‘We’ve lost a precious year, but I’m going to make up for it’
Labour MP Abena Oppong-asare writes to Edward and Epi Boateng, close family friends who’ve been like grandparents to her since her own died when she was young. She affectionately calls them ‘Aunty’ and ‘Uncle’.
Dear Aunty and Uncle,
For most of my life you’ve fussed over me, fed me, given me advice, lifts around town and made sure I’m taking care of myself. Now here I am, making sure you’re safe and getting your food deliveries. I know it’s been hard staying indoors – as you have done, since you’re older – but I’m so glad you’ve managed it, especially with your pacemaker, Aunty.
Phone calls can’t replace our afternoons chatting in your living room, me winding you up while you feed me jollof rice and ask about my life in Westminster. It’s been a year since I saw you last, just two months after I became an MP [in December 2019]. Here I am, doing the job you encouraged me towards and always said I could do, but it kills me I can’t bring you into Parliament to see me in action. When I speak in debates, I picture you both in the public gallery; how proud you’d be, probably distracting me with your gleeful faces. I hate that the pandemic has robbed us of this precious time together.
As you get older, I can’t help but think how you might not see what I achieve here. I worry it’ll be a while before we can have visitors in Parliament again. Life is busy, but I realise now how special and fragile every year is that we have together, and that what matters most is making time for the really important people.