Eulogy for Aunt Mabel: Reflecting on Life’s Priorities

At this hour in Nnobi, family and friends are gathering to commit the body of Ezinne Mabel Nchekwube Ukaegbu (Nee: Agudosi) to Mother Earth.

Since her passing early this month, I have had reasons to ponder this life — what matters and the trivialities we often confuse as a mahogany tree.

I am mourning because Aunty Mabel was not just my aunt. She was my godmother.

The first and only time I slept in Onitsha was at her house. I have always remembered that.

Just like every death, her passing is an opportunity for those of us who know her and those of us who are still living, to use our tongues to count our teeth.

The question we should ask ourselves today, tomorrow, and every blessed day we see is, “If today is my end, did I run a good race?”

In every ramification, we can answer this question ourselves. We can also deceive ourselves perfectly. I worry we have become so sophisticated that we believe our lies. We convince ourselves that we have done our best when we have not scratched the surface of what we can do.

We do this because we have mastered turning ourselves into victims. It is the most convenient alibi we have. It gives us excuses that make us feel good. Anything that will make our…