Amaechi Okobi

Serendipity is such an awesome concept.
You’re going about your business, looking for nothing in particular, and one day, just like that, life hands you a lovely surprise.

Listen to this and tell me what you think…

I was at my Uncle Martin’s Requiem Mass a couple of days ago. It was wonderful seeing folks I hadn’t seen in years, even though the occasion was a sad one.

There were tears, hugs, the usual attempts to catch up on several years in a few minutes of conversation, and the mind-blowing realization that children you knew from way back are now parents.

It was a beautiful Mass. Sombre, but comforting to see how many people had come to say goodbye to my uncle. But that’s not the story.

As we slowly headed out after Mass, in the midst of hellos and goodbyes, this guy looked me dead in the eye and said, “You’re Amaechi Okobi.” Okaaaay!

I shook his hand and smiled the awkward smile reserved for moments like this. The smile that buys me time as I shuffle through my memory trying to figure out who the mystery person is.

Me: I’m sorry, please remind me…
MP: I’m the street artist.
Me: You have to give me a little more.
MP: You did a post about my art.

Chimooo! The blue wall! The painting I found on that hot Saturday walk. He had DMed me after my post and we’d been chatting. I just didn’t connect the face.

It could’ve been being in church, the emotions of saying goodbye to my uncle or simply the surprise, but I grabbed him in a huge bear hug. Poor guy; he only came to introduce himself. But I’m a hugger.

Then we got talking. He knew Uncle Martin, of course. But, get this… He. Knew. My. Father. Had actually come to my old house to visit Dad, who was staying with me while he was ill and my parents’ home was being renovated for wheelchair access. Small world.

I kept thinking about that walk and the painting. Something about it stopped me in my tracks. Now here we were, barely four days later, meeting the artist and talking about my father.

#Serendipity? Providence? Who knows?
What I know is that meeting @addie.mak felt like a sign. At this point, we’ve gone past “shoulda, woulda, coulda;” I definitely want his work on my wall.

#artlovers