My friend Anna was born in January.
Poor timing but to no end her fault. I shall choke it up to her
impatience which has continued to manifest as an adult.
And because it is January, and I’m already poor, I decided
to write about and for her because electricity and words are the only things I can
afford now.
I met Anna very unceremoniously. Even if you beat me I could
not remember the exact moment I did, all I know is that she latched onto my
heart immediately. I think we even sang together that night.
It is a mark of our time that true friendships are rare, and
even more so, real connections. I connect with Anna on so many things, not
least our love for good whiskey and staying home. For that I am more than
grateful. But I digress. Ladies and Gents, this is the story of Anna and I.
Anna is a perfectionist. One of the three people ever in
history to correct my grammar and in the same breath chastise me for a lousy
shirt. “Tubeere serious Ralph.” At a point, Anna and I had a ceremony named “Sundays
with Ralph”, where we would kick back with a good drink, great breakfast and/or
ice cream and watch horror movies or suits. She has this thing for Gabriel
Macht (Harvey Spectre) and even had the title music as her ringtone for a
while, but that is not the point. At these Sundays with Ralph, Anna and I would
laugh, and talk and laugh some more and more often than not, be mean to people
who in all honesty, deserved it (I’m looking at you Trevor Wabunoha). On these
rare occasions I found myself full and happy, because Anna is more than a
kindred spirit to me. She is my personal person.
Anna is fierce. I have not met many people as dedicated to
their friends as she is, as loyal as she is and as stupid as she is.
Anna thinks she is funny. I will not comment on that because
she is not only fierce, but insanely violent with her words. She can cut you
down to size with a well-timed comment.
In my rough patches I always reach out to her. She has a
heart as big as her brain and that’s saying something. She challenges me, on so
many topics, and try as I may, she always wins the arguments. Anna tries to
teach me Luganda but she’ll always be my translator because I’m too lazy to
learn the nuances of the lingo. Also it helps that she’s always on hand to
bargain with bodas for me. We share a deep liking for the humorous side of the
British Royal family, this I can attribute to my likeness in character to a
William/Harry/Phillip hybrid.
Our love for good food has bonded us, although I must
confess that I have sort of slacked in that area for a bit.
Anna is my friend. My beautiful friend. And a tea snob as
well!
Anna Kakuba, you have become one of my trusted confidantes
and my soul bearer.
I pray that I will be a good friend to you, as you have been
to me. My personal person.
Happy Birthday Anna!
ILYSM
