Thankful for small blessings
An attitude of gratitude brings joy to our hearts.
WHEN I was a kid, I never thought for a moment, how my life would be when I reached 60 or what I would be doing then. As a child, 60 seemed like a lifetime away.
During my working days, I used to joke with my colleagues and we pictured ourselves as wrinkly old people with white hair, creaky bones and perhaps missing a tooth or two.
Now that I am in my early 60s, I look back and recollect how my life has changed over the years.
As a kid, I had only three dresses come every Chinese New Year. Most of the time, I would be running around in my pyjamas. My more well- to- do classmates had pretty dresses and I secretly yearned to have those petticoats which they wore to give their skirts more flair. It was mere wishful thinking.
In lower primary school, I rode pillion on my father’s bicycle. In those days, it was an offence to carry a passenger on a bicycle. Whenever we spotted a policeman, my father would alight from his bicycle and pushed it. When caught, he would plead with the policeman and promised not to repeat the deed. The following day, he would break his promise.
From Standard Four onwards, my mode of transport was promoted to trishaw. It was only in secondary school that I got my own bicycle, thanks to the kindness and generosity of a friend. It was sheer joy for me to be able to join my friends who cycled to school.
For our birthdays, my mum would get us the whole thigh of a roast duck from the market. So whenever we see this on a plate when we returned home from school, it signified someone’s birthday.
Looking back, I now realise how much my mum had to sacrifice to provide us with this delicacy as it was a struggle for her to put food on the table.
We could not afford any family vacations. I sat on a train from Butterworth to Kuala Lumpur only once, and that was when my father had to go to Kuala Lumpur for a job interview. My mum’s good friend put us up in her house and took us around. It was an unforgettable trip for me.
We knew we had to study hard and do well in our studies if we wanted a better life. We did our homework without having to be told by our parents. Tuition classes were out of the question as our parents could not afford them. After homework, we helped Mum with household chores.
How times have changed. Now preschool kids go for art classes, music lessons and other enrichment activities. Come to think of it, parents these days come down too hard on their children. Maybe it is the kiasu syndrome.
When it came to punishment from my father, it was not caning for one alone. My brother, sister and I had to line up in a row, starting with the eldest waiting to receive the rotan one after the other. So we knew we had to behave ourselves because a mischief by one would lead to all being punished.
As for my mother, she had a terrible time with us as we were never afraid of her. When she held up the cane, we ran away and hid in some place where she could not find us.
Mum was such a lovable person. She was well liked by all in the neighbourhood. She was a great cook of peranakan dishes and never said no to anyone who asked her to cook for them during festive seasons or special occasions. Sadly, she passed away at the age of 48 and I never had the opportunity to pick up most of her culinary skills. I will always remember her as a soft- spoken and gentle woman.
As for all those years working in a finance company, my former colleagues and I can now laugh at ourselves as we look back at our silly antics. We were like a bunch of immature kids. We quarrelled over petty issues. Tempers flew and files were flung in a fit of rage. But like kids, the next day we would have put aside our grievances and become friends again. I have to compliment our manager for tolerating our nonsense.
Age has mellowed us and we longed to have a get- together to reminisce about the past. We do not know how much time we have left in this world.
My children are all working now. Life has improved. We are not rich but we can afford to give ourselves a treat occasionally and go on vacation once in a while.
I am thankful for life’s many blessings. I make no comparison with others who live in big bungalows or have fat bank accounts. Good health and being with my children are all I ask from God.
Old is gold is a platform for readers aged 55 and above to share their wealth of experience and take on life. E- mail star2@ thestar. com. my. Published contributions will be paid, so please include your full name, IC number, address and phone number.