Painful

Today is painful.

Dad left me at TBS, the terminal that coaches send people to destinations. I was surprised that it was relatively packed as the festive season was over and I would expect the terminal to be clearer. I suppose Malaysians are getting wiser now as they have chosen to spread out the holidays and travel on easier days. Races from all walks of life ranging from toddlers to the aged thronged the terminal for destinations. There were pockets of foreigners here and there making plans to travel around the country too.
TBS is a pride of Malaysia. I simply am proud to be associated with the well-kept premises, the ticketing counters, the security and the well-behaved passengers. That's what a nation should aim at; to have proper set ups for its people and visitors. Life is made good by appropriate planning and dispense. Malaysia has always been the pride of her people with good education and virtuous attitudes and values. Have we grown for better or worst?

So, I trudged into the coach for the town of my birth. I needed to make a trip to see the old folks again. They are in the 90s and still mentally alert and quick in making decisions and plans but physically challenged. Who wouldn't be at that age? The physical set backs have locked and changed many plans. Even if they try to be mobile, age has it that it is not possible. Surely the spirit is willing but the body is weak. Surely, they have to give in to the challenge and accept realities in life.

I arrived at noon and my usual practice is to walk to my parents' shop nearby the coach terminal, ease myself and have my favorite plate of noodles! But today was different for I know it's never the same again. I know I will not be greeted by the usual. I know the doors of the shop will be shut and the usual faces not there. It's a real sad feeling and I am not ashamed to admit that I wept. Wept because I will miss being with my parents in sales. I do recall the good times when we retailed and had fun in the bargain sessions. It had been business as usual for a good many decades.

But this is not business as usual anymore.

I hate to admit it but the doors have to be finally sealed. Sealed in the wake of GST and its demands and also the threat of evil ones. My folks are hard workers and love the routine in retail and rest. But there are rogues who watch them and threaten harm. So they have to leave for safety too. Circumstances drive them to quit. What a sad state of affair. If one quits as a consequence of illness it's easier to take it in. But when one is forced to quit for other external factors, it is painful.

But sadder still is when you are not prepared for full retirement. Partial retirement is a best practice when one does a little and follows a routine for a part of the day. So there is a routine, rest and fun. It gives the aged reason to go on and be active mentally. If you are technology savvy it is better still for the media will keep you busy. But a person in the 90s has only the papers to fill the day. So, it is not surprising to see them lament in boredom and lack of activity. So, the children are also saddened to see them in this state. We can only do our little bit to be around them as much as we can.

It also takes time for me to accept a new scenario seeing  my father doing nothing and he meddling with the phone book, the sports channel and whatever his hands can get at. My siblings and I do need to sit around to organise activities for the days to come. But with a grateful heart, we can only thank God for their health and ability to adapt. God help them to adapt as well as possible, we pray.

Our daily prayer is that God keep them safe and well; never mind about the aborted business.