???
Saturday came and went really fast. Woked up in the morning and went to Kreta Ayer aread to help H do haircut for an old lady. This time round, auntie was wheel chair bound. Not as strong as the previous one. Feisty nevertheless. Is that why they soldier on despite the odds? During pockets of free time, I roamed around and found pictures of before. There was a self-portrait, Auntie was a pretty lady. There was even a family portrait... in happier times...
H asked for emergency help. "why don't you do one side and I do the other?" I gamely took out my scissors and started snipping. While shouting (auntie was hard on hearing) small conversations with auntie,
"HOW DO YOU WANT YOUR HAIR DONE?"
"SHORT SHORT... NO NEED TO BE NICE. NO ONE LOOKS AT ME ANYWAY."
I smiled my goofy smnile. And auntie let out a little twinkle in her eye... was it a slight indication of mirth?
"NO LAH! EVERYONE MUST LOOK PRETTY. WE CUT ONE NICE ONE FOR YOU OK?"
And the "bicker" went on.
It was not easy for me to see auntie. Whilest I was snipping away... I noticed her face. Her expressions. She is 80 years old. Alone, In a one room flat. Wheelchair bound. I looked at her dining table. A metal tin cup. Bread for breakfast. Around her bed. Tissues papers. And folded neatly on a chair are about the few pieces of clothes she owns. She always showed us her adult nappies.
And I ponder. What is the drive behind? I
I have seen a lot of old folks like auntie, And I am always amzed at the resiliency of life. How does one find the meaning and motivation to go on? They have lived... well... I'd like to believe. that.
After the haircut, H thank me for my help. I did nothing. In fact, I took a lot from this.
Life can be very challenging as I have observed. For me, sometimes... as well, it can be a lot to bear. I often asked myself. Will I be strong enough? At that age? What is the meaning of all these?
People holding on to whatever they have left without giving up. On life.
I find myself staring at the big unknown. And I realize.... I am still searching.
In the meantime, it doesn't hurt to put a smile on auntie's face.
"THANK YOU THANK YOU MR.. DON'T HAVE TO COME SO OFTEN... EVERY 2 MTHS IS OK"
I smiled my silly grin. And said a heart loud "GOODBYE AUNTIE! SEE YOU SOON!"
See you soon.
H asked for emergency help. "why don't you do one side and I do the other?" I gamely took out my scissors and started snipping. While shouting (auntie was hard on hearing) small conversations with auntie,
"HOW DO YOU WANT YOUR HAIR DONE?"
"SHORT SHORT... NO NEED TO BE NICE. NO ONE LOOKS AT ME ANYWAY."
I smiled my goofy smnile. And auntie let out a little twinkle in her eye... was it a slight indication of mirth?
"NO LAH! EVERYONE MUST LOOK PRETTY. WE CUT ONE NICE ONE FOR YOU OK?"
And the "bicker" went on.
It was not easy for me to see auntie. Whilest I was snipping away... I noticed her face. Her expressions. She is 80 years old. Alone, In a one room flat. Wheelchair bound. I looked at her dining table. A metal tin cup. Bread for breakfast. Around her bed. Tissues papers. And folded neatly on a chair are about the few pieces of clothes she owns. She always showed us her adult nappies.
And I ponder. What is the drive behind? I
I have seen a lot of old folks like auntie, And I am always amzed at the resiliency of life. How does one find the meaning and motivation to go on? They have lived... well... I'd like to believe. that.
After the haircut, H thank me for my help. I did nothing. In fact, I took a lot from this.
Life can be very challenging as I have observed. For me, sometimes... as well, it can be a lot to bear. I often asked myself. Will I be strong enough? At that age? What is the meaning of all these?
People holding on to whatever they have left without giving up. On life.
I find myself staring at the big unknown. And I realize.... I am still searching.
In the meantime, it doesn't hurt to put a smile on auntie's face.
"THANK YOU THANK YOU MR.. DON'T HAVE TO COME SO OFTEN... EVERY 2 MTHS IS OK"
I smiled my silly grin. And said a heart loud "GOODBYE AUNTIE! SEE YOU SOON!"
See you soon.