Due to the nature of his job, Professor Pius Adesanmi who was one of the victims of the ill fated Ethiopian plane crash on Sunday noon, occasionally had time to spend with his family…however whenever he had spare time, he always resorted to spending it well with them.
Here is an open letter of a conversation Professor Pius Adesanmi had with his daughter, Tiese some time ago when she conversed him on why he is always away.
“The toughest part? The tears heralding every departure. The accusations. The tantrums. You are going again!!!
The pleading. The cajoling. The explanations. These trips, they are Daddy’s work. Your own trip with Daddy is in August. That is when the family vacation comes.
But I’ve been to your work. Your office is not on an airplane. Every time you go to the airplane without me you say it is work.
Another round of coaxing, sweet talking, pleading. You try to explain this kind of work that takes you to the airplane. And away. From her. You are struggling. Then she breaks it down brilliantly the way nature has wired toddlers to be far beyond us.
Daddy is this also like the hard work that you say they give you money at the end of the month when you do it? Toddler-speak and syntax for salary.
Yes, Tise, when you work hard you make money to buy things.
So when you leave on the airplane, you make money to buy me happy meals?
Yes.
Lots of happy meals?
Yes.
At the new McDonalds?
Yes.
Her face dissolves into happinness. She is dancing now and running around the house and helping me pack. And we dance like best friends all the way to the airport.
And she waves me bye and tells me to remember my promise of happy meals from the money I make on this trip.
I suppress a tear and walk to check in, afraid to look back and catch her gaze…”
May God grant the family he left behind, the fortitude to bear the big loss.
