Sometimes I just sit quietly reflecting for a while
Imagining your voice, your face, your warm and loving smile.
For it’s so lovely to recall the happy times we had
When you played such a special role as both husband and dad.
And now I only wish you knew
That I’d give all the world today for one more hour with you.
But I still have my memories and it comforts me so much to know that you’re right here in my heart.
My husband Marlon was larger than life. I’m not sure I can really express just how much I will miss him.
In 1979 I received a letter from a young man from the university of Ghana, Legon. He introduced himself as Marlon Anipa and asked if we could be friends. In the letter was his picture – handsome, but I remember thinking he could not be bothered to even tuck in his shirt properly just for the picture.
I sent a reply back to him on the same day and that was the beginning of our lifelong friendship.
We had been pen pals for almost a year, when in January 1980, Marlon invited me to his father’s one year anniversary service at Todzi his hometown. I wrote back and said, ‘I will be there but how would I find you?’ Marlon in his usual matter of fact demeanour said, ‘don’t worry I will find you.’ And he did.
It has been 36 years since we got married and I look back over those years with so much happiness. Marlon had such passion for politics – NPP was his first love, and as the saying goes, ‘If you can’t beat them, you join them’. So I wisely did. I supported his political ambitions as much as I could and when he made the move to Ghana to pursue these ambitions, we prayed and hoped as a family that these ambitions will be fulfilled.
Marlon was people person. He had a jovial nature which attracted people to him. He used this to maximum effect when debating politics and no one could forget his raucous and contagious laugh. He loved life and lived for politics.
When we had each of our children- Kelvin and Robin, he was delighted. Marlon was a wonderful father to them and I would watch him take them to Sunday football, tap dancing, acting classes, and show them off to all the other parents. As they became teenagers, I saw how they always went to him for advice – even if they did run off and do the opposite as teenagers do. They respected and loved him deeply.
Marlon was a hardworking man. Not only was he committed to NPP – attending endless hours of meetings that would drive me insane – he was also committed to giving back to the community and he believed he could fulfil this desire politically.
Death leaves a heartache no one can heal.
Goodbye, my dear husband, and God bless. Till we meet again.
