A Social Commentary
The Year That was … Thank You
John Ekongo
The year that was, one can say that again. In as much as I had fun during this year, I similarly had a very rough time sailing the ocean of Windhoek. On the other hand, all the resolutions that we tend to make at the beginning of the year never seem to work.
At the beginning of the year, I promised myself that I would return to my Christian roots and be closer to my Lord. However, on most occasions I unfortunately found myself nearer to the nape of an ice-cold Windhoek Laager bottle more often than church benches. Shame on me, next year my Lord, I promise to be nearer to thee again.
Oh yes and friends, not that I want to twiddle nonsense but after numerous complaints from my significant other, I was duly instructed that my dwelling should now convert back to a place of residence and not a guzzling joint for umpteeth Whiskeys.
Anyway, apart from the overlying claptrap, what is the moral of this last piece of writing for the year? Did I achieve all that I wanted to accomplish this year? Did I make an impact or did I have a happy year?
Well to start off, happiness, not that I am quite familiar with the word but I sure do know that in the process I have made a few enemies that I cannot deny. If by any chance I did, then my apologies. You see writing is not always fun and therefore you will time and time again poke fun unintentionally, especially to my fellow Namibians living in London. I am sorry for saying you look after pigs and work at McDonalds.
To politicians and those in positions of trust, I know that I have time and time again quoted your names in the column as a matter of pun, like I said let us always have the lighter side of fun. But I am honestly sorry and hope that next year we take off from where we left. I think next year I will let Mr Toby Aupindi off the hook I have quoted his name too many times. I promise this is the last time unless … you never know.
The big one being, if I made an impact, in some respect I will say yes, although not wanting to claim glory, but I had many people walk up to me to say I enjoy reading your column. The truth is that it has been one hell of an adventure writing and as much as you folks out there enjoyed reading, I can lay claim to the same about writing the column.
To friends, boys at times we drove the ladies crazy with our pranks, but like we said “first it was the boys, and it will always be the boys”. But not to be forgotten, is that like friends we bonded and we stuck together for that, I say tops up, gentleman may the fun continue.
And to the big man at the editing chair, even though I got to find out that you love the green bottled wine of Tassies, nothing much to say apart from thank you as well for investing your definite hard to please faith in me.
The “Sendekera” crew, they know who they are baie dankie. To all the people I owe, don’t worry I promise you next year I will settle the bills. Did I tell you that I got a new job, “so therefore please worry not I have the confidence of Mr Osuofia Nwokorie look alike – I will pay don’t worry.
However, the year would have been different if not for the gruesome killings of innocent women and children and notably that of the serial killer rampaging and scaring us out of our wits.
Next year, we hope and pray that it will be a better year and none of this will happen again. Our country has cried enough. Violence against innocent people is not the way to go. Let us all unite in fighting these acts.
Was it a happy year, well happiness is what you make it, after all the good things and the bad things that you have encountered be grateful that you have survived 2007, the year that was.
In a small way happiness is more like the joy of living. And in my own small way I said I was happy in 2007, and that is my joy of living to be able to write this column every weekend.
Merry Christmas Namibia and a happy New Year. Sorry Ngo.