradually give way to night. They became family, counsellors and confidants. Friends who have become brothers, sisters, aunties and uncles. So this is me saying thank you to all my friends, right from my nursery school days, they who made me comfortable and welcomed when I felt like fish out of water; willingly shared their snack with me when my food was thrown into the bin!

Back in primary school (Estate Primary School), I met these great guys who went hunting with me for grasshoppers during the lunch break, we shared our porridge and whatever our money could buy and that coloured sugary water that we called ice cream, we saved our lunch money to buy on our way home! Ekana Gowon, baba dudu and sausage, the cold pito we relished inside the hot sun while walking home.  To many faces and names I cannot remember today, but the days we spent together I have not forgotten. My classmates back in Sherryville when I returned there after a brief stint in a public primary school, Wale, Bukky, Femi, Biola, Tosin and many more to list. Those days when we were interacting we never knew the impact we were having on each other life, today years down the line I remember lessons I learnt from you all, from how to treat a lady (lol) to standing up for myself against bullies.  I am grateful. There was this incident I slid a metal ring unto my finger and I was unable to remove it, I panicked and my cousin came to my rescue, but that finger was bruised kai! I was spanked for getting a metal ring stuck on my finger. Back in secondary school, my first days were interesting. I won’t forget Bukky, she took me around and helped me establish a footing in the school. From learning which part of the school to go fetch my desk that will be carried away whenever it rained, where to buy food during break time and which part of the school to dodge lest I be bullied by the seniors ( thank God I did not attend a boarding school). Friends who gave me their notes to copy, who took their time out to teach me what they had learnt while I was not around. Friends who we walked home together after close of school on a daily basis (Kingsley, Taofeek, Mustapha and Femi). The friends I made in Ablaze for God youth Army, the list is endless but I am glad I met you all, you left me with memories I will forever cherish. Thanks to the Efere family, you guys thought me a lot! The trust your parents expressed in you guys was heart-warming, God bless your mum won’t forget her in a hurry. Happy memories are made when you have friends who accept you with open arms and never stop trying to put a smile on your face. Bernard Oyoyo I wish today I took up the challenge to learn a musical instrument during those days. Thank you room 141 faj guys, you made me appreciate music at another level entirely, Seyi and Bass lines in songs!

Thank you thank you Great Ife Guys, you all too numerous to mention, my classmates (OAU Med school class of 2007) who took time out to watch my back and care for me, I am eternally grateful. I am forever glad to see you guys anytime I have the opportunity. My life is a tapestry of the inputs each and every one of you have had over the course of my life. I have become what I have become because you guys decided to share your life with me. To the friends who have departed this world to the great beyond, my gratitude goes to you. Funke Adegbesan Nee Elusogbon, I cannot forget your friendship, it shaped my life in no small measure. And the friends I have made on twitter, you guys rock!!! I am blessed because I have friends who care, wish I would be a better friend to you all, and wish we will never grow apart with the years, alas we have to, that we may give our friendship to someone out there who needs it.

“True friendship multiplies the good in life and divides its evils. Strive to have friends, for life without friends is like life on a deserted island…to find one real friend in a lifetime is good fortune; to keep him is a blessing”- Unknown

“Friendship consists in forgetting what one gives and remembering what one receives.”- Alexander Dumas

“Friendship is the hardest thing I the world to explain. It’s not something you learn in school. But if you haven’t learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven’t learned anything.”- Muhammad Ali

Finally, “Growing apart doesn’t change the fact that for a long time we grew side by side; our roots will always be tangled. I am glad for that.” Ally Condie