CELEBRATIONS AND AFTER

REFLECTING ON THE CELEBRATIONS AFTERMATH
Having just come from the festive season, and of course knowing that there are those who are still in the celebratory mood, It is of paramount importance that we debate whether the festivities did us any good. As usual, many of us waited until the very last day(s) when the vehicles were charging three or four times the amount for us to travel. But I don't blame you. Maybe your boss kept you in that office until long after 20th. But then, is it worth travelling, or  rather rushing home for those few days only to come back rights after the christmass day? I am told some of you traveled home on the 24th night, and traveled back on the night of 25th. In other words, you spent more time on the road than you spent with your loved ones.

The issue of travelling aside  some of you had to carry everything home, as if you would not be back next year, only to reappear the following week. Your neighbors  never mind, had already concluded that you had gone home for good. But then, this only happens in Kenya.

Some had even forgotten that come January you will be needed to pay school fees for your children. You went on a spending spree and threw all caution to the wind to have a few days of merry-making, but as soon as new year knocked, your child reminded you about the school books you had not bought, the school uniform, shoes as well as the school fees. That is when you remembered the fee reminder that the headteacher had send you in November last year. But you realize that you have spent all the money. You are not even ashamed to remind the kids that the money was used to buy them their christmass clothes. You followed the masses, now it is payback time.

The landlord also reminds you that you have not yet paid rent for December and this is January. In the process of celebrating, you had evaded to pay the rent for the month of December. Now you are scratching your head and requesting then to give you time until you get your next pay check at the end of January. You are formulating stories that you will go and tell the headteacher in the school attended by your children. But what you need to know is that the guy went through the same, and chances are that even before you tell him, he has already written down all the possible excuses that people like you will come with. Now who are you going to blame for your current predicament?

Your greatest consolation in all this is that after all you ar not alone. Everyone seems to be going through the same predicament. You promise yourself to do better next year You even convince yourself to write new year resolutions, and hope  that, unlike the previous years, this year you will follow through . But do not cheat yourself my friend, for I know that before the end of February this rear, you will have already gone back to the same old style. You will not remember where you threw he piece of paper on which you had written your new year resolutions. You will not even remember the promise you made in your excitement of welcoming the new year, and come January 2014, you will start right where you are.

But then, that happens pnly in Kenya, or does it?