I remember my father…(2020 version)
A man who will not read has no advantage over one that cannot read. – Mark Twain
The last time I saw my dad alive was mid 2005 when I visited home from my then workstation in Chirundu.
On the eve of my departure he gave me his whole library which consisted about 40 books. He indicated his frustration with my siblings who he accused of not being keen book readers.
He insisted that I take the books with me as I would be able to make better use of them. ( Little did he know I had secretly read all of them by the time I had reached O Level but he was none the wiser as this collection consisted of James Hadley Chase novels, Lorenzo Ramas, Robert Early among others.)
Sensing his frustration with my siblings, I took the middle lane and politely indicated that I was going to collect them next time as I had no space in my bag to carry them. I had felt that taking them there and then was going to be passing judgement on my siblings.
I never saw my dad alive after that. He called me two days before his passing on and we had a lengthy and hearty chat. The next phone call I got was to tell me he had departed.
My dad put me on the book trail. His passion kept me on that wagon. His gift of 40 books has seen me buy, collect and read hundreds of books.
Yesterday I re-organised my books and I was taken back to see that I now have a sizeable collection dating as far back as 1999 when I book Mario Puzzo’s The Godfather at the then Five Rand shop in MUSINA.
I am grateful to Dickson Luke Phindela Ncube for that gift. One day I will bequeath the same to my children but in his honour I have dreams of a Phindela Foundation Library. This is a dream I must make real before I walk into the sunset.
https://phindelamuses.com/2017/11/24/i-remember-my-father/
I remember my father.
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