How a picture can evoke some unforgettable experience.
Yesterday at a local grocery, I noticed bunches of bananas hanging from the top; ready to be seen and sold. The normal shopper would glance from below and search for the best bet. The bananas must neither be too ripe nor too green. There must be a good combination so that the bunch can last long enough for a couple of days' consumption.
It is quite a chore having to pick and choose from below but nevertheless had to be done. When a final decision has been made, the next challenge was to get them down. So how do we do it?
Yes. The pole.
This pole has an end section which has a hook-like feature allowing the vendor to lift the string attached to the bunch of bananas. Yes, that's the exact needed device.
I remember surely the versatility of this device.
When I was a teenager, I used to help mama in her little shop selling clothes and the like. Like a seasoned vendor, I often get customers to buy mama's selection of bay clothes especially during festive seasons. Somehow, it was so natural in me to get the favour of the customers and I did a lot of sales for mama. If it had been in today's scene, I would have probably attained the top sales award.
But it was a dutiful gesture on my part then.
I had to help mama through the difficult days and the extra help I offered was appreciated by her. That is also why when I see my students assisting their parents in the wet market selling fish and the like, it evoked this sense of rightful behaviour and attitude. I am also very sure these children will grow up to be good , unassuming people and are ready to go through hardships.
Yes, for a good part of my childhood and teenage years, I had to slot through mama's business in the garment line and gain much hands-on experience with clothes and even sewing.
Mama employed seamstresses who catered to her customers' needs and that was partly where I picked up some sewing and stitching skills.
Not only that, there was this particular seamstress called Lin Yang who was very good at figures and mathematics. When I had problems with mathematics, I would go to her; sit beside the sewing machine and learn to solve problems. These are memories that are etched in me and forever remembered. Making the grade for arithmetic was truly challenging and I am grateful till this day for her timely intervention.
Oh I also remembered that as the daughter around the house, I would go wet marketing for mama early in the morning before gong to school. Mama instructed on the groceries and I walked a couple of miles before reaching the destination. Then mama cooked for her employees and I had my lunch before leaving for school in the afternoon. I did not complain much but seemed to enjoy the chores of the day. I truly was a good girl. But I am not supposed to compare the then days and today.
After all, life is different. Life is too good for many.
But believe me, you need some hard knocks in life to survive and some practices are best practised.
Well, so much for the story of the pole and its tales.
But it was a dutiful gesture on my part then.
I had to help mama through the difficult days and the extra help I offered was appreciated by her. That is also why when I see my students assisting their parents in the wet market selling fish and the like, it evoked this sense of rightful behaviour and attitude. I am also very sure these children will grow up to be good , unassuming people and are ready to go through hardships.
Yes, for a good part of my childhood and teenage years, I had to slot through mama's business in the garment line and gain much hands-on experience with clothes and even sewing.
Mama employed seamstresses who catered to her customers' needs and that was partly where I picked up some sewing and stitching skills.
Not only that, there was this particular seamstress called Lin Yang who was very good at figures and mathematics. When I had problems with mathematics, I would go to her; sit beside the sewing machine and learn to solve problems. These are memories that are etched in me and forever remembered. Making the grade for arithmetic was truly challenging and I am grateful till this day for her timely intervention.
Oh I also remembered that as the daughter around the house, I would go wet marketing for mama early in the morning before gong to school. Mama instructed on the groceries and I walked a couple of miles before reaching the destination. Then mama cooked for her employees and I had my lunch before leaving for school in the afternoon. I did not complain much but seemed to enjoy the chores of the day. I truly was a good girl. But I am not supposed to compare the then days and today.
After all, life is different. Life is too good for many.
But believe me, you need some hard knocks in life to survive and some practices are best practised.
Well, so much for the story of the pole and its tales.
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