GONE TOO SOON, ANGEL OF A MAN.
We often say the hour of death cannot be forecast, but when we say this we imagine that hour as placed in an obscure and distant future. It never occurs to us that it has any connection with the day already begun or that death could arrive the same morning, afternoon, evening and night. Your journey to the world beyond began in the middle of the night of (17/11/2015).
Just last week gone you reported my sister to me and I quote ‘Jolade kose nkan ti oni kose o Bolaji’. My response was my in law, 'I will remind you of the Yoruba saying that ‘Okun kii ho ruru. Ki’a wa ruru’ meaning, you don’t navigate a stormy sea with equal aggression. You said to me that, tani esinsin ma gbe bi ki se elegbo, meaning who will the fly support if not the person with the sore in the body.
In preparing for this tribute, I received a lot of input from many different people. People you have never met, people who knew and love you. People that shared stories and experiences with you. As I listened to these stories, in all of this communication, there is one word that permeates, that seems to clearly embody the sweet light of SUNDAY ADERANTI- kind. My able and ever reliable in-law would do anything for you. He was strong. If you needed a friend you could call, call him and he would come to you. If you needed a place to stay his home was always open. He would go out of his way to help people in need. He truly cared about others and his warm smile always made you feel welcome.
Meaningfully there is one major adjective that I feel greatly describes the man that my sister (Jolade) was privileged to married, the man that I was privileged to know; One adjective that could only begin to describe the experience of his last year. That word is BRAVE. The past year he was a brave warrior. I don’t want to write this tribute about the recent past. Though it did exist and brought us together, the Sunday that is in our hearts, and in our memories, far exceeds last year experiences. Sunday was laughter. He was life. He was, and he is, love.
I am going to share a few adjectives that his friends and family have used to describe him sweet, gentle, welcoming, loving, giving, caring, open, fathering, supportive,faithful,accepting, fun-loving, silly, thoughtful, true, kind,compassionate, kind hearted,generous and my personal favourite… In-law to jasi.
When I heard that you had left us, I was simply blown away. How could that be possible? My mind glazed back to the last time I saw you (August 2013). I remember vividly the old times, your smile, love, kindness, and encouragements. I even remembered our discussions last week, your dedication and zeal. I wondered why it happened this way but I was consoled by the fact that the owner of souls says it is time. For this reason, I have decided to celebrate you instead of mourn you.
Handsome Sunday Aderanti, you were all I could ask for in a brother-in-law , a gemstone of a man. Thank you for the light that you brought unto this world, as you watch down upon us, as you shine in the sky at night and dance in the breeze that kisses our faces, know in the depth of your soul, that you did us proud. You will surely be missed.
On behalf of our entire family in Nigeria and abroad we wish you farewell my in-law, my brother and my confidant. Dance on Angel Sunday Aderanti, you have lived your life well!!!!!
Mobolaji Aregbesola.