When I was a Koko and Fruit Salad Seller

I posted this picture on my facebook wall yesterday and I had alot of likes and some even commented that they want some. Hmmm!!!! 

I was once a Koko and fruit salad seller not too long ago and that was how I packaged my fruit salad. My breakfast packaged was just like Koko King. My menu was Wheat, Tom Brown, Rice Water, Oblayo, Ekuagbemi, Oats and bread packaged neatly.  My customers were at the airport.

I returned from Japan to meet a "lost home".  I lost everything, I mean everything!! I had lost my home and my position as a wife was replaced by a sexy Brong Ahafo lady who probably had a lot of "bedmatic" skills more than me. I heard she was a good cook as well. Within a twinkle of an eye I had lost everything just like Job in the Bible.

I had to survive! I was hungry, hurt, bitter, depressed and frustrated.  I remember any time I went to town people asked where my car was and I would say "is at the workshop"  At that time I had taken 4 years leave without pay to travel and had to come back home within 2 years.

Initially, I had wanted to go buy some stuff from China to come and sell.  Hmm!! I was just looking for small capital but unfortunately none of my friends who I knew very well they were in a position refused to help me.  Those who wanted to help too wanted me to pay in kind.  My brother Selasi gave me 200 Ghana cedis and there and then Edem Meals was born.  I started selling breakfast and fruits at the airport and kai!!! the humiliation and teasing I went through you have no idea. From Her Excellency to Koko seller that was what I was reduced to... but I told my colleagues that so far as they could buy my food I wasn't bothered.

In no time Edem meals became a common name at the airport... Edem meals here and there. In less than 6 months I had 4 workers and they were running shift. I had also applied for reinstatement at my office which took almost a year.  I wasnt bothered because my business was growing, even though it was a bit stressful. I woke up at 2 am, cooked and packaged and by 6 am we were at the airport selling.

Then one day, the unexpected happened.  A colleague who I sometimes gave free breakfast sized my food when I had barely sold less than 5 cups that morning and threw them away because I was not authorised to sell at the airport which was true. OOoo Why??? what was happening?? what wrong did  I do?? I cried and felt so sorry for myself.  I never gave up, I went to see the Commercial Manager who was my former Boss and she gave me a place at the Bus Terminal. In fact that was the best place for me because after alighting from the bus in the morning staff would just walk to me and got their Edem Meals.

The following morning I was back and I guess my detectors where just laughing at me because the worse was about to happen.  From nowhere one of the managers came and embarrassed me and drove me out of the place right in front of staff who were buying breakfast... ooooo!!! Ahhh!!! Why??? Is there a God at all??? The Manager too was a Rev. Minister (Osofoo Paa in color) ooo!!!!!! and my good friend too ooo!!! OOOO God, why me!!! what have I done to deserve such punishment and humiliation in life like this... oooo!!! oooo!!!! Where is my God..I cried my heart out and went to see one of the Directors.  In fact when he saw me he was freighted, he taught someone had died. He calmed me down and I told him I was hungry and I needed to work. In no time my letter was ready and I started work as a secretary to the Ramp Manager.

But I never gave up on Edem meals.  This time not at the airport but at Aproachona Train station at Sakumono.  This time I was alone. I had lost all my workers. As usual I woke up at dawn and prepared breakfast and fruit salad but this time in a small quantity and dressed like a banana seller and walked from Community 3 to the train station. By 6.25 am I was done then rushed home and got Nana Kwame who I had left alone at home asleep with the help of the Holy Spirit for protection ready for school then I also went to work. 

At this time Edem Meals was not for business growth or profit ooo but for kpakpakpa movement.  In all this I was a student at AUCC where I had transferred my credits from Temple University Japan.. Hmm!!! how I managed to pay my fees and graduated from African University College of Communications (AUCC) is another story to tell....

Keep an eye on my blog for the rest of the story of Edem Meals!

WHEN I WAS A MADAM

ooo!! I am remembering the good old days! When I was HER EXCELLENCY!!

Yesterday I met a gentle man who claimed he knew me but unfortunately I could not make him out.  He tried saying all sort of things to remind me but honestly I could not remember where I knew him but it got to a time I had to pretend I remembered him.

He said one thing that brought me to realized how God had been faithful to me and gave me the chance to also enjoy life and give me that opportunity to realize mine will power.  This gentleman told me how he used to admire me and how alot of ladies in his outfit envied and wished they were in my shoes then. I said to myself "INTERESTING"

I was called HER EXCELLENCY because my ex husband was HIS EXCELLENCY. I had a diplomatic passport, VIP treatments everywhere I go, I didn’t even know where some embassies where yet I had their visas to travel to their countries. Dinners were held in my honor; I met and dined with Emperors, Kings, Queens and people of high class in societies.  AWWW!! It was such an experience!

But the funny and interesting part of it was that, I was never a happy person. I never appreciated all the luxury and the privileges I was enjoying. I missed being myself.  I had to be a lady and an African woman.  I had no choice than to aspect the fact that I was a big man’s wife always looking good and  smiling as if everything was alright. Meanwhile I was a wife where I cried every evening and at dawn and then wipe my face and made up and wore my heels and drove in different cars and pretend all was well, whiles some ladies envied me.. Such is life!!

I dont regret coming out and had never regretted going in but I realised that everything happens for a reason.  Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there.  They serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson or help figure out who you are or who you want to become.

Sometimes things happen to you and at the time they seem horrible, painful and unfair, but in reflection you realize that without overcoming those obstacles you would never realize your potential, strength and will power of heart.

DIVORCE OR SUICIDE

I took this picture some years back in Japan for my assignment in photography class at Temple University, Japan Campus. The theme for this picture was "CAN SUICIDE BE AN OPTION?" I had a "B" in the presentation. Little did everybody know that I was actually considering suicide. The pain and bitterness was too much to bare. But at least it paid off with a "B" right???!!! Thank God I was able to pull through.... (The story is yet to be told)

About 5 years down the lane when all the dust is settled am hit with my past again!!! the past I dread to think off, I had no option to go out there to explain to my colleagues why I took that risk!!! The rumour was too much. A lot disagreed with me and said my private life was out there. At a point I felt I shouldnt have come out and gradually the rumour would die down... But apparently I did the right thing for coming out and saving someone from committing suicide.

A colleague called me last night and I had to go see her because she was going through pain and bitterness had engulfed her and her only option was to commit suicide. Then she remembered I could help her. I asked her why didnt she seek help or counselling. The answer was that she doesnt trust anyone. She had a friend at work she wanted to talk to but the very day she decided to tell her friend that was when her friend talked nasty things about my (me Edem) marriage as if she was inside my home. She realised her issues would not be safe with her friend. I wept with her, consoled, prayed and spoke with her. On my way home I parked somewhere and wept... I wept... I wept!!!!! The reason why I wept... I didnt know...

But all I could say is sometimes when we are talking about someone we think we are destroying the person but rather we are killing the one listening....

God help US!!!

THE JOB I DO

Now I am an Aircraft Marshaller. The Job I love to do and doing it well. When I was a child, I wanted to be a musician, Tina Turner was my role model just because of her heels, then during school time, i loved to be a secretary which i achieved and was happy with it. I became secretary for 10 years (a professional one)... then it became so boring for me. i needed something more challenging and as fate could have it way God led me to be the secretary to the Ramp Manager....The story is yet to be told but I am happy that finally finally for now I am excited with what I am doing... AIRCRAFT MARSHALLER!!!

Now I am an Aircraft Marshaller. The Job I love to do and doing it well. When I was a child, I wanted to be a musician, Tina Turner was my role model just because of her heels, then during school time, i loved to be a secretary which i achieved and was happy with it. I became secretary for 10 years (a professional one)... then it became so boring for me. i needed something more challenging and as fate could have it way God led me to be the secretary to the Ramp Manager....The story is yet to be told but I am happy that finally finally for now I am excited with what I am doing... AIRCRAFT MARSHALLER!!!