~~ The Down Times ~~

At about 9:30pm on Saturday, 24 November 2012, I was driving home alone on Ahmadu Bello Way, my radio was tuned to 99.9FM. The windows of my light green beetle were down because my AC stopped working and I'd already told ifie I was taking it to be fixed on Monday. I came to the Traffic Light at the R B Dikko intersection and contemplated beating the red. I figured, it's not too late and cars were joining at their own green, no need to risk my life.

The light was counting down and when it was down to 4 seconds, I saw a shadow to the right of my car, a hand entered into my car and grabbed the purse on the floor. My instant reaction was to yell 'Please!' Who was I saying please to? The assailant was gone into the dark side, slightly woody side of the road. One! The light was green and I drove on auto pilot. Don't know howI made it home because I was shaking badly.

In my 23 years of being in the dangerous country, lving most of it in the perilous city of Lagos, I have never been robbed. Now in Abuja, the "safe" capital, I'd just been robbed. I drove into my house and my mum was outside also just arriving and I said, 'Mum, I've just been robbed'. Almost with a laugh because it seemed like a cruel joke. And then it hit and I was stunned. We raced back to the spot with some police men we picked up from the street and they did absolutely NOTHING! Just stood and stared. We went to the police station and gave a report and lucky for me, the DPO was there and had deal with a case of a Politician's wife who was attacked at the same spot and the robbers apparently got into her own car. After sweeping the area, my purse and/or its contents weren't found. The worst part of it all, I broke all safety rules and I had my passport in my purse. I had sorted something at the bank, the day before and forgot to take out before I went to the salon.

Throughout this, I didn't cry, didn't shed a tear and I was so proud of myself. But when I got down on my knees to pray, I WEPT. The thought of my family losing me, and my baby sister not having me around broke me. My irresponsibility will have caused them pain. Why didn't I fix my AC sooner or NOT stop at that traffic light and NOT be out so late in this period. When you realise how small you are in the picture of life, you will start to appreaciate a higher power.

My iPhone is gone, so are my iPad, Blackberry, Driver's license, ATM cards, Cheque Book and Passport with my Canadian Work Permit. But Ijeoma is still here and that's what matters.

It's December! Time to be vigilant, the hungry ones are prowling for FOOD!
It's the end of the year....Here's to the celebration of life! Wooooop!

Yes I went blonde, call it my midlife crises....

Yours Truantly,
IJ