Time out

No, I haven't fallen off the face of the planet. Grandma was admitted to the hospital for a serious case of stomach ulcer. It was one of those very unexpected in-your-face type of situation. One which made you think of all sorts of things you never thought you'd have to prepare yourself for. When I was in LA, all I could ever do was worry and feel sorry whenever a situation like this came about. This time around, having witnessed grandma almost passing outside the apartment was more than frightening. I cannot explain in detail how it's been the past few weeks, except that situations like this make you realize how vulnerable we all are. You start thinking of things way ahead of your time and tend to pay more attention to everyday things around you. You learn to be thankful for little blessings, and especially for people who truly care. While grandma was in the hospital, it was heartrending to see the number of old folks who weren't really cared for by their own family. Dad's mum was put in a home before she passed, which wasn't our choice, and visiting her was a torture each time. Mum and I never got out of that place without shedding tears. These are people with families - normal families. Is it so difficult to give some love to the people who raised you?

Many have said that it's a cultural thing. In Asia, children are expected to take care of their parents when they're old. This is no longer true. Almost everyone I know do not expect to be taken care of by their kids. In fact, the percentage of Asian children immigrating abroad is growing day by day, as seen in my family of four. The question is - why should the task of taking care of one's parents come out of sheer expectation or obligation?