I wasn't trying to stay near them because they love me more than my parents, but because I felt the loneliness every time I see them walking alone in their spacious house where their kids use to ran around to play. Granny needs more attention now that she is gaining that much avoided- age. Much of my cousins would say that granny emits an old smell that they cannot stand to eat beside them.
Granny do really smell. Grandpa too, just like all of my grandparents, emits the smell that most of my cousins avoided. But I had learned to love that smell, it was the scent I could breath in every time I need someone to pamper me because I am alone and my parents are both busy working. It was the scent that warms my skin during cold nights, the scent that made me calm during times that I cannot control my anger to my sisters and cousins. During the ups and downs of my childhood, I was raised with the smell they called-old smell.
During summer days, I am used to a piggy-back ride of grandpa when we are hiking up the hill to his bigger nipa hut. I would doze up peacefully on his back, breathing his scent that reminds me his unconditional love and caring. He would then show me his aching knees and wold enjoy the massage that I playfully give. Those swinging elastic skin under his arms and chin, I just love to play them while watching the stars shine brightly during full-moon nights.
During school days, grandma would give me extra piso for me to spare during snack time. A snack is ready though after I finish school. Before grandma and grandpa goes back to their house, they would kiss me a deep warm goodbye cheek kiss. With the bonus of tickling my armpits till I drop laughing. Every perfect test would mean extra cookie, every achievement during recognition, there is an equal reward and an unlimited boasting to their friends, making me quite popular to the neighborhood. And I just love it, annoying but I am happy that they totally show that they are proud of me.
During rainy nights, grandma would hug me under her blanket. To ease away my fear of the storm. She would offer my native cacao drink.
I didn't grew up spoiled though, because grandma and grandpa had always been there to remind me that life isn't just all about goodness. They taught me the value of the persons around me. That most of all, the important thing I should keep is the love between me and my family. Because in the end, it will be them that I can lend on during downfall. That they are the given blessing by GOD, all those I will obtain as I grow-up will be just be the extra blessing that God will send to guide me through this life. They taught me to respect and to never put grudge against anyone. Every downfall is a challenge to stand again and face the world. Respecting and giving way to other is another way of advocating peace. A blessed chick is the peaceful one, those noisy out there, are seeking for food.
But time had passed, and I am now already twenty-one years old. Two of them, both my grandpa's had died already. My grandmas' living alone, though I can see in their eyes that they are afraid, they are not showing it by strongly facing each day with a smile. After the burial of my grandpa just this year, I suddenly think about how they live their lives. That they haven't gotten most of the care. They didn't receive much love, same as they gave us much love but we didn't give it back. We have become busy with our lives that we forgot to give them the attention they so deserved. And when they died, I ask myself suddenly, "Am I deserving to cry?". What my tears would be for, is it for the pain of his living, or is the regret of those days I missed and should have spent with him? When he was still lively enough to play to with, when he is asking me to go home because he miss me a lot, I just never mind and continue working away from him. I still have the time of my life, I didn't notice that he has his time nearly coming, and that he wants to spend it with us. Oh, why didn't I spare some of my time, just like them when I needed a playmate when I am younger. They would put their chores aside to play with me.
They are not bound to consume all our time, just some assurance that we are not leaving them alone because they are old or because they are smelly.
It maybe true according to the research that they smell, but it wont kill you. Before its late, show them your love, as they did to us. They might not ask you what they like but your smile will melt their worries away about living alone. Like us younger, our old grandparents also love to be with the crowd, so lets not live them their in the corner.
Granny do really smell. Grandpa too, just like all of my grandparents, emits the smell that most of my cousins avoided. But I had learned to love that smell, it was the scent I could breath in every time I need someone to pamper me because I am alone and my parents are both busy working. It was the scent that warms my skin during cold nights, the scent that made me calm during times that I cannot control my anger to my sisters and cousins. During the ups and downs of my childhood, I was raised with the smell they called-old smell.
During summer days, I am used to a piggy-back ride of grandpa when we are hiking up the hill to his bigger nipa hut. I would doze up peacefully on his back, breathing his scent that reminds me his unconditional love and caring. He would then show me his aching knees and wold enjoy the massage that I playfully give. Those swinging elastic skin under his arms and chin, I just love to play them while watching the stars shine brightly during full-moon nights.
During school days, grandma would give me extra piso for me to spare during snack time. A snack is ready though after I finish school. Before grandma and grandpa goes back to their house, they would kiss me a deep warm goodbye cheek kiss. With the bonus of tickling my armpits till I drop laughing. Every perfect test would mean extra cookie, every achievement during recognition, there is an equal reward and an unlimited boasting to their friends, making me quite popular to the neighborhood. And I just love it, annoying but I am happy that they totally show that they are proud of me.
During rainy nights, grandma would hug me under her blanket. To ease away my fear of the storm. She would offer my native cacao drink.
I didn't grew up spoiled though, because grandma and grandpa had always been there to remind me that life isn't just all about goodness. They taught me the value of the persons around me. That most of all, the important thing I should keep is the love between me and my family. Because in the end, it will be them that I can lend on during downfall. That they are the given blessing by GOD, all those I will obtain as I grow-up will be just be the extra blessing that God will send to guide me through this life. They taught me to respect and to never put grudge against anyone. Every downfall is a challenge to stand again and face the world. Respecting and giving way to other is another way of advocating peace. A blessed chick is the peaceful one, those noisy out there, are seeking for food.
But time had passed, and I am now already twenty-one years old. Two of them, both my grandpa's had died already. My grandmas' living alone, though I can see in their eyes that they are afraid, they are not showing it by strongly facing each day with a smile. After the burial of my grandpa just this year, I suddenly think about how they live their lives. That they haven't gotten most of the care. They didn't receive much love, same as they gave us much love but we didn't give it back. We have become busy with our lives that we forgot to give them the attention they so deserved. And when they died, I ask myself suddenly, "Am I deserving to cry?". What my tears would be for, is it for the pain of his living, or is the regret of those days I missed and should have spent with him? When he was still lively enough to play to with, when he is asking me to go home because he miss me a lot, I just never mind and continue working away from him. I still have the time of my life, I didn't notice that he has his time nearly coming, and that he wants to spend it with us. Oh, why didn't I spare some of my time, just like them when I needed a playmate when I am younger. They would put their chores aside to play with me.
They are not bound to consume all our time, just some assurance that we are not leaving them alone because they are old or because they are smelly.
It maybe true according to the research that they smell, but it wont kill you. Before its late, show them your love, as they did to us. They might not ask you what they like but your smile will melt their worries away about living alone. Like us younger, our old grandparents also love to be with the crowd, so lets not live them their in the corner.
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