FISHY THINGS

 

I was thinking this morning..... It has become traditional within my Hussey College Class of 86 for anyone visiting Abuja to be hosted to an evening of grilled fish and cold drinks. An outing now popularly called 'Fishy Things.' While fish and chips are very popular outside the shores of Nigeria, fish and boli or fish and roasted yam are the delicacies in Niger Delta.

As we all enjoy this scrumptious fish meal, what many do not appreciate is the danger lurking within, the fish bones. About two weeks ago, it was reported of how a Deputy Inspector-General and the head of the Nigeria Police Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Joseph Egbunike died from complications from an operation to remove a fish bone that got stuck in his throat while consuming a meal in his office.

If you have ever had fish bone stuck in your throat (tonsils or esophagus) then you will understand that it causes premium pain and luxury discomfort. Hence growing up in Warri where we ate lots of fish meant we had to master the art of navigating through the dangers of fish bones inherent in a bowl of soup particularly one made with 'Ebolibo,' the itsekiri name for Sole fish. This fish like many others such as shad, mooneye, pickerel, carp, herring etc are born with extra sets of bones. Of all the bony fishes, shad (Latin name sapidissima) takes the cake. They have 3,000 bones, but their meat is so tasty.

As I mused, I discovered there are people and situations like shad fish that are tasty but with many dangerous bones within. You take them into your life and get pierced in the throat with their bones. A Chinese proverb says one should measure his throat before he swallows a bone, but I have learnt that it is not the size of the bone that matters but the type, shape and orientation.

The first step in fish bone risk mitigation is to be aware of the type of fish before you. When out for 'Fishy Things', ensure it is Tilapia or Catfish that is before you. If it is shad or its likes, then be ready to eat in slow motion. Overall, the message is, be careful who you let into your life or if you want to be fishy, be careful what you swallow. According to Luke 11:11, God no go shame us.

Stay hopeful. God's got your back.

Happy Sunday.

......Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey