The ongoing Visa wars between Nigeria and the USA delayed my return to the Motherland but could not stop it. I arrived at Abuja International Airport with too many clothes on to start out, the jacket had to come off, the long sleeve sweater had to come off, the transistion from London to Abuja in November wasn't no joke. I was waiting for my people in the airport lobby swating like I had just come out of the oven, the airliner was excessively cold, London was cold, Luxemburg was cold, but Abuja was blittering hot. How did I wound up in Abuja, Nigeria? I recieved a long distance call from my nephew's father-law, he was inviting me to London for his son's wedding, he informed me that all the travel arrangements will be taken care of and he would appreicate my attendance. I got my passport. This was in August, so I dressed warm for London. It was a cold but it was cold at night. The neighborhood was around the corner form downtown in high priced homes and the trip from the airport to Victoria Station was one I will never forget. The station was like a melting pot more so than the customs at the airport which blew me away. I met all the family and was warmly recieved and offered my first real meal of Nigerian food. I was famished after the airliner food, I ate with authority. The women made sure that I did not want for anything, I ate to my stomach's content, chicken,fish,steak,lion chops,goat,greens, a most delicious combination of dishes. I got to bed late after watching a little TV and talking about America. The next morning I was walking to a main hotel right around the corner in Picaddly Square with my friend David, we were to meet some Frenchman, he insisted I go with him. I was introduced then we had a robust breakfast and I just listened to the talk about steel and Nigeria. The streets seeem so small with all those huge homes off of Cumberland, Winchester Abbey was around the corner from the house. The crowds of people on the way to work or where ever reminded me of Dallas, but more traffic in such an small area. The stores were jammed tight offering goods for what ever you wanted. It seemed to be stuck in two different worlds with the architecture and the hustle and bustle. I wondered what it would be like to live and work in such a large population. We departed from the hotel where the business partners were staying and headed back to his house. It was a nonstop trip to the airport from then on as people from all over the world arrived for the wedding. I saw all of London from the outskirts to the apartment Jon Lennon lived in, his son lived in the same complex. We went to church, Catholic, which was right around the corner, it was an uplifting experience. I went inside the Abbey and felt like I had touched a point in time and history. I enjoyed London and the wedding was an spectacle on its on rights, lavish was an understatement. I had gained my international wings and didn't know I was headed for Abuja, Nigeria but that is another story.
