i received a message on my Friendster account the other day. it was one of those forwarded messages, the type i would usually scan briefly before hitting "delete". however this message, written in Malay, started with a simple question that caught my attention. a rough translation of it goes like this:
"have you ever watched your parents while they were asleep? your father's body, once big and strong but now, the big is withered and the strong is weaker. wisps of grey peek out from his hair, wrinkles now "scar" his forehead and face.
"this man works hard every day and would sacrifice anything to make sure his family is provided for and his children get the best education possible.
"or how about your darling mother, whose soft hands once cuddled and held you close when you were a baby? now, those hands are dry and rough, bearing evidence of the challenges she faced just for us.
"this woman take care of our daily needs, constantly nagging and scolding us because of her love for us. sadly, we often miscontrue her love as a control and unfairness."
i have never thought of watching my parents while they were sleeping. oh yes, ive watched my cousins sleep when they were babies, all round and cuddly and sweet smelling. but watching my parents is just not right! in fact, it should be the other way round.
but after some time of sitting down, puffing a smoke and reading this forwarded message, i realised that there was indeed much truth in it. in fact, my parents do not have to be asleep for me to realise that they have aged. just by looking at my mother walks tells me that her legs are not as strong as they were before. or hearing her asking me for help with her flowerpots in the garden, the one she used to be able to push and drag around the garden without my help. or watching my dad lift several bag of groceries. i can easily carry those bags now. i am young and evidently it is as easy as ABC to do so. however to him, they are not only heavy, they are struggle as well.
what do all these observations tell me? why should it be crucial to the people especially growing adults? well, for a fact, my parents have aged. yes, they are ageing just as i am ageing. but as i age towards my best of years and become stronger, they in turn are becoming weaker. they were once the caregivers and i the receiver. in time, i know my role as an adolescent will reverse. like it or not, want it or not, this is LIFE.
i suppose i have always subconsciously thought that my parents would always be with me, never growing old. it made me pause and reminisce that my parents are not immortal. they, too, will one day leave the world and then me. until then, i will cherish our time together.
a tribute to everyone who is important to me, close to heart. the loves of my life, la familia.
