By Iretiola Doyle

The beautiful thing about a new day, or a new book, or a new friend… or a new year; is the promise of opportunity. What I could not achieve yesterday perhaps I will achieve today. It’s a chance to do it all over, begin on a new journey of discovery but this time with the benefit of hindsight (for the serial slipper uppers *wink*)Long story short—a clean slate— upon which to write anything our hearts and minds can imagine.

The year 2012,ended for me on a distinct note via one peculiar phone call; peculiar not only because of the individual who initiated the call; but also because of the content of our conversation.

It came like a bolt out of the blue from someone I had truly admired growing up as a young media professional. She had made a name for herself, a possessed a truly unique gift in one of the areas of media that I was aspiring to at the time. Through those years we were more than cordial and even collaborated on a few projects; and my great admiration for her was always quite evident. Vintage wine was how I described her…one that would only get better with age.

I’m not sure when it began but I do recall with such clarity the exact moment our paths separated to my mind irretrievably that day. Ironically the messenger, another close confidant of ours did not realise the damage he was about to incur; had he I’m sure he would have kept his lips sealed. “Ah! What did you say about aunty so soso…?” Huh? “I saw her the other day and she said to tell you well done o she heard what you said about her…”

My head spark. Till this day I don’t know what I was supposed to have said. The next time I saw her which was at some high profile media event I made a beeline for her and called her out on it. She didn’t pick up the gauntlet; rather she feigned total ignorance of what I was on about — fine by me.

But it was obvious from that moment on, that things were not the same. We studiously ignored each other personally and professionally through the intervening years and the once or twice that we did see, though we were civil, there was a definite frostiness in the air. I wasn’t looking for a fight; I just believe that respect should be reciprocal.

Therefore when my phone rang that day during the yuletide she was the last person I was expecting at the other end. Then when she began to speak, I was actually shocked into silence. It was a straight forward unvarnished apology. She admitted that she herself was not that clear on what went wrong; but regardless and in spite of; she was sorry and simply wanted her aburo back.

My shocked silence went on for so long she became uncomfortable, I could hear it as she hesitated, stumbled then kept on going determined to get it all out. When it finally registered that this was really happening and not some hoax; I had to stop her mid-sentence;whatever it was that happened between us back then seemed so insignificant in the face of her huge gesture. I in turn have taken my own mental and emotional step towards her thus bridging gap of all those years.

A new beginning… a clean slate. A journey of discovery or rediscovery…. Of self; an old friend; family; dreams; passion…. a nation. Time and another opportunity to get it right.

Happy New Year! In 2013 all good things will come.