Such beauty
Whenever I see young couples walking around holding hands, having small talks is such a beautiful thing to see. What is more, with their young age, there is no wrinkle in their skin, with straight back, walking with power. Also how bright is their expressions are.
While residing in the senior apartments, I learned and felt many things. One of them is that, beauty does not lie only in youth and looks.
I meet an elderly Chinese couple in their 70s every time I head out to my office, or when I come home early to have my meal, and then come out to walk in the evening.
The husband has no problems, but his wife has suffered stroke. Even with his support, the wife’s walking pose is rather hard. She walks with her head down, and with her arm hung loose. Whenever I see them I get a feeling of sorrow.
During the morning, I see Chinese woman walking around the places here and there with that woman, talking. It’s a beautiful sight to see. Some days, I think her daughter is walking her around. The one thing that really gets me inspired is when the husband is walking around with her, singing a Chinese tune. To me, the tune is very strange, and unknown. But it was probably a song that they sang in their youths. Or a song they sang during the time when she was healthier. Anyhow, the husband always sings for her, with her powerless hand, but whenever she is tired, he sits down for a rest then continues on.
Where I reside, there is the first ever constructed, well-decorated, old fashioned- white building for the elderly.
It’s in a slight hilly area, with the main gate there is a cool, water fountain there. Surrounding the roads are several wooden chairs. Whenever during the evening when I pass by there, I see an elderly couple sitting there. Since the wife’s speech isn’t the best, the husband does the speaking. Then the wife would bring her ear to the husband and nod several times.
During the old age, when I see people learning to be patient, to talk, sing, and hold the spouse’s hand when one is no longer healthy, I feel very solemn. It’s nobler to see this kind of love and care than what the young couples do these days.
There is also an elderly American-looking couple. I see them walking around when I leave to head to office by 9AM in the morning. They walk slowly. Both of them have walking aid, while trying to straighten their back as possible, while the other hand holds each other. They walk with bright expression, while talking with each other.
When I walk in the road, I see younger people running with light, training clothing, sweating. I can feel their energy come to me. While the elderly walk like children, since they are near the end of their life, they walk slowly, as one, as they had all their life, their happiness and sorrows as husband and wife.
As long as God grants it, I wish to walk with my wife. Even if it is holding a walking aid or cane.
(November 4th, 2013)
|
Happy Birthday (4) 
Such beauty