2013 IN PERSPECTIVE

Lemuel…

www.lifebeyounduniversity.blogspot.com is the blog, no sorry, that's the one we can call our blog! And when I say "our" I don't mean just the three self important guys that founded this blog but it includes you our dear, fantastic and amazing reader.

Yes! We say "our" because we feel you've been with us since our first post. With more than a thousand views throughout the world we know for sure that you have both read and identified with our stories. We can't thank you enough.

Drew…

My growing-up-year is how I describe 2013. Lots of things occurred that changed my life, one of those amazing things is this blog. It has allowed me to use my own life as a test book for the subject of life to the benefit of myself and all the incredible friends who log onto this site daily.

I am grateful for everything that happened in 2013. I mean, I graduated from the Ghana Institute of Journalism! With my crazy friends, ha! Oh, and one of them; Lemuel Nortey won best student! I also enjoyed the mini birthday parties of my dad, three big brothers and of course myself. Have I mentioned that I was posted to Graphic Communications Group Limited for my National Suffering, sorry typo, National Service?

Actually, all those events did not require a lot of growing up from me like the last quarter of 2013 did. Two of my friends, Eric Ninson and Jonathan Donkor lost their mother and father respectively. Actually, Jonathan told me of his dad’s passing the very day I was returning from Eric’s mum’s funeral. I had to learn how to support a friend in emotional pain. I can’t say I did a fantastic job but I did my best.

I look forward to 2014 with much optimism and hope that it will be a good and challenging year. Why wouldn’t it be challenging if I have to secure a job and go back to school after National Service (happy I got that right) and simultaneously establish a company in the agricultural business. Agriculture in this country is not an easy industry and I know I will have fun breaking into it.

Jonny….

Whew! What an expedition. Time really flies. The last time I remember, I was writing the very first entry in my fantasy diary for 2013 ; pledging myself to be at my very best socially , academically, morally  spiritually and  all the “ally’s” but here I am on the last page giving a retrospective view of the year.

2013. Hmm! (searching Google and flipping through the dictionary) the hunt for the most suitable adjective to describe it has been tough. How I wish I could combine “CHALLENGING” and “FULFILLING” and simply say “CHA-FILLING” because the combination of the two best describes my 2013.  

I chose CHALLENGING because death whisked away two of people closest people to my heart; granny and daddy. Their demise hurt so much that Life beyond university somewhat came to a pause; even graduation did not turn out as planned because the family photo would not be complete without these two people.

Alas! The FULFILLING moments came as love lifted me. Albeit my new found love cannot fill the vacuum created by the departure of daddy and granny, she has created her own which cannot also be filled as I have cast her to play lead in the new seasons of my love life.

I am not privy to what 2014 holds; whether another “CHA-FILLING” one or I would have to create another word   but whatever it is I am optimistic because in Christ Alone I place my trust.

 Lemuel here again; I personally feel especially honored to be a host writer on this blog, together with Jonathan and Andrew. However, it shouldn't have to be just us, be a part of this phenomenon, be a writer, be our guest writer! It’s totally therapeutic to tell your own story to the world, believe me I know.

On that note I sign out with the utmost conviction that we have entertained and benefited you since our first post on the 11th of May, 2013. Continue to pass by each time you are online because Life Beyond University just got better. Till our next and 12th post; This is www.lifebeyonduniversity.blogspot.com.

I’M GLAD YOU WERE MY DAD

    

JONNY

Life beyond university was moving on well; at least I was enjoying the 77 steps to my place of posting, my numerous church activities and dreaming of sharing my graduation photos with my family, until Sunday evening of October 6, when death gave me a hard knock on my head, waking me up from my day dream.

Ouch! It still hurts because I am yet to recover from the pain that comes with losing a father.

And so with this poem I wrote about three father’s days ago, not knowing I was writing a tribute to him, I would like to express how special my dad, the late Mr. William Kwame Wasaa Donkor is to me.

                                 

~I’m GLAD you're my DAD~

 I know my dad may never read this

But whether he does or not, it is still his

For all the love words you told my mum,

And all the love songs you had to hum,

For all the lovely gifts you had to buy too

Until finally she said 'I do',

I'm glad

You’re my dad.

For all the strength you lost in making me,

For all the styles though I didn't see,

And for all the silly errands you had to go

All because pregnant mum said so,

I'm glad

You're my dad.

For all the prayers you said till 27th august dawn,

For all the stress till I was finally born,

For all the baby sitting you did whenever mum was away

And all the lullabies you sang to make me play,

I'm glad

You're my dad

For the trouble you went through when I got burnt on my chest,

And the countless times you took me to the clinic for eye test,

For the lenses and frames you continuously bought

And I carelessly broke while I slept or fought,

I'm glad

You're my dad

For each spank, for each slap, for each blow,

For each knock, for each lash I saw you throw,

I hated you but now I’ve grown and I know

That they were only to help me grow

A day will come that I will be called daddy too

And I’ll do my best to be lauded like you

My ears went close to my sweetheart's tummy today

And I’m sure I heard each of my future twins say;

I'M GLAD

YOU'RE MY DAD

{written in June 2011}

 I wake up each morning hoping to hear him knock on my door, reminding me of morning devotion. I enter the living room in the afternoon hoping to find a white bearded man asleep in the sofa with both the TV and radio on; I intentionally fall asleep at the living room in the evening waiting to feel his hand waking me up to go to my own bed.

 As I prepare to physically part with him on Saturday December 14, I know he will still be up there watching over his little boy.

I miss my dad, yes I do but I guess his maker misses him more.