Happy Parents Day - Why Not?

Babies are being born every second. With that, a couple becomes parents. Just imagine how many parents are created every second. And with the mortality rate that controls the population boom, we can be sure that new parents will be created and aged parents will end their contribution with their dignified passing. It's part of the cycle of LIFE. Just imagine what would happen if the mortality rate is low and the human population keeps on increasing? Overpopulation is not something pleasant as everyone would be rushing for food to ensure their survival and surely there would be a shortage of food then. Did you read that for earth to be given a chance to recover, 70% of humans must die?

For those of us who still have parents, we should be thankful and grateful for that gift. Sure, we didn't ask to be born. Therefore, our being born is more of a choiceless living? For those who are born with a silver spoon, they may say life has been great for them. However, for those who were born in the slumps, well, they may say has been great too...if they haven't had the opportunity to experience the other side of where they may be living in. Having said that, the rich will have their 'rich' problems while the poor will have their fair share of 'poor' problems. Well, the diversity of Life is what gets us moving as we begin to appreciate Life as it is and stop to smell the rose every now and then.

I'm grateful that my parents are still with me. Both are 66 and 64 years old respectively. Now that they're this old, I can really see how they've aged with time. From big, sturdy, able bodied adults who have taken care of me and nurtured me to being who I am currently, their faces are wrinkled and the melanin has contributed to the many spots on their skin as the UV rays work their way through and their weight has subsided a lot. Biology is wonderful, isn't it?

Once a while, when the the full moon blooms, I get a little melancholic. As I sit quietly contemplating LIFE, I also think about the family which I was fortunate to have been born into. To think that I used to be the little rascal who used to drive my parents up the wall with my pranks, and now grown up to have a kid and daughter who too, are driving me up the wall with their own unique pranks. That's the cycle of life, isn't it? Life, in its own humorous way. Discipline aside, it's wonderful to observe them as they grow up and the increase in their tenacity and energy is really great. Nerve wrecking it can be, but their growing up process is a fascinating real life drama to follow.

No, not only did I harass my parents, I remember my late grandfather chasing me up the tree as I climbed hurriedly to escape the cane. Stayed there for quite a while until he gave up. And to think of it, I spent a lot of my growing up years on the mango tree. Plucking the unripe mangoes and eating it on the spot. Thinking about it now sends shivers down my spine, as the sourness will cause my teeth to 'shake'. And not to mention, de-skinning the sugarcane with my bare teeth. And to top it all, I would climb onto the garage of the single storey bungalow without any assistance from the ladder. Walked on the sloping roof and climbing down eventually by the tree. That's how 'great' I was those days. Nowadays, just thinking of it makes my palm sweat!

On the other hand, I also helped my mum to make kuih bangkit, curry puffs and other cookies for Chinese New Year. I can still remember the dining table (which has since made way for a new marble top round table) messed up with white flour and the sound of knocking as we attempted to get the formed dough out of the mould, ready to be baked by the oven. The curry puffs made by my grandfather was great - I couldn't wait for it to cool down sufficiently to sink my teeth into it. The curry potato was heavenly, hot from the wok. And not forgetting the tons of kaya jam that I've eaten in my lifetime. You see, there's a jungle near my house (which has since made way for a housing estate in progress) where my grandfather collects matured coconuts. Once the coconut milk is squeezed out  to make kaya, the husk and shell is used as fuel to fry the waste coconut whites to obtain coconut oil for cooking purposes. Talk about multipurpose product of nature.

My dad stayed at the back of the violin class in order to learn the violin - to teach me back at home. Can you imagine the dedication to music? He himself learned the organ at age 30 odd. Perhaps to make up for the lost opportunity when he was young and couldn't afford it. And when I was in Form 3, when most boys would have gotten a motorcycle to bring sweet young things around, my dad used the amount of money that could have purchased a bike, to buy me a violin? What the hell, I cursed. When the rest of my buddies are busy feeding their growth hormones, I was doomed at home with the violin? Is it fair? Well, at that time, no. But I'm grateful for that now, as I have musical knowledge and am able to play a few other musical instruments. At least, I have something different from my friends. Music is a tool to get people together as music is a form of 'international language', understood by all.

Not forgetting the driving lessons before I was legally able to take driving lessons. It wasn't as easy as it looked as I learnt to estimate the size of the car and manipulating the clutch and gears to get the car moving while steering it at the same time. Quite a momentous task at that young age. But I was proud - to be given the trust and opportunity to drive. If I can remember correctly, I was about 15 years of age then. I didn't have the opportunity of owning a motorcycle as mum had deemed it as a dangerous vehicle. I eventually purchased one of my own (Aprilia) when I worked in Singapore and zoomed home one day to show them ... that, hey! I have a motorcycle now. 140 km/h on the highway was fun then.

Oh, there were one too many occasions where I was caned for both being naughty and stubborn. But I believe now that capital punishment was to discipline and mould me into what I am now. I could've been with bad company if not for the constant reminders with the cane. Likewise, I'm now using it on my daughter because she can get out of hand sometimes. But sparingly.

Dad used to be the discipline tyrant and mum is who I went to for consolation. I think it's the same for everyone, in a 'normal' family. I've never heard of mums who would cane their sons. But occasionally, I would get a rap on the head by mum if I had been a tad too stubborn and caused her anguish. No permanent damage from this.

And not forgetting the stray dog which we had grown to like. It began with feeding it with plain white rice. Being hungry, the dog appreciated our kind gestures and decided that we would be the family to have him. Both parents objected because of the additional member in the family but over time, the dog which we called 'Doggie' convinced them that it's special. Did I say before that it could de-husk the coconut? And pull us on our bicycle? It's a big dog and it stayed with us for about 10 years before passing on to the nether world. Memories, memories. Regretted not having taken more photos of our Doggie. It's only when it left that I realised that there weren't enough photos of it but for the fortunate few.

I could go on and on about how I was being brought up and how my parents dealt with my growing years. If I get too lengthy, you would most probably wonder why I'm babbling too much this time on this blog. But really, there's more to write and I would be honoured to share my life's experience with you. I'll leave it to some other title to write about. In the meantime, Happy Parents Day and why not? Why succumb to commercialism? Every day should be parents' day and we should cherish them while they're still alive even though I would feel tongue tied to express my feelings but I guess, action shows.  I never believed in visiting the grave and burning prayer material after their death. It's all hogwash and I won't know for sure whether they'd receive those objects that we burn for them. Again, Happy Parents Day.