Its an early afternoon, this day I have had a very exciting day making a big deal happen for my company - I decide let business be for now and take me to a green somewhere and learn more about the American President, as I read through world news on my laptop at the rugby club, thanks to UTL's hotspot, busing myself with the hopes of becoming somebody one sweet day! I begin to feel the presence of some one around me and I raise my head to see Phil and immediately ask him "Boss you are here early wats up?" Phil says "Boss - in fact it is good to see you, you know I am getting married?" I say wow "But I have never seen you with a bird!", Phil Says "Boss are you living in Kampala?" Anyway we start to talk about planning his wedding.
We all agree that the historical chairman would be the best man to lead us through this big venture and Big Brother (I mean the Ugandan one) was to be asked later that day to "hola" the historical chairman who agreed after acknowledging how much time he would be spending away from his dear newly wed wife (as if that was not enough - with a newly born child)! Starting with small meetings at Kati Kati, it was very interesting to see how Phil's guys mobilized themselves for the mighty wedding, meanwhile Phil (Romeo) is actually a very humerous fellow, wondering why all the fuss about this big day. Suddenly the wedding preparations kicked into full gear - at a certain point Phil was asked to let the ladies take over costing the decoration services and making vital decisions in that area with out his input, you could see that he (Phil) was beginning to appreciate the fuss....... The team further demanded openness and the presence of Julie in the meetings.... Phil wondered what a nightmare he was getting into.....
A few weeks later the fund raising started, Phil & Julie have definitely lived well, friends from all walks of life poured into the meetings, others sent resources from the furthest continents - the team of organizers was getting pleased each and every day seeing that this was going to be a wedding of abundance... Phil made more friends from Julie's side and Julie made more friends from Phil's side - they saw the wedding in their imaginations a nice day, a day when they would tell the world how much they love each other a day they would look at the stars as one :-). I remember once sitting with the treasurer as I was standing in for the historical chairman, he was smiling at the game of fund-raising, money was flying in like lives from the autumn tree...
One fine Thursday as I sit at The Zone contemplating what I was going to do for my friend JJ, Peter calls and declares to me that we shall be going to a place called Bunamwaya the next day, I ask him "what are we gona do there Boss", he says "Boss do you live in Kampala", I say well I guess so, he says again "Boss be serious we are going to pick a wife!" Well well come Friday, a nice shiny day, we congregate at Peter's Dads house and plan the motorcade to Bunamway, believe me this was one I will remember for a long time. I was very shy to drive my car (a used Japanese....) to bunamwaya, this was good because it paid off eventually getting me to sit much closer to the escort pickup that kept blaring sirens when ever there was traffic slowing us down - I was ecstatic being amongst the VIP's who made part of our delegation!
Being a man of cultural understanding - I was happy to see Phil & Julie united all the way from the land of the wise men past the land of milk and honey to the land of lakes, sites, scenery, potatoes, natural habitat and beauty - pleasantries were exchanged, food was served and drinks were flowing like the Nile and yet Julie was still kept away from the team. We began to get anxious and like they had read our minds she was handed over from parent to parent in the traditional African manner & human sirens went off in excitement - We had acquired a wife.
The week that followed run so fast that I did not realize the long awaited day had come - again a gentleman bellowed from the other side of the line advising me to sleep early because I had been assigned to pick up the bride in the early hours of the morning! WHAT!! Well what could I do I told him I was honored to carry out the assignment and as I prepared to sleep another gentleman bellowed from the other side saying he was to come with me....... Interestingly these happened to be the historical & Peter. Well I slept late but still woke up early and picked up Peter for the journey to collect our dearest.
When we arrived, it was such a warm welcome, our names were taken to be recorded in the books of history. Tea was served and Mclean kept us laughing, all the time. Julie's Dad reminded us to give Julie something to eat before church knowing that it was going to be along day, and wow that is when it downed on me that Dad was going to miss his only daughter so much! Of course she reassured him that she would return to visit from time to time. It was going to be different for ever! We drove through the traffic laughing like crazy when Julie joined in to add "soup" to Mcleans jokes. We were both very awake by this time, as we got to the salon's where the ladies would style their hair for the day.... I thought I would take this moment to get a two hour nap, but alas we realized Nina had to come to the salon too, then the boys had to do their hair too, I suddenly wanted mine done too - it was time for church already and the clock just kept on ticking....
The day running so fast I wished I could climb up to the sun and the solar system and slow it down for a bit but hey the clock just kept on ticking..... Nice Mercs parked and waited and then the entourage entered the church welcomed by a very excited choir as Joshua made every one comfortable in church we prayed for happiness, wisdom, wealth, love, good weather, leadership, understanding, harmony and many many many things.. We prayed for children and grandchildren and generations to come. Yes Phi (Romeo) & Julie became husband and wife. Off to the lake side we went....
People came from the East, North, South, Central & West, from all places that God's creation exists and the hall was filled with smart people of all colors, creed, sizes again food, drink, music & all filled the air. And when Katumwa did the Jazz every one was merry making, speeches were made and the day was getting deeper into celebration, then Phil talked I remember he said thank you to some one and then thank you to another one and again thank you to the other guy and and and ....... and he asked his wife to humour us wow it was a nice one..... She says "I get this call from a guy and he is asking for some one but when he discovers he is talking to her he looks over the partitioning and sees a good thing - next he is at her desk and asks her whether she can cock and many other direct questions - she says - she tells her friends the chap is marriage material and the rest was history" (Quote is not completely accurate though)..
They then opened the dance, didn't have to change, and the party started we all joined in the everlasting dance young, old and all, after midnight a tighter formation of dancers took to the floor till later dancing to songs like moonie moonie moons etc... A small stint of bafudde dancing to silence in the car park with Big Brother, Chichi, Adamski, Peter, Phi & some stray chaps ......... it was a great night to remember we toasted to Mickey's & Breathalyzers too.
We stayed up till past 4:00am ...... and the day came to pass and going one going two and gone it went to the book of history....
Congratulations Phillip - Romeo & Juliet - Juliet!!!!
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