DEDICATED TO ALL ANAK BANGSA MALAYSIA.

After bruch at my usual, I headed for home. Along a SS3 road that I had to take, a very elderly Chinese man was walking in the middle of the road, looking lost. I followed thinking that he would move to the side. He did not. I pulled up on the side, got out and brought him to the side. He would be in his early 80s. I asked him why he was walking in the middle of the road. I have always admitted that my Cantonese sucks big time, just like my Bahasa. Already I have been branded OCBC (oranbg cina bukan cina) by my Chinese and Malay friends But I can manage some Hokkien - he is evidently lost. His home can't be far from where I picked him. I got him into the car and drove through the different roads around SS3/29 hoping he would recognize his home. He said nothing except gesticulating to me that he did not want the air-con. I complied and rolled down the side windows. This residential area has a lot of speed breakers. This went on for some twenty odd minutes and I decided that if everything fails, I was going to knock on doors, in the next round, to ask if the residents recognised this senior citizen. That was not necessary. I slowed down at one lane speed humps and ahead I saw a lady holding in both hands two young kids and walking towards me. The young Indonesian maid had a worried look. I slowed down again to negotiate another hump and that was when I heard, "Kung, kung" (grandpa). I packed them all into the car and all the way the maid kept pleading to me not to let her boss know. If that was not enough the two kids, probably 10 and 8 asked me not to tell their parents too. I WONDER WHY?

For the past few hours I have been asking the same question I WONDER WHY? Yesterday whilst going thru my Document archive I chanced upon something that either Patricia or Chok Wan sent me: Here it is:

I guarantee you will remember the tale of the Wooden Bowl tomorrow, a week from now, a month from now, a year from now as I just did.

A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year - old grandson..
The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered

The family ate together at the table. But the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor.
When he grasped the glass, water spilled on the tablecloth.

The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess.
'We must do something about father,' said the son.
'I've had enough of his spilled drink, noisy eating, and food on the floor.'

So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner.
There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner.
Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl.

When the family glanced in Grandfather's direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone.
Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a spoon or spilled food.

The four-year-old watched it all in silence.

One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor.
He asked the child sweetly, 'What are you making?' Just as sweetly, the boy responded,
'Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up.
' The four-year-old smiled and went back to work.

The words so struck the parents so that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done.

That evening the husband took Grandfather's hand and gently led him back to the family table.
For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a chopstick was dropped, water spilled, or the tablecloth soiled.

On a positive note, I've learned that, no matter what happens, how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.

I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles four things:
a rainy day, the elderly, lost luggage, and something tangled.

I've learned that, regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life.

I've learned that making a 'living' is not the same thing as making a 'life..'

I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.

I've learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you
But, if you focus on your family, your friends, the needs of others,
your work and doing the very best you can, happiness will find you.

I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.

I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.

I've learned that every day, you should reach out and touch someone.

People love that human touch -- holding hands, a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.

I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.

I've learned that you should pass this on to everyone you care about. I just did to all ANAK BANGSA MALAYSIA. Do take care of our elders....they always deserve that....so no wooden bowls please!