May We Always Remember

I owe this quote to Chimamanda Adichie. It looked so beautiful. It seemed an apt introduction to a book on a war many would rather forget. Personally, it captured a lot for me- an adept at remembering.

May we always remember…

They call it Aphantasia. And it’s the reason I can’t see your face now. It’s the reason I can’t bring you up, examine the smoothness of your skin, the smile on your teeth. It’s the reason I can’t put you in your favourite suit. It’s the reason I can’t give you life, have you walk through my dreams. When I close my eyes I see pitch blackness. When I try harder I can conjure a little whiteness every now and then. When I open them I might have a vague idea of your picture I just saw. Mine must be a mild case. Aphanatasia. That’s why I just might not recognise you when we see tomorrow. May we always remember.

May we always remember: that the random passenger on the Lagos “molue” is a collection of stories. That the okada man who splashes mud on you without stopping or even waving sorry; that the policeman asking for his offering without fear or discretion; that your twin who you’ve shared every memory with, is more than meets the eye. That she is human just like you are. That you ought not to judge yourself by your intentions and then judge her by her actions. “I meant well”, you say. Well, so did she! May we always remember that “I” isn’t the only human on Earth.

May we always remember: that yesterday is the foundation for today. And that foundations are immensely foundational. That memories are precious. So precious they ought to be preserved. That history is a celebration. That the past is a beauty. Simply because it is a teacher. And teachers teach us to learn.  And learning to learn is life’s most important skill. May we always remember to learn; and always remember those lessons. A man without a past doesn’t have a place in the present.

May we always remember that day we laughed till our sides ached. That day we loved till our hearts hurt. That day we dreamt till our wings strained. May we always remember the songs that have made us merry hearts, the jokes that have tagged us jolly fellows, the claps on our backs that said we was always gonna be friends- old boys! And may we always remember to laugh harder, again and again. May we always remember the music from our dreams, the dance we so adeptly perfected there…