THE RESILIENCE: GRANDMA ON HIS 79TH YEAR

Hello fellow Hivers!

I'm posting our simple but happy celebration of the 79th birthday of our grandmother. She is my mother's mother. She's so strong for her age, and we're so lucky to have her. She was surprised on her birthday because she didn't think that we would be celebrating with a simple activity, though it's annual, but sometimes she forgets small things that had already transpired. Even her age, she herself almost forgot. We cooked some dishes to be eaten for lunch. We, the grandchildren, have a say on what we can offer. I purchased 1 piece of roast chicken, and my father also prepared chicken soup (binisayang manok). My husband also purchased a bibingka and suman or kakanin for desserts. My sister also purchased cake from Purple Yam and Dunkin' Doughnuts. I can already notice in my grandmother's eyes that she was that happy in this modest celebration. My other sister also retouched her and got her plain clothes.

Despite life having been hard for her, particularly last week, she tripped at a chair while getting her clothes. She even has a head wound and was taken to a closer hospital for first aid. I was the one who saved her; when I went to her house, I was shocked due to the blood from her head. She even cooled down, and her body was trembling because she was cold from the rain because it was raining at that time due to tropical depression that hit Visayas. I phoned my brother to help her dress some clothes and wrap up her blanket to warm her up. My brother opted to take her to the closest health station, and so did her son and was taken by him. The celebration we organized turned out well and wonderful.

I am shocked at her age; even after everything that has happened to her, she still can't help being a good mother to her children. She even concerns herself about the food and shelter for her children and hand washes their clothes. She makes it to farming at such an age and walks 3-5 kilometers just to get to church to go for mass, but of late I proposed that she attend an online mass so that she won't walk that far. At times she doesn't know that she's crossing on the roads, and it's not safe for her, particularly when there are so many cars that pass by. It's nearly a month now since she watched online mass, and thanks to the internet connection and technological know-how today. Her birthday made us remember to appreciate life because life is too short to be ungrateful. Although we did not have enough time from our mother, we have a lovely grandmother. It is not yet late to love and appreciate your parents and grandparents. While we have them, celebrate it, though simple but joyful, full of love, and the joy we have cannot be purchased or traded with money.

Thank you for reading my short story. You were part of our celebration, and hold your loved ones close as long as they are there because life is short. We do not know when we depart from her on earth.

Be joyful and thankful.
See you in my next blog.

Note: Photos were mine, Oppo Reno5A captured them, and some are edited via Canva