handing-taking over. the next generation takes over from the previous generation. it's amazing how much common all of us have, without us realizing it. our journeys of overseeing, managing our parent's golden years and eventually sending them off on their eternal journey.
over the past few years, i have gotten used to the routine of going in and out of the hospital. and these were largely a result of having to take care of my aging parents. every month or so, and sometimes within weeks, i will find myself rushing to the hospital a&e department. and every so often, i would also get smses and/ or phone calls from my brother about my mum being ill, etc... and more often than not, i will be going through the routine of visiting the hospitals after office hours, dinner at the hospital canteen, etc. and of late, i am also seeing my friends going through the same "routine".
i supposed many of my friends and i are at the age where we manage our parent's golden years, and the eventual sending them off. and regardless of race, i can see all of us doing the same things, giving and directing the same amount of energies (or whatever we have) to our parents, see and appreciate the frustrations and stress each of us felt as we go through the process... and of course, feel and appreciate the warmth we get from our friends through the well-wishes posted in social media like facebook etc. it is certainly amazing how much common experiences and responses all of us go through and have. i supposed we are all the same regardless of race, language or religion.
and interestingly enough for me (and i could also see for some of my friends), managing our parent/s passing and post-life activities deepened our awareness of our own mortality. in a way, the whole process itself was very empowering. for me personally, on one hand, i felt a sense of lost and that i no longer have someone to fall back emotionally, on the other hand, it made me aware and gave me the energy and motivation of step up and take the lead with regards my family affairs. reflecting, i supposed this was what my parents went through when their parents left them. and they took charge, till it was their time to go. and it is my turn to sent them off...
but for me, i just wonder... as a gay person, when it comes my time to go, who will sent me off?
over the past few years, i have gotten used to the routine of going in and out of the hospital. and these were largely a result of having to take care of my aging parents. every month or so, and sometimes within weeks, i will find myself rushing to the hospital a&e department. and every so often, i would also get smses and/ or phone calls from my brother about my mum being ill, etc... and more often than not, i will be going through the routine of visiting the hospitals after office hours, dinner at the hospital canteen, etc. and of late, i am also seeing my friends going through the same "routine".
i supposed many of my friends and i are at the age where we manage our parent's golden years, and the eventual sending them off. and regardless of race, i can see all of us doing the same things, giving and directing the same amount of energies (or whatever we have) to our parents, see and appreciate the frustrations and stress each of us felt as we go through the process... and of course, feel and appreciate the warmth we get from our friends through the well-wishes posted in social media like facebook etc. it is certainly amazing how much common experiences and responses all of us go through and have. i supposed we are all the same regardless of race, language or religion.
and interestingly enough for me (and i could also see for some of my friends), managing our parent/s passing and post-life activities deepened our awareness of our own mortality. in a way, the whole process itself was very empowering. for me personally, on one hand, i felt a sense of lost and that i no longer have someone to fall back emotionally, on the other hand, it made me aware and gave me the energy and motivation of step up and take the lead with regards my family affairs. reflecting, i supposed this was what my parents went through when their parents left them. and they took charge, till it was their time to go. and it is my turn to sent them off...
but for me, i just wonder... as a gay person, when it comes my time to go, who will sent me off?
2 comments:
ME!!!!!, simple buddhist funeral for :) if I do live longer than you...
haha... i knew u would say that...
:-)
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