Chapter Seventeen

remember me?

I have written, erased words, and pondered what to write and whether I should write anything at all these past weeks.

Alas, here I am… writing finally.

Hi, friends?

How has life been? Please think about this question carefully and possibly write the answers this brings up on your phone, paper, or journal.

For me, it’s been a mix of highs and lows.

My highlight of this year was welcoming my nephew. He brought light into our lives, which is the meaning of his name. I may be having a shitty day, but then I remember I’m an aunty, smile beautifully and forget what (who)ever was spoiling my mood.

There’s something unkind about how tertiary healthcare institutions treat relatives of patients. It’s almost inhumane because why can’t hospitals provide suitable waiting areas for them? Let’s not start on the numerous errands one has to embark on for drugs, supplies, etc. It was traumatic.

You watch medical TV shows, and this doesn’t happen. I’m not one of those who asks when the country will get better—it is a dream that will never come true.

Speaking about health…

When you read all the precautions or lifestyle modifications for most diseases in the world, they are summarised into eating healthy, whole meals, staying hydrated, avoiding processed foods and sugars and moving one’s body. I decided to consider moving on, and one thing I found daunting was saving recipes.

I’m always looking for other ways to make new meals and incorporate fresh herbs to enhance tastes. Saving on Instagram or TikTok or writing in my recipe book wasn’t cutting it, so I spent days looking for a suitable app, and I found it.

The Samsung Food app is easy to use, has a health score for meals, has a community tab for exploring meals, and when you input an ingredient or food product, it will suggest recipes incorporating that ingredient. My favourite part is that it introduces you to cuisines from different countries. Try it out!

To the books

I’m slowly going through pages of books and listening to audiobooks. So far, I have managed 12 books this quarter. They’ve been mainly romance, with a sprinkle of thriller and contemporary fiction. Asia Monique is an author who has my attention at the moment. She writes Black characters as they are, spares no emotion and is a dynamic storyteller. I’m engrossed in her Misfit Mafia series and a standalone romance novel called And Then Life Was Beautiful.

Elevator Pitch had me in my feelings; These Letters End In Tears was a poignant, slow and heart-wrenching novel set in Cameroon about a woman looking for her friend; Out on a Limb was a re-read, and it’s probably one of the best pregnancy tropes I have read in a while, plus the disability rep helped make it a solid read. My first Lisa Jewell, I Found You, was bonkers! I now understand why the girlies and guys love her.

I know my reading will improve, as there are some books I want to dive into soon. I will share my TBR later.

TV shows…

These TV shows have been my oxygen for a couple of weeks. You may have seen or watched them, but I will tell you why they have been my lifesavers this past quarter.

Shondaland will do everything to produce a hit show! The Residence is enthralling, humorous and has an epic storyline. The cast was incredible; everyone brought their A-game, including the dead body. I want Cordelia Cupp in other whodunnit series like Benoit Blanc in the Knives Out movies. She needs to travel to different countries, continuing her birding while solving cases with her brooding eyes and meticulous detective skills.

Would you believe me if I told you I hadn’t watched Grey’s Anatomy until now? Well, it is true, and it is my morning. I don’t have anything to say yet, as I’m three episodes in, but I’m not prepared for the tears this series will bring (I have read reviews).

The Rookie is my pick-me-up show. It’s hilarious and educational, and seeing the cast gives a warm, fuzzy feeling inside. There’s no character I don’t like, except for one villain – Bailey’s ex-husband.

I started Law & Order: SVU from season 9. I couldn’t get previous seasons, but I got the gist of the series. Sexual crimes make my skin crawl. I’m shocked at the lengths humans will go to commit these crimes, especially ones involving minors.

The Gilded Age reminds me of Downton Abbey; both are period dramas set in America and England, respectively. I’m a fan of period dramas – I enjoy watching the ways wealth and social standing affect people. I have just started this and am getting the hang of it.

The Day of the Jackal had me rooting for a villain. It was brilliant. In the Nigerian entertainment industry, we usually say “actor no dey” (die)—meaning the main actors cannot be killed in a movie or TV series; well, this show proved otherwise. I hear a second season might be in the works.

In other news…

My bookshelf was delivered recently, and I look forward to arranging my books tonight. I searched the internet for the best way to arrange them and found one that made me look twice. The books will be arranged by colour in each row, with two books flanking on either side.

I will share a picture in my upcoming newsletter.

I pray this month be fulfilling. May all your prayers and wishes come true. Please find joy every day because life can quickly get intense and zap you of your energy.

This is it from me.

xoxo

Ebele