Wild Thing

My last semester in college I took an intro to creative writing class. In one of the sections, our assignment was to write a non-fiction personal essay. Here is mine.

Dedicated to Nabby Baffour-Awuah, R.I.P my boo.

I do not remember my very first time. But whenever it was, I loved it. And still so. I love the feeling of having my stomach rise to my chest or sometimes fall to my feet. I love the adrenaline that surges through my veins and keeps going like a dog chasing its tail. I especially love it when gravity, distracted by an itch perhaps, forgets to hold onto me and for a brief moment lets me fly. The one and only thing I hate about roller coaster rides is the fact that no one I know enjoys them as much as I do. Until Nabby visited, Summer 2010. Nabby and I first met in high school where we participated together in a lot of the same things: basketball, dancing and even sitting at the back of chemistry class with Tomefa (another friend) not paying attention. 

The sun blazed its hardest that day, as though trying to convince the earth not to succumb to winter ever again. I was cheerfully on its side. Nabby, Tomefa, four other friends and I had plans to spend that day at Valley Fair, one of Minnesota’s very own amusement parks. A couple weeks before, I had been in a car accident, so that while my legs were fully functional with hardly any pain, they did look bruised and yellowed. And purpled and blued. I was wearing shorts; this meant the bruises were visible, causing my friends to ask questions and give their sincerest condolences. Then Nabby interjected, “Did the driver pay? We should chase him down!!” excitedly pumping his impeccably toned arm in the air, beginning the day as usual with jokes and laughter.

At the park, we worked our way through the rides, starting on the ‘baby’ rides that elicited loud enough screams from the thirty odd people on the ride to have me howling with laughter. See, I had been on all these rides before, but much like watching horror movies, there is the extra thrill that comes from watching the others too. After the first ride and my apparently obvious and fearless need for a G-force of any magnitude, Nabby decided I was going to be his ride buddy for the rest of the time. Hopefully, I would rub off on him, he said.

Soon enough the ‘adult’ ride for the day came along. Wild Thing, it was called. “Finally!” I practically squealed, unable to hide my excitement. “Nabby! Let’s get the front seats!” I called out, waving him over from my place in line. Still adjusting to the thrills of the day, he laughed, gave me a look and stood his ground in the fourth row seat line. Eventually I gave in and joined him, still elated at the fact that I finally had a friend willing to join me on the stomach dropping rides, front seats or not.

Halfway through the ride, I hooted and yelled as I pumped a fist in the air. Nabby held on to my other, repeating, “Ruddi, you are crazy.” I laughed, coaxing him to join me at least with one raised fist. By the end of ride, we each had a fist in the air. We rode Wild Thing a second time, this time paying it a four-fisted tribute, a tribute to the beauty of the rush of adrenaline. I finally had a roller coaster buddy.

I was back home in Ghana caught up in my jetlag and New-Year’s-Eve-on-the-beach high and oblivious to all ills.

Oblivious to the fact that halfway across the world, Nabby fought for his life. 

Skype: January 1st 2011; 5:35 AM

Dosoo: Ruddi, have u heard?
Ruddi:  ?
Dosoo: Nabby died…


The one and only thing I hate about roller coaster rides is the fact that no one I know enjoys them as much as I do.

Rest in Perfect Peace my Friend, till we meet again.

Time Lapse

Dear someone,
To take the time to describe to you exactly how I feel would be like attempting to climb a mountain… without gear… in the middle of an Arctic blizzard… with my back against the rock. I'm sure you get the picture. I couldn't possibly because really I do not know what it is I feel. Do they dive to true depths, soar to dizzying highs or are simply grounded on the shallowness of the vast solid earth? …

Dear someone else (or so it seems),
I have seen you, laughed and talked with you and even held you. I knew you… But years later you have lost a dimension. Yes, I know you are alive and well, yet you are hardly more than a flat picture on the wall that seems to come alive and spring from the frame but are in fact only reflecting the differently coloured rays of the setting sun shining through half drawn curtains… I truly ought to pull them closed.

Dear yet another,
I  drew the curtains.
Explanatory words fail me for there are none that can help me… or you.
I'm sorry…

Dear stranger,
YOU DRIVE ME NUTS! Go away already! Lord, help me.

I'm back!!

Guess who's back!! And man, a lot has happened!

1. I was inducted into Uplison Pi Eplison (The Comp Sci honour society).
2. I graduated.
3. I was confirmed! :D
4. I found and leased a pretty nice apartment.
5. I totally cleared out my house and fit everything in ONE storage box!! (trust me this is a huge success)
6. I got some really nice comfortable gladiator wedges
7. I started knitting a new scarf.
8. I'm home.

And He brought me through it all!! Thank you, my faithful Lord!

More than meets the eye.

Whenever I see a good-looking guy walking down the street or sitting somewhere minding his own business and I'm caught ogling and probably drooling too, I'd defend myself with "I'm only admiring God's creation." And depending on who I'm talking to we'd launch into how good-looking God must be since we are created in His image and there are some truly truly good-looking guys out there (and girls too for sure, but you know what I mean). And by extension God = Jesus. So Jesus must be good-looking as well. I mean look at the man they chose to act Jesus in Passion of the Christ:

Woooooosssshhhh!

I mean, really, our mighty and majestic Lord and saviour with both the strength of an ox and the gentleness of a lamb. The one sent to save us all from ourselves and bring us home. Naturally, the image we would create of Him is the kind that would make the average female swoon. You know, the strong back and rippling muscles and kind heart, who'd hold you till you stop crying and for once when this person says "everything will be ok," there is no reason to not believe Him. …And I'm swooning now.

I mean, of course, Jesus must look like a god (and by that I'm talk about the human perception of utmost beauty, no disrespect/blasphemy intended here, I beg).

And then I was pointed to

Isaiah 53: 2 - 3

"He grew up in his presence like a young tree, like a root out of dry ground. He had no form or majesty that would make us look at him. He had nothing in his appearance that would make us desire him. He was despised and rejected by people. He was a man of sorrows, familiar with suffering. He was despised like one from whom people turn their faces, and we didn’t consider him to be worth anything." (emphasis my own.)

Can you imagine this though? 

Today, when we look for partners, just partners, we are looking for the strong, good-looking ones. We prefer them a certain colour, a certain height, and oh may God be so good and bless us with one with a talent like expert vocal chords or instrument playing (or whatever strikes your fancy).  Even according to evolution we are looking for the ones who would ensure our safety and would provide for us (with today's "independent woman" thats all nonsense but it works for my purposes). So can you imagine that the SAVIOUR OF THE WORLD was… homely? I can't even imagine it. 

To think looks may have even helped Him score a few more followers sooner. Yet God chose not to give Him looks. …So that we may not be distracted by this beautiful man but actually listen to His words and absorbed their true meaning for ourselves. Perhaps yet another way God insists on having us choose Him and not just a pretty face.

Ever thought about how lacking something the world construes as the standard of beauty and acceptance has potentially kept you on a "straighter" path. I know that's true for me…

xx.

P.S. I hope this does not ruin any romanticized images of a gorgeous looking , well-built saviour. :D