The beautiful matriarch of the Ayo-Kasumu family celebrated her eightieth birthday last Thursday, August 23, 2018. Her family celebrated her with a thanksgiving service at Our Lady Queen of Apostles Ilupeju, Lagos and a grand reception afterwards. It was a delightful celebration with family, friends and well-wishers.
Louisa Olubemisola Ayo-Kasumu (Mama) had this to say:
Below is a beautiful poem by Mario de Andrade (San Paolo 1893-1945), a poet, novelist, essayist and musicologist, one of the founders of Brazilian modernism.
MY SOUL HAS A HAT
I counted my years and realized that I have less time to live by than I have lived so far.
I feel like a child who won a pack of candies: at first, he ate them with but when he realized that there was little left, he began to taste them intensely.
I have no time for endless meetings where the statues, rules, procedures, and internal regulations are discussed, knowing that nothing would be done.
I no longer have the patience to stand absurd people who, despite their chronological age, have not grown up.
My time is too short: I want the essence; my spirit is in a hurry. I do not have much candy in the package anymore.
I want to live next to humans, very realistic people who know how to laugh at their mistakes and who are not inflated by their own triumphs and who take responsibility for their actions. In this way, human dignity is defended we will live in truth and honesty. It is these essentials that make life useful.
I want to surround myself with people who know how to touch the hearts of those whom with hard strokes of life have learned to grow with sweet touches of the soul.
Yes, I am in a hurry. I’m in a hurry to live with the intensity that only maturity can give.
I do not intend to waste any of the remaining desserts. I am sure they will be exquisite, much more than those eaten so far.
My goal is to reach the end satisfied and at peace with my loved ones on my conscience.
We have two lives and the second begins when you realise you only have one.
What beautiful words, captures my thoughts on life… And I add in conclusion … that the OAK acronym used for my eightieth birthday connotes my past life … a life with many challenges yet more testimonies of God’s mercies and grace surpassed me; spirit, soul and body with His living waters watering my roots so that today I stand tall in thanksgiving and praise celebrating His love and faithfulness over my life.
“I want to leave a legacy of a fulfilled life of purpose; a happy loving home for my children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren – great children who are blessed and sweet in diverse, unique ways (whom I have nurtured and given my ALL): the virtue of service of giving of talent, time and treasure to God’s kingdom (where I serve and love both laity, priesthood and my Heavenly Father) and the true values of societal building (love, discipline, integrity, hard work, truth) in our nation at large and where I am still sowing charitably
I want these words to be remembered … and outlive me
– Louisa Olugbemisola Ayo-Kasumu