THAT WAS MY CHRISTMAS

By Wangechi Kahiro

No one likes a party popper, a buzz kill, the jinx to an anticipated even. No one likes that person who updates hateful messages on their face book status when it’s Christmas. In fact if you get hit by a car on this day, its better you keep it to yourself until the Boxing Day. For this one day you are expected to put everything aside and just focus on celebrating the birth of Christ. It’s ‘what would Jesus do’ day. And if he was to descend down Himself on this day He would find us walking in His footsteps and nothing less.

In my experience, these are all things we are willing to do when everything else previous to this day seems to add up. It’s a day we hear of baby Jesus in a manger. However, come to think about it. What would have been your reaction if things don’t happen as you expected, and the very day you find yourself evading Shylock, mending a broken heart and cringing over all the regrets you will have to live with? Would you still let Jesus have the spotlight? Would you manage to make it about someone else other than yourself? Let’s take these instances;

On the eve of Christmas you spilled strong tea on your laptop which then requires you to spend your hard –earned cash, to repair that coveted outfit or replace the keyboard. Yes, this means that your pompous fernery will have to see you in that enduring dress. Let’s not pretend that it’s not about how others perceive you, beauty on the inside has never won any pageant.

And as anticipated always fare to upcountry triples during this festive season and our matatu operators owes no one an apology for that! Forcing you to make a tight budget, including surviving with bottle of water a long the various stop-over’s on you way.
Your arrival up country is met with a ‘special’ reception. All the children flock to side, ready to unburden for you anything you carrying. Life starts, and so there you are left with only a thousand shillings between you and poverty. And to add the insult and torture, are your other relatives who are looking up to you for a treat. Could this day not be more dreadful?

What a day! Hanging on a thin – financial thread. With the same thousand a note you still expect to afford to buy two loaves of bread and walk half the distance back to Nairobi. And with the heavy rains, you know that an umbrella is not a luxury. Lucky you if you can convince a Good Samaritan to save you from the heavy torrents.

The journey back to the City is no different nightmare, from the one you experienced earlier. And when you finally board a matatu the touts intentionally overestimates the passengers carrying capacity by overloading. And seating six instead of four per seat in 14 – setter matatu, is a cruel reality you have to swallow! Not to mention stench smells and perspiration. And by the time you highlight the smell will be out of this world!

Say something snotty to the conductor about the matter and he will care less about your ‘cosmopolitan’ demands. And some are even arrogant, they speed away without giving you back your change.If this was a hotel, “ungechonga viazi” but in this place you’re up for some hard earned cash in the farm.

Not so merry a Christmas is it? You have two options: to start an anti -santa or anti-Christmas campaign on face book and twitter or give thanks that you made it this far. If you really (I mean really) look into it you will find some blessings to be thankful for. It’s Christ’s idea of celebrating His birthday.