GIFTS

This morning I felt different. As I was thinking about writing my slice I had many thoughts going on. I planned to write a beautiful slice about friendship, from a visit yesterday but decided to wait for another idea. I kept thinking as I want my slices this month to be about my day, this many change as the days so on.

I was up very early, in the wee hours of the morning, 4 am  to be precise, as usual, I had my ear piece in place, ready for my morning Zoom prayers and short sermon. The words this morning were very encouraging as usual, the tonic for my busy day. With my earpiece in, I am mobile, I can iron, turn on the heater and prepare my out fit for the day.

I always have a podcast ready for my shower. No time is wasted, my mini-PD happens every morning, that prepares me for my work day ahead.

Then comes my lunch and snack preparation. It’s Friday maybe I will order some school lunch, jollof rice with chicken plus a tiny salad, crunchy but never enough. I love the sponge cake that comes with it. It’s a special end to the meal and reminds me of a lemon cake I’ve had somewhere but can never remember.

I should add the fruit tea I pack with a squeeze of lemon and two grains of Demerara sugar. I’m trying to convince myself it is sugar-free but that pinch makes all the difference.

It’s 6.30am now, so I only have a few minutes to leave home for the thirty minute or so drive to school. The drive has it’s own story. Mainly suburban, parts full of grown trees, the air is so inviting the wind brushes around my ears and cheeks and reminds me of the gifts we have for free.

Until I get to the built up horn hooting, hawker populated, traffic light stopping part. I’m glad it’s a quick drive till we get to that traffic light where six lanes of cars, three facing forward, three the opposite way wait to be called by the green light.

The last leg of the ride is up onto the fly over when cars force their way through trying to get to God knows where, first. Sometimes the melee confuses me, who goes first? Left , right, centre. In these parts the rules are thrown out of the window and it becomes survival of the fittest.

After the fly over, it is just a straight drive to school.

At around 7.10 am, I’m greeted at the gate by the security guards and after the swipe of my card, my school day begins.