Celebration Of My Old Boy

You don't know what you have until you lose it.

This is a popular saying most people take very casual and others, as an important statement.

I count myself amongst the important people.

Lemme share a brief story about my grandfather...

Rt.Major. Effiong Akpan Akpan is my maternal grandfather. He was an high ranking officer in the Nigeria Army before his retirement.

He watched me grew up from a lying baby to a crawling baby and finally to a walking child. He bought me the first flip-flops when I started walking as a child.

He could had care less of me because I was born out of wedlock but instead, he allowed love flow out of him to a tender soul I was. Every time I felt the absence of my father, he stepped in and filled the space.

I also reminisce on days he took me to school and made sure he brought me home by himself. The front seat of his Beatle car was uncontested for as I had the seat as a permanent passenger. He was my home teacher and believe me, the military drilling I got when I misbehaved still linger fresh in my memory.

Farming wasn't exceptional as I followed him always to the farm in the name of escort but with interior motive of eating his farm products. Lol.

I can't count how many times he dished food with his spoon to eat but I'd appear like an ant man to eat off his food from his spoon.

Yeah, I had lots of beautiful memories with my grandfather which are too numerous to be shared.

I didn't understand the concept of growth enough to think that has I was growing into a beautiful young and strong teenager, my grandfather would grow into an old weak man. I counted him amongst the ageless being.

My thoughts failed me when I got the news he was diagnosed of partial stroke and prostate cancer in 2014. The news was really disheartening because I kept thinking if he was gonna kick the bucket in a split unexpected seconds.

I had to shuttle myself between school and visiting my grandfather with food every day in the hospital. Like I was assigned the role of his caretaker because I was his favourite amongst all his grandchildren.

I felt the duty was too cumbersome and demanding at first, but the beautiful memories of his lively days with me kept flashing and I couldn't resist than to help.

For 5 years now, my grandfather have lived with his sickness. He's a survivor and undergoing treatments but in my own side, I took it upon myself to reciprocate his love and kind gestures now he's still living than to wish I did when he's called to glory.

Dear steemians, it's been 5 years and the old boy is still alive, strong and getting well. Please join me in celebrating my grandfather's 79th birthday today and 5 years of surviving prostate cancer.

Happy birthday old boy. I'll keep celebrating you till when you are gone to be with the Lord.

Love from your favourite girl, @lizzieharrison.

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