Thursday, August 28, 2008
Reflections
August 28th is always a hard day for me. Twenty years ago today, the dearest person in the world to me passed on. My mother, Ping Chew. She was an incredible woman that came to this country for an arranged marriage. She was only 17. She would be introduced to my father and after a short courting period would become his wife at the tender age of 18. It was an experience that I could never have imagined. Being sent to the United States with limited English skills, marry a man that she barely knew and have to acclimate into a new society with a new family. She was a trooper, she did exactly that with energy and a sense of adventure. My mother went on to have three children and worked nites with my dad to run a laundry business while raising three young toddlers. My dad worked as a machinest during the day and in the evenings the two of them would work long hours into the early morning to make a life for all of us. Later on the two of them purchased their first home in a suburb and said goodbye to the laundry business. My mom took on a job sewing at home while we grew up. When my sister entered her senior year in high school, my mother decided to take on another adventure, she attended hairdressing school. Nothing could stop her determination to learn and do as much as she could to enjoy life. She eventually opened her own business and made it a success. Sadly my mom passed away from Cancer at the highlight of her life, she was 54. My parents had planned on retiring to Naples, Florida. They purchased a second home and was able to make it everything that they wanted and couldn't have done as young, working parents. This was their dream. My mom was a remarkable woman, who made the most out of every minute of her short life. Please in my mother's honor today, do something wonderful for yourself. Call someone that means a lot to you and tell them how much you care for them. Life is too short and we can all use a pat on the back or an "I love you, thank you for being in my life" gesture. Celebrate someone that you love today.
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2 comments:
Pauline, Your post was very touching and my heart goes out to you. My Mom also left us when she was 51 years young....too young. You are very right: life is to be celebrated. Thank you for your sharing.
Susie of The Polka Dot Rose
Enjoy every minute, follow your bliss. This poem is very touching, reminding us to make the most out of lives, no more complaining, do what you can and don't be hard on yourself for not doing as much as you thought you should, be happy with what you were able to complete. You were lucky today, you woke up and the day is yours to do whatever you put your mind to.
THE DASH POEM
I read of a man who stood to speak
At the funeral of a friend
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
From the beginning to the end
He noted that first came the date of her birth
And spoke the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years
For that dash represents all the time
That she spent alive on earth.
And now only those who loved her
Know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not how much we own;
The cars, the house, the cash,
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.
So think about this long and hard.
Are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left,
That can still be rearranged.
If we could just slow down enough
To consider what’s true and real
And always try to understand
The way other people feel.
And be less quick to anger,
And show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives
Like we’ve never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect,
And more often wear a smile
Remembering that this special dash
Might only last a little while.
So, when your eulogy is being read
With your life’s actions to rehash
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent your dash?
©1996 Linda Ellis
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