Old Age

18th Feb 2013

I was walking around the airport the other day when an elderly couple approached me for directions. After pointing them off to the correct direction, I watched their back views as they ambled off hand in hand till they disappeared into the crowds. And as I watched them, a sudden tinge of sadness crept in.    

I was reminded of my Dad, who after a 3 year long battle with leukemia, finally succumbed to the illness a few years ago. My Dad - who would never have the chance to ever travel again. And on parallel thoughts, about my mother - now a widower, who would never get the opportunity to hold her husband's hand once more.   To the obvious eyes, the elderly couple was just like any visitor on a vacation. But as I watched them walking away, I saw more then just that.

After Dad's passing, my perspectives of life altered entirely. In the loss of someone so dear, I am harshly reminded to cherish what we have and the loved ones that we still have around. I learnt to be thankful for all things big or little in life, and that this present moment, is the best time for cherishing, loving, seeking forgiveness or showing your appreciation.
Life, as it is, is already so short. Time should not be wasted on being angry or harboring grievances against the people you love. In my newly learnt lesson of life, there's no better time to do ‘it' then right now. If fate decides for an earlier ‘roll call', then what would we be left? Regrets?     

In today's society, what are the odds that the ones, who are blessed with longevity, are also blessed with not only their own health, but the health of their spouses? What are the chances of an elderly spouse not being hit by dementia, or some kind of cancer that, in my opinion, seems to be manifesting itself everywhere in this decade?

How many healthy elderly couples celebrate life with each other, because they recognize and appreciate the very fact of the affinity given to each other?  In today's world, cases of divorces are often and around. The simple vow of loving each other till ‘death do us part' nowadays seems complex. To find a healthy, elderly and loving couple is like finding a diamond. For their years of love, anger, happiness and forgiveness are all compressed together to become a solid and beautiful bond.  

Beneath the façade of the scene presenting itself, who knew how much the couple went through together? The amount of weal and woe they overcame. The number of births and deaths they experienced and witnessed together. The times of sicknesses and health, and the tears of joy and sorrow that they shared. With all the stones and obstacles thrown in their journey, they endured and pushed through life together, marking the path with their own footprints.   

With my husband, we are now at that stage of life where we are working our hardest in our jobs to secure a better future for us and our children. We go through life together dealing with the many challenges placed in our paths one by one. We do have our quarrels and arguments, and we need constant reminders to bear in mind the love we have for each other, that are so often covered beneath the surface of daily responsibilities. Marriage definitely requires hard work to keep it going strong.      

I do not know what life has in store for us but I hope that in our old age, we will be able to carry on holding each other's hand, ambling along into our twilight years.   

I wish everyone love, health and happiness always, and the wisdom and ability to recognize the fragility of human life, so that each of us may remember to cherish our loved ones every day.   

And to my darling Husband, may our love for each other never fade but grow stronger into our twilight years.