A sense of wonder that comes with mystery of joy of its kind always hit me , when this memory flashes my mind .A feelingly great memory of hiking and walking with my Papa for the whole time being with him I could remember a deep passion of walking and hiking together.
Our journeys were accompanied of misfits activities in which sometimes in the middle of the journey and we will do, not ordinary maasai thing especially for father and a son we would sit down have a belly laugher of his jokes ,sometimes listen to a-radio or more interestingly sing his childhood favourite song (Ero OINGAT ....)...in the middle of a journey.Another fascination and wonderment that still hits me today ,was the fact he could say ‘’Just 10 more minutes ,its just here ...- Ende Tadoi ildakikani Tomon ake..” For 50 kilometres journey that sounded like 2 kilometre journey .
Just picture strange beauty of a father and son having transmutation of life experiences to appreciation of life a gift .The most lovingly and interesting part was story time ,As young boy Enjoyed whenever papa shared a story.This was the moment I would know there is something important he wanted me to grasp and this was our form of play with him.I gave 1000% of my attention and focus ,since on other occasions at home he never spoke more than 5 words and this was typical cultural value that demanded fathers to be serious all time .
I was really blessed ,there is no word I could use just my heart to his heart for the amazing story he shared about his father my grandpa as he often shared his story.His whole face would enlightened with passion ,and a big smile as he repeated a great story of his father (My grandpa)His name was Saruni Mutoto Ole Kaloi .You could miss seeing a certain flair of flow from my father as he narrated it you see him completely super happy, in other perspective what the experts will call Autotelic -The activity and the person becomes one.I never got bored asking and repeating this story since it was one of the few moments I could see my father completely 1000% happy and I gave him my complete attention and focus ,which deep down he loved.I always wished that I met this great man or even contemplate his essence and according the deep eye of my father I live to witness that he was greater a leader full of love and if not full of love it must be next to full .My father honest and earnest in his words.
As he enlightened his amazing smile and face with passionHe narrated how a small boy and a dreamer from Olenkoomei hills (keekonyokie ) took an inward journey to discover the unknown travelled 400 plus kilometres to plains of Mt.Kenya ,Nanyuki to be specific to search for herdsman job at white settler farm . He rose a from a heard s-boy as he received the name Mutoto (Mtoto- swahili for a small boy/child ) to become a general farm manager (Olmunyeperai ).As the same time accumulated a great prosperity in
wealth ,family ,spiritually enough for benefit of all.And above all became a great friend and equal (Ekiyeu Olonana) to Lenana the Laibon(Ekiyeuu -Maasai
ritual undertaken to bond two people for honor and respect...) .Lenana was one of the greatest spiritual maasai leader and especially for Keekonyokie Maasai (The red-trees sub tribe of the Masai ) .
When I was blessed with a son as I always dreamed of I named him this great legend Saruni Mutoto Ole KaloI.It was inevitable to deny the fact that ,we carry his genes and spirit and I was recently inspired by my son to take a personal journey to Lenana Peak in Mt.Kenya to just even get the glimpse and try to contemplate the journey of this dreamer .I specifically hiked to the peak Lenana Peak since he was his greatest friend and equal.As I stood on the top and overlooked down the plains one thought that I feel assured is : the odd of that happening at that period of time was near to impossible .I could just imagine what kept him going ,his essence, grit and spirit or even power of intuition to overcome challenges and obstacles .This is unbelievable and I will honestly say without doubt he was one of the greatest dreamer .As this greatness flow in our genes when time comes for my son to ask about his lineage and his name I will passionately with love share this legend story of his great grandfather.I still pray to learn and Imagine more from the wisdom of this great man, but above all a great reminder and inspiration that very dream matters and its doesn’t matter where you come from .
