You are blessed and have enjoyed traveling around the world: fromFanti NewTown, throughWadie Adwumakase, to Europe, the Caribbean, Dubai, the Americas, and even close to the North Pole and back. You’ve spent a lifetime teaching, guiding, raising, and caring —not just for your family, but for everyone lucky enough to know you. You’ve turned many people into your sons and daughters. Others you’ve turned into close friends and family. You have turned homes into classrooms and ordinary days into warm gatherings filled with food, laughter, and just the right amount of correction. What amazes me lately is how youmay forget certain things, yet never forget or miss upcoming events — the date, the place, the time. You are a blessing to many lives, including your grandchildren and generations yet unborn. And equally, your family, your children, mentees, and grandchildren are a blessing to you. You offer helping hands to many but are often reluctant to be helped. Eighty years is a good time to sit back and allow others to offer whatever they desire to share with you. Your independence is unmatched — you do things your own way, with the determination of someone who knows exactly how life should be. Now that you are 80, I cannot say to you that all people are created equal but different. Sometimes allow others to follow their own life paths, which may be different from your ideal. For instance, I never picked up reading storybooks and fiction as a habit because, back in the day, we were forced to read indoors during those hot afternoons while you enjoyed your volumes of novels andMills &Boon. My whole mind was focused on playing outdoors during those sessions, and as a result, I hated reading novels. However, that strong will and tough character evolved to build the simple, unique life we all celebrate today. We are still yet to determine the source of your strong will and passive stern discipline, which we know were also traits Daddy possessed. You’ve shown us that life is not about material accumulation, and that it can be far less stressful when lived simply. Your health consciousness, exercise routines, and dietary habits can be intense — and that, along with staying young at heart, simply means you are refusing to slow down anytime soon. You’ve figured out life and lived it fully at your own pace, unapologetically. We believe you are content, have self-actualized, grown spiritually, and are confident after so many years of choir practice and church mass. Perhaps these combined have made you find fulfilment in charity and philanthropic work, continuing to give generously in our society. So today, we celebrate you— the teacher, the mother, the helper, the brave woman who never gives up and never grows old in spirit. The resilient mother who carries the assurance of hope even in the face of darkness. Slow down a bit and enjoy the fruits of your labour. May the years ahead bring you peace, good health, joy, and renewed energy. May God the Almighty have abundant favour on you and remember your life story. May the many lives and souls you have touched also touch you back in a positive light and share good memories of you through the test of time. With deep gratitude and love, Owuraku The Birthday Journal 63
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