Jojo

Grand parents are special people in any child’s life. There is an extraordinary connection between a grandparent and a grandchild that is not there is any other relationship. I have never really had the privilege of knowing any of my actual grandparents, they kicked the bucket quite early in life so I hear.

My father had some sort of uncle, am not sure how exactly he was related to my father because I never bothered to find out, was a cousin or actual brother of my paternal grandmother I presume, but like I said I did not bother finding out. He was the only grand father figure in my life, a pseudo grandfather if you may. That is our Jojo. We first made acquaintance when I was 8 years old, my parents had recently separated and he came to take care of us, let me not get into details here. Jojo never married and it would not be wrong to say that he pretty much devoted his life to his “grandchildren”

The grandchildren grew up and moved away from home, we had jobs you see. I go home maybe five times in a year on an average and sometimes when it takes my fancy I go and pay him a visit. Jojo housed with my cousins some five minutes walk away, he had lost his mobility by then.

This year I have gone home frequently, and kept meaning to go and see him . Every time I was home I asked father how Jojo was doing and tell him I was going to pay him a visit the next time I was home. This week I went home again and I wasn’t even thinking of Jojo, I had some other work, Jojo next time. Well what do I Learn? That there is never going to be a next time, Jojo had passed away just two weeks ago and they had already cremated him. No one found it necessary to tell us. I did not ask why they could not have picked up the phone and tell me. So much for my next time. Well it was pure pleasure to have known you JoJo. untill we meet again.