I cared less for Basketball when I first came to this country. Barely did I know the difference between Basketball and Handball until I started playing Handball in middle school thinking it was Basketball. After I got married and becoming a Basketball widow for half of the year and rest of the year due to Football, I had not choice but to fall in love. Not with the game but with this 6’6″ ‘Black Mamba’ so I can tolerate the game.
It was love for the human that made me fall in love with the game. Every game was a pure love affair. His passion, his drive, his yelling, his theatrics were all part of that affair that I never dared miss. When news of his accident started pouring in, it felt like a punch in the gut. It was bizarre. Because, people don’t die so young. Not of sickness, definitely not by accident. A larger than life, a multimedia success, father of four, Oscar award winning legacy, all but just 41 couldn’t have ever come to an end. Atleast not like his. Not now.
Even when we know life is short, we it take for granted. We stop being grateful to what we have, we invest our creativity in frivolity, we just stop being human. Until, something like this happens, we are living a purposeless life and then wake up to a rude shock but time has been wasted already. Philosophy flows, we start hugging our dear ones, promises are made, and life suddenly becomes a moment of truth. Much after someone who lived in our hearts and living rooms is gone in an untimely manner.
Kobe Bryant short life is nothing short of awesomeness. He made sure that there were no excuses to hard work, learning in failing, his yearning to inspire and influence people was so strong that he went ahead and became this magnanimity that shall be remembered for centuries to come. As any human does, he’s had his pitfalls but he never shied from asking for forgiveness. Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future. So did he. Heroes come and go but legends like him are forever. Gone too soon. Rest in peace Kobe Bryant!
QUOTIDIAN BLESSING 