This year has been quite a year. It was better than 2020 definitely because everybody had gotten used to the Covid-19 pandemic. The major setback of this year for me in the context of the pandemic was the travel restrictions. Surely after surviving what seemed to be an apocalyptic viral attack in 2020, the one thing you would want is to spend some quality time with your family.
My experiences this year taught me to appreciate life, specifically the gift of life. I learned to cherish the precious moments shared with friends and family. In a way I guess I got the opportunity to experience the true meaning of the statement ‘life is not measured by the number of breaths you take but by the moments that that take your breath away’. Human beings are not solitary organisms. The cordial warmth of companionship is very important to the maintenance of our sanity. I had moments where I felt alone during this year. The feeling of loneliness that I was experiencing can be attributed to a lot of things but the quarantines and lockdowns played major roles.
What helped me cope and get through my loneliness was just going down memory lane and thinking of the fun moments I once had with family and friends. I miss the occasional scolding that comes from parents and the giggling and laughter that follows when they mispronounce a word because of anger. I miss the fights with siblings and how irritating it is when your bigger brother eats your leftover food that you had planned to eat the next morning. I realize now that all those fights were in a way a reflection of the care and love that they have for you. I got tired of thinking of what to eat every day and missed those days where you’d just hear your name being called with the words come eat beside it. I miss those family reunions with cousins that you know whenever they open up their mouths, they will be about to tell a lie. I miss the aunties and uncles with their pestering phone calls where they ask too personal questions about things you don’t want anyone else to know.
I miss the moments that matter most to me, family evening devotions. After running around all day in different busy schedules, coming back to the warmth of sitting around the couch listening to Dad’s jokes and mum’s wisdom before saying a prayer that concludes the day. Imagine the challenge of fending for myself emotionally, having to rely on the illusion of audio calls, video calls, and texts. I discovered this year that it can only be helpful if at some point during the year you’re looking forward to seeing them in person and that one long lingering hug will just make the feeling of missing each other throughout the year go away. Unfortunately, I did not get that opportunity.
I miss the weather, culture, and scenery of Zimbabwe. My taste buds long for the traditional foods and fruits that you just have to dig underground or climb a tree to get. I miss seeing children play outside, I miss hearing their shouts and screams when an aircraft flies above them or when there is a power cut. Surely, it is a true saying that no matter where you go remember the road that will lead you home. I really need to find that road right now because I quite miss home…
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