The Circle of Life

My Dad's elder brother Justice Samuel Ajayi died on Saturday evening.

My last post was about the delivery of a bouncing baby boy to my brother and his wife and now this post is about the passing away of the 'one most like my Dad'.

My paternal Grandmother had 10 children. All boys. Six of them grew up to adulthood. Justice Ajayi was the second born. He was almost 76 years old and by all accounts and indices lived a very full and happy life.

When I say he was the "one most like my Dad", I mean he was a Sanguine-Choleric who was more likely to have his laugh heard from miles away and you could count on knowing exactly where you stood with him. He always seemed to be excited about something or the other and he had a booming voice that always seemed to resonate in and around everyone who was present.

If I ever wrote a story based on my Uncle, his words would always be in bold and capital letters!

"LADI-BOY! HOW ARE YOU? ARE YOUR PARENTS WELL? DON'T BE TOO MISCHEVIOUS NOW!"

I remember once I was staying in their house in Akure in South West Nigeria where he had been a High Court Judge and lived for as long as I have been alive. He was complaining about the Satellite TV and couldnt get it to work. He was in khaki shorts and a shirt and he kept striding from the living room back to the bedroom where the decoder was installed. He didnt just walk, he strode everywhere!

It was looking at my own Dad.

Ok yes, they ARE brothers. And ok yes... the Ajayi brothers look extremely alike. But not just the physical aspects which was impressive but the exclamations, the pitch of voice and his mannerisms! It was very eerie!

Rest in peace dear Uncle. My thoughts go to "Mummy 2", my beautiful aunt who had been with him for most of 45 years!

And to my dear cousins, Sta mi Bola; Uncle Bayo; Sta Dupe; A.J and; Ayokunle, may God give us all the fortitude to bear this loss! Amen!

This is a picture of Daddy 2 (as we fondly called him) with my big sister in June 2007, at my brother's wedding. It was the last time I saw him!