Thursday, August 6, 2015

Oeuvre of Beatrice Young: Avant-garde

It wasn't just any dream......

It was every girl's dream, every tiny little bit of fairytale detail was observed...
From the 18 carat sapphire ring almost similar to the wedding band of the Dutchess of Cambridge, to the eighty-two metres floral lace white gown hand sown with Russian Stavrowsky diamonds, to the drape veil all from 'Vera Wang', to the buffet, the towering red velvet cake, the beach wedding service, yatch reception, after party at Jumeirah, Dubai...and of course the polished bridal train, groom's men and the dashing groom in a dapper tuxedo from Marc Jacobs.

 I could see every girl present in tears, wishing they could have my day as we walked down the long chain of well wishers that tossed pink petals, to our getaway steel black Aston Martin.

 I turned and tossed my bouquet to the train as they all struggled to grasp the lucky petals. To everyone, it was everything I hoped for but was it really everything I needed?


That was just a month ago, after a wild honeymoon in Europe I'm back home, attending an art exhibition in Maitama with my friend Val. She needed my influence to earn an invite so I just had to pretend to have a good time holding out my champagne flute like the rich guests who flashed their jeweleries and talked about their assets to anyone that cared as I sipped the 'Don Perignon White Gold' slowly.
The overdressed old lady with gray hair would say to her friends...
"I bought the white gold from an Arab dealer in Quatar for £5,000. I don't trust these Nigerian dealers they sell fake" shw said in her squeaky mouse voice with an accent I couldn't place.

Or the middle aged dapper man would say....
"You should buy the new property, it cost me millions but it was worth every penny"

Portraits of nature, nude women, abstracts and graffiti designs hung on the walls for people to see and buy the lucky one that caught their eye, each painting looked like the work of the epic French medieval artist 'Matisse'. I knew because I once fancied the lifestyle.

"I hope you are not dreaming about your honeymoon" she gushed 
I looked up to meet her eyes canvassing the place, ready to pounce on a billion dollar prey.
"Not at all. Besides what happens in Europe stays in Europe"
"Tell me about it" she said
"I don't kiss and tell" I rasped
"No! I don't mean you should divulge all your dirty bed and romance secrets, it's a new expression I picked from Eunice's Lebanese friend who went to Marrakech and came back with a British accent. I was trying to lay it down that it's still Africa but I was beginning to sound like a hater......"

Her voice trailed off completely and I was flushed to see the sight I gazed upon. Everything stopped including my heart, I could barely hear it beat, the only thing I feel is his wavelength as it vibrated sending supersonic vibes around me. He still kept his hair, I don't know why but it looked sexy. His hands were deep in his pocket and his abs almost suffocated in his tight navy blue polo and his dirty blue jean hung loosely on his waist almost giving me a tease of what lay beneath. Though he was the only one underdressed in the room, his presence was strongly felt like a king, all these feelings in one made me go down memory lane......

"This is definitely the least romantic place to do it"
 I giggled as I toppled over the can of oil paint. He pulled me into his arms and bent to inhale the cherry scent emanating from my blush sweater.
"You smell amazing"
He looked into my eyes and like a thousand bolts of energy I felt myself go numb, everything seized even oxygen, the smell of paint and canvas faded to the smell of pheromones. My heart raced fast in anticipation which tortured me but I loved it, he traced my facial features with his index finger and stopped at my lips as his eyes burned with intense desire. Slowly the air came back to me, laboured but steady and ready, still waiting. He hasn't even made his move but the whole feeling is too intense, he shut his eyes and opened them immediately , they were dark and burning with desire and I felt the inner me leap for joy because that's my cue......
"Oh my God! Beatrice, did you just see who walked in?"
Val said almost in a whisper and before I could open my mouth to say the words he had already seen me and made his way to were I stood......


To be continued...

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Wisdom Wednesday: Power

'We look forward to the time when the Power of Love will replace the Love of Power. Then our world will know the blessings of peace'.

This great quote was written by William Ewart Gladstone a British Liberal Politician and Prime Minister of the 18th Century United Kingdom.

This quote caught my eye because in the world of today, it is all about power and what we do with it. Even in our inner circle of friends, one has to be the force of reckoning... Everyone wants a taste of it.

Many of us will cry out that the world is cruel, corrupt, damaged all because of power but what do you do with the little given to you? Do you have to wait for the leaders to do their jobs? How many people have you helped willingly without disclosing to the next available ear so that they can brand you a good person.

Power is tempting so don't haul a pack of stones to someone or anyone in that position because you might do worse...even Kanye said 'do you know what it means to have all that power?'

When can the Love of Power become the Power of Love? It's all going to be if we decide to sincerely do good today.


Do you love our Wisdom Wednesday column and love to be featured? Send in your articles to oneymavenessa@gmail.com