Ladies and gentlemen, this a festive season which to many people translates into partying, tickling and giggling. This is not a new phenomenon as a matter of fact; during my days in the 40s and 50s as I was growing up, it was more flamboyant and elaborate.

Am saying this because technology was something unheard of so it took a lot of hard work to make it happen unlike today where there are hi-tech disco clubs.

The last time I went to church was back then when it was mandatory if I was ever to wed my beloved Yunia (1987).

She had requested in 2007 that we go to the same church where we tied the knot to celebrate a score in our marriage (the blind institution) but I came up with excuses of malaria.

2009 has now ended and on the Christmas day, for reasons I don’t know I surprised Yunia with, "sweetheart, we are going to this local church on Christmas.” "Are you sure Shooter, this so sweet!!!!!!!!!!!!!” she went wild.

I have a walking stick to aid my movement so that tells you how close I am getting to my grave. But I can assure you I am not the one to remain passive as people do things. I also still love my youthful lifestyle.

With that I suggested we attend the midmorning mass because it would give me the opportunity to see my friend’s grand daughters and how they dress for this occasion in a different generation from mine.

Countrymen, I was so shocked and if it had been another weak hearted old man (of course I have seen more than that), I would collapsed and died in God’s house.

In my conservative time, a girl would get excommunicated from society just because she revealed her knees but in this so called vision 2020 generation, they not only reveal the stomachs, half back, thighs and the….( ok I wont say this one) but go ahead to do so in churches!!!!!

I have grown old but I still find pride in my sharp sight for beautiful women and I saw very many of them in this local church and of course I was enjoying it.

Don’t think I got disappointed because of their dress code. No, it was due to the dull and tactless boys who never noticed the beautiful ladies.

(But remember I am not perverse. I am just a liberal minded old chap who grew up in a conservative and perverse society).

Yunia was getting engrossed into prayers and the Holy Spirit that she did not want any of me that is when this young girl in her early twenties started tapping me (no cross generational sex or sorry, affair for me) just wanted company though were in church.

She was so crafty in her work that she would win an award for best initiator of the dating game. She kicked it off with crying and I was concerned as a grand father.

"No grandpa, can we go out I tell you something?” and we immediately left the much noisy church to the gardens a few meters away.

"Daughter, what makes you cry in church?” she started narrating to me how she got to remember her late grandpa whom she loved so much just by looking at my white beard.

I pulled off what I used to do best in my hay days, gave her my handkerchief and patted her back just as a father. That is all I could today.

"Grandpa, I just broke up with my boyfriend.” By now I was sensing where she wanted us to head. "Oh sorry daughter, just take your time you will get a boy whom you deserve.”

She was not ready to hear any of my crap talk and I was not ready to fill the void in her heart.

I got so heartbroken when she told how boys today don’t want to approach them even those who approach are not serious. People this would never happen in the days of the great lions of the 50s.

This Christmas left me so disappointed and will not go back to church if going means breaking old people’s hearts.

Comrades, we are old we need to hand over this world to vibrant young men if this world is not to face extinction.

angarambe2@gmail.com