My Better Half – A Tribute

All I have ever written in this blog is true and is based on actual events. I have put herein, recollections of my adventures and experiences. I have always tried to look at those events from my own perspective since I do not want to give other people’s stories without their consent. All my stories however, inevitably involve other people. In all the instances that I have had to talk about them, I have been anonymous and never mentioned their names. It is however possible for those who know them to deduce their identity. Any harm caused by this recognition is negligible but in cases where a negative effect was felt, I ask the concerned persons to forgive me.

Now that I have given a disclaimer, the person I want to dedicate this blog post to is one whose permission I do not need to seek. I will take it upon myself to disclose what she means to me. She has been in the back ground of all my stories and has often heard about them first hand as they were happening. She has been there as I grew up, learnt and gained experience in difference things. She has often believed in me when I found it hard to believe in myself. She has influenced every sector of my life – for the better.

I married at 24, at a time when I was not very sure of myself. I had nothing then; no job, no money, no experience, and no connections. We lived in a single room and used to cook on a kerosene stove. The only thing I had was a little knowledge in fixing things, and making cakes. I could also make doughnuts and that is what formed our first business. We would sleep at 11 p.m. after kneading the dough, and wake up at 4 a.m. to roll out and fry the doughnuts. By 8 a.m., my wife, then heavy with child, would be out and about with a bucket full of  doughnuts getting people to buy around the shopping centre in our village.

She was a keen student and within no time, she could make a better cake than me and sell more doughnuts too. She even got some doughnut customers at a construction site who would pay at month end. It was her prowess in business which made me realise that she should be in full time business instead of seeking employment. I also came to learn that she was extremely good with people and could make a friend in the unlikeliest of circumstances. I remember one time she was at a supermarket buying some items for baking. The cashier asked her if she was going to make a cake. She replied she was and went further to tell him that she actually did it as a business. They got to talking and by the time she had finished paying for her items, she had gotten an order for a cake – From the cashier!

It is not common to see women who are close with their mothers in law. My sweetheart on the other hand, is anything but common. She and my mum get along quite well. It was not easy for either of them at the beginning, but they both stuck it out until they overcame the usual negative energy that haunts many such relationships. It made me proud to see them go off to India together when my mum was receiving cancer treatment. They talk about their trip together like school girls – Completely at ease with each other.

I have come to realise that the best form of parenting is through example. I am therefore happy to note that my wife has been able to pass her best traits to our two daughters Michelle and Hellen. When I get home from work and the three of them compete to hug me, it makes my heart melt with joy and love for them. I find myself looking forward to those hugs all day. They somehow make all my efforts in life worthwhile.

I have achieved many goals. I have had many failures. I have been through tough times and also enjoyed good ones. Through it all, my wife has always been behind me – encouraging me, supporting me, dreaming with me, celebrating with me, and mourning with me. I am a man today because of her. I can be called a father because she agreed to be a mother. I am grateful to God for blessing me with such a wonderful wife. The space here is not enough to fully describe her but hey, a man can try! I could not have asked for a better wife than Rahab Wanjiru Githombothi. With her, I hope to soar even higher.