"A Visit To my Auntie In My Paternal Home town Akwa Ibom state"

It was on a Saturday morning when i woke up the weather was bright i did my morning routine and had breakfast also prepared my daughter set to travel to my paternal home town in Ikono local government area of akwa ibom state nigeria.

Initial i had planned earlier to leave my house early so i can arrive at a good time but the weather immediately changed and it began drizzling, because i was going with my toddler i had to wait till it subsided before i began my journey and gladly it did within an hour.

Ibom plaza park

So i took a cab from my house to the park from the park we drove to a junction called itak junction which took about an hour and i drop and boarded a bike directly to my village which is also about 20 minutes.

I got to the compound and it felt different from 3 years of my last visit it was quite most of the rooms were locked i felt so uneasy when i got to my late uncle's room and it was locked few minutes letter my late uncle wife arrive from the market and warmly welcome me she is presently the only occupants of the house, we had some talk how it has been with her since the passing of my uncle it was an emotional moment for both of us but then we consoled our self with the hope of resurrection.

She made launch for me and we ate together after which i did a little tour round the compound.

her bountiful melon harvest.

I really appreciate her efforts in keeping the surroundings clean and tidy even though she lived alone she cleared the bush planted melon, afang and plantain harvested bountifully.

I had already spent few hours since i arrived so i had limited time to spend in the village before returning she and her friend help and pluck afang that i will take home and also alot of pear it was such a kind gesture

I really appreciate her kind gesture towards me i saw how happy she was so i promise to visit a little often, i was glad i was able to visit her in her time of grief thankfully i was able to console and put some smiles in her face.

It was time to go she helped me package all the gift she has given to me in a sack bag then saw me off the compound to the main road.

When we got the main road were will be boarded a bike back to the junction i saw that she was already sad, she said it been awhile someone visited and and said something that made her felt better since the passing of her husband i should never forget her, i promise to reach out on phone and also visit she was overwhelmed with with joy we waved at each other and i left.

When i came back home after evening meal i sat down to review how my visit when and how it lit up my aunt's face with joy with the little words of consolation that i offered and i realized something, i mostly called her on phone and i felt i did enough i felt she was getting better hearing from us but no my presence meant alot to her even more than the gift i sent i realized not just reaching out on phone visiting in person somehow help her share the weight she held in her heart with me and i was happy i made her smile before leaving.