By Abdisalam Garjeex 

After 25 years in Virginia, Abdimalik is off to Columbus, OH.

On August 25, 2016, 15 friends gathered at the Olive Garden Restaurant, near the Skyline to bid Farewell to Abdimalik Mohamed Ali-mire. The atmosphere was both festive and gloomy. Festive because we remembered all the years we have had good times with Abdimalik and gloomy at same time because, it was sad to see him go. He was a full member or even a founding father of our Virginia group who have been meeting every weekend at Starbucks for the last 15 years.

Our weekend gatherings have been a bright spot over the many years we lived here in the States as Somali Diaspora. We are all being saddened seeing our country fade and mired in conflict and destruction. From these gathering, we always hoped to see Somalia resurrected, but instead, it gets worse every day. These get-togethers became a moment to reminisce good all days of Somalia. Abdimalik and few other friends hailed from one of Mogadishu’s oldest district “Hamar-jajab”. They knew each other since childhood. They grew-up, played and went school together. They remember the rivalry between them back when they had relationships with school and neighborhood girls. Now as middle aged men, home-sick and with little hope for them to return to Somalia, the only choice they have is to meet every weekend and entertain and discuss Somali politics occasionally to a level of army-chair wrestling (fadhi ku dirir). Honestly, all the years I traveled to different parts of the world and saw the Somali communities, this group have been the most civilized and most friendly and respected individuals.

During the weekends, for me, one group wasn’t enough to satisfy my thirsty for entertainment and my eagerness to find the latest news from Somalia. For the last six years, I have also joined another group of friends who also gather at an Ethiopian restaurant – Ethiopian cuisine “canjeelo” is my favorite dish. Food is not the only thing I’m attracted to that place, but I like to meet with diverse groups from our Somali community in Washington, DC metro area.  I attend these meetings so often, it has became “home away from home for me”.  Unfortunately, my original group resent me going to the other group at the Ethiopian Restaurant for various reasons, namely they want me to come exclusively to them, they like to listen my stories and jokes and perhaps there might also be a political reason.

Personally, Abdimalik is my great friend whom we shared so many beautiful experiences.  I will always remember when we travelled together to San Diego three years ago for important occasion in my life. He has done so many good things for me – I will surely miss his company.

Abdisalam Garjeex
Ashburn – Virginia (USA)
E-mail: amabdulle@hotmail.com