Wednesday, June 3, 2009

KEEPERS

I grew up in the '50s with very practical parents. A mother, God love her,who washed aluminum foil after she cooked in it, then reused it. She was the original recycle queen, before they had a name for it.

My father was happier getting old shoes fixed than buying new ones. Their marriage was good, their dreams focused. Their best friends lived barely a wave away. I can see them now, Dad in trousers, tee shirt and a hat and Mom in a house dress, lawn mower in one hand, dishtowel in the other.

It was the time for fixing things. A curtain rod, the kitchen radio, screen door, the oven door, the hem in a dress. Things we keep. It was a way of life, and sometimes it made me crazy. All that re-fixing, eating, renewing, I wanted just once to be wasteful. Waste meant affluence. Throwing things away meant you knew there'd always be more.

But then my mother died, and on that clear summer's night, in the warmth of the hospital room, I was struck with the pain of learning that sometimes there isn't any more. Sometimes, what we care about most gets all used up and goes away...never to return. So, while we have it... it's best we love it... and care for it... and fix it when it's broken... and heal it when it's sick.

This is true for marriage... and old cars... and children with bad report cards... and dogs with bad hips... and aging parents... and grandparents. We keep them because they are worth it, because we are worth it.

-Author Unknown-

Taken from this LINK.

4 comments:

Tiger said...

Love is like bread, has to be made fresh every day!

Unknown said...

Dear Tiger,

Very well put. Each new day gives us fresh opportunities to live, to love and to cherish life and those who are important to us, especially our family and loved ones.

Take care and God bless.

mamasita said...

Love is the mixture of good and bad..just keep on fishing out the bad and wash it down the sink. Leave the good part in the bowl of love..even though there's not much left but its still worth cherishing..until the mixture is totally dried up and cannot be used anymore..
hehehe..nak testing pandai tak bermadah!

Unknown said...

Dear Datin Mamasita

That is a fantastic analogy! You memang philosophical these days,ya?

Thanks for sharing. Take care and have a good time with your family during this holiday season.

Salam.