The Dawn Walks

One of the things that I hate the most, and I can’t say if it comes before or after drinking water, is walking. I detest it. I don't walk. Even if the distance is from just here to the aboki's stall next door, I'd rather not go, please, send someone else. How much weirder can one get?? The two things that could help me live a longer, healthier life, I hate, I mock and I snicker at. Oh well, I guess that's what makes me me!

But hang on! Before you shake your head in pity at moi...I happily announce that I have changed! I have started to walk every other day! #Excited.

So, I set out to walk in the morning; mornings as opposed to evenings for 2 reasons: I love the morning; I love the quiet, the peace, the cool and the almost total lack of activity (except that in Lagos activity never really stops),  especially when it is dewy...I love seeing the cloud of  dew and could stand by my bedroom window or the balcony of my living room staring at the sky,  willing the dawn not to break just so the dew doesn't disappear! Second reason, I figured the only way to maintain this exercise is to carry it out while I have control over my day...so, full of energy and excitement, I walk into a newer and healthier life, every other day!

These walks have, however, brought with it a completely new and different kind of experience! I see a whole new stuff of what goes on the neighbourhood; as people begin to stir...men brushing their teeth outside, women pottering around, getting the fires crackling and burning fiercely, ready to receive those gigantic pots that house meals for workers who need early sustenance to begin their day, our Muslim brothers getting water into their kettles to perform ablutions in readiness for prayers while the speaker belts out the Al-Adhan, the call to prayer, loud, clear and relentlessly; okada riders and a few buses  plying the narrow streets, conductors screaming almost louder than the mosques’ speakers, in search of those who have to go to work early, and market women who must have their wares displayed before it is even 'light'...and in corners, little children, roused from sleep way too early,  walking dazedly in and out of the uncompleted buildings to relieve themselves, even as the ‘mallams’  also begin to set up their stalls, yet more abokis are gathered around their wheel-barrow of wares made up of sweets, matches, gums, candles, and beleive it or not, pirated movies etc, smoking and chatting in the ‘earl-iness’ of the morning...

And each time I walk to and fro this street I have a thought concerning that fire that burns so tall and fiercely, I fear it is too close to that wooden table and may catch on fire one day and burn down everything around it, I have a thought concerning these children who are too young to be wondering  around on their own so early,  who knows what human and animal danger lurks? The okada and bus drivers just may use the opportunity of the (and as far as some States are concerned; ungodly) early hour to perpetrate their own brand of evil; hey, kidnapping still abounds, and I especially have a thought for other 'co-exercisers' who take careless pleasure in walking and jogging through  back streets, away from the lights, or are walking with their back to oncoming traffic! Don't blame me for these thoughts, such paranoia defines the society in which we live today, we are constantly (yet not enough), on our guard, suspicious of everyone around, suspicious of every move people  make, convinced they plan to do us harm!

Notwithstanding all these morbid thoughts, however, I happily march home, all sweaty but jived and energized; ready to jump under the stream of ice-cold water,  terribly anxious for the next walk, just so I could (re) envelope myself in these morning experiences that have become a part of my (every other) day dawn walks...

B e   F r e e   o h!