DÉJÀ
VU
Standing across a
stretch of granite road, looking at the suburb where I grew up, from the area
I’m dwelling in. I get a feeling of déjà vu. I’ve been here before, same time,
same place. But right now, it all looks different. I can’t really figure out what’s
different about it all. Six years gone and nothing seems to have changed.
The houses are still the
same, no addition, and no subtraction. Not even a new touch of paint on anyone
of them. The double stretch of trunk-A road that opened up the region to the
world many years ago is still there, not even a single noticeable repair work.
So, what changed? Why does everything look different? Mom still spends the same
length of time cooking. Yet, she now seems too slow for my liking. Even the
river that epitomized all of my dreams then, looks like a trickle to me now.
Yet, nothing has changed about it. It still overflows its bank during the
rains.
For years, this was my
world, my territory, my empire. I took great pain and derived great joy in
exploring every of its nook and cranny. All the in-roads, inlets and out roads
are still entrenched in my memory. So, why déjà vu?
What changed?
Hmmm, now that I think
about it, maybe it’s me. Maybe I’ve changed too much or too fast. I grew up,
moved about, and widened my horizon. Now I’m back, and I just can’t adapt. Yet,
nothing really changed.
That sort of makes me
remember the words of the one who said. “When I was a kid, I thought like a
kid……………………………” If you think about this, then you could probably accept my
postulation?
Maybe circumstance don’t
really change, maybe situations don’t really differ. Maybe the parameters that
run our world never change. It’s just the way we handle them at different times
that gives them different meanings. Really, the important things never really
change. We just do all the changing.
Déjà vu, all the scenery
was good enough for me as a kid. Now, I can’t wait to spread my wings and fly
away.
Okemakinde Samson
