LIVES OF OUR GRANDPARENTS Few of us are blessed to have both sets of grandparents still alive and kicking. We witness them stumbling about in their old age and brood over what our fate will be in the years to come. Here I list some typical characteristics of grandparents, one hopefully cutting across region and religion. 1. They have a slow and steady approach to life. No longer will they scamper about like in the prime of their lives. They wince in horror as we rush through our daily motions without pause. Every step is measured, every breath laboured. Father Time doesn’t control their lives. Caution is the buzzword, risk being their nemesis. 2. They appreciate the value of human labour and hard work. That’s not to say we don’t, but you can’t deny that our lives have been made much easier with the inception of newer machines. The bread earned by an honest day’s labour gives them immense satisfaction. 3. They relish the simple pleasures of life. The early morning cup of tea, with a newspaper or two sprawled across the floor and a loving gaze affixed at the spouse. A meal with each morsel savoured, the bath with every tumbling drop enjoyed, watering the lush garden. How often do we overlook the power of these simple actions in our lives! 4. Their advice is worth listening to. Experience has no substitute, it is said. It is silently comforting to see your mother ask her mother (or even mother-in-law!) advice on complex issues. You know there will always be someone for you when the need arises. 5. Boredom takes its toll. With no kids to look after, they can only do so much with their time. The newspaper could very soon become tedious, the daily routine dreary, the lack of external stimulus mind-numbing. That’s when a powerful reading habit developed early comes of use. But that conveniently assumes good eyes and an enduring interest. A feeling of ‘been there, done that’ often prevails. 6. Aging causes a substantial lifestyle change. Vanity cabinets are replaced by their medicinal counterparts with pills and syrups brushing aside combs, creams and lotions. Bones begin to give away, hips and knees start feeling unfamiliar. Hearing aids make more-than-fleeting appearances, and falling hair forces healthier eating habits. 7. The aroma of nostalgia grows stronger. My grandfathers are mechanical and civil engineers, the latter still working in his field. They look back upon their long and eventful lives with visible fondness. The days as students, the initial professional forays and an early marriage all leave an indelible imprint. 8. God and religion acquire greater relevance. The immanent fear of death exacerbates at their age. Our grandparents increasingly turn to heavenly powers for succor. They hope that the sins of their past will be washed away, or at least tempered, with one hour of worship followed by another.
Posted on: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 07:05:38 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015