Now and Then

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    Nothing's been more joyful that heading over to my grandmother's whenever possible. This rush of joy and happiness of sitting with her an hear her speak about life from a different perspective is more than joyful. The way elders speak, the way they express their love and affection is beyond what words can express. When they pray for you, when they welcome you, when they start to tell stories of themselves in the past and how they used to live...how simple life was...that's inspiring. It's like listening to a precious antique speak about that one thing with explicit love that no one else can master. It's just different, with our elders.

    Whenever my grandmother starts talking, everyone falls in deep silence and start to intently listen to the story she decides to tell next. Whether it's true or just another myth of the old days, it's always worth the listen. She's growing old by the day that's for sure, but she's still young at heart. As the author once said " You're always a child at heart." Anyways, I have never found that ultimate satisfaction of listening to someone speak aside from my mother. It had always been her, but now it's also the case with my grandmother. Maybe it's hereditary from their side I do not know, but I sure do love it. It brings in that sense of belonging and sudden satisfaction throughout the visit. You do not want to leave, you just want to stay there forever and listen to all the stories she has to tell. She forgets part of them at sometime, but that doesn't stop her from telling that grand story that indirectly teaches you life lessons. You learn about sacrifice, loyalty, family, and most importantly pride. You eventually get to the bottom of knowing that no matter what you do to people, they will always talk and as she says "babble". That's the way it is.

    Nothing beats the moments when one of us asks for the traditional family photo album, and that's the part where we all fight over who gets the best picture. Bargains never work well, they never existed in our current context and I do not think they will ever exist. It's just you and your luck. Whatever you get to take with mom's approval, but if you do not get the consent, then that's that.

    It feels good to feel that sense of belonging and happiness, you feel blessed for knowing you're surrounded by your elders who have so much to speak about, so much to express, and so much to say. You never waste time sitting in the living room with your grandparents and hearing them talk and talk and talk. It's what they feel like doing best at the moment, because they've lived for ages and well they're basically your ultimate guide to a better life, and most importantly to a better person. They were once in our shoes, but they experienced everything we did differently because it was just the way things used to work in the past. That's mainly one of the reasons why I wish I had a time machine or why I wished I lived in a different age. It's a bittersweet type of dilemma but I have always had that thing for old times and vintage ages. Everything in the past was tough, but life was simple. There was more cooperation, more bonding and an abundance of pure beings. The time at that time made all this easier, currently things turn out the way they do because it's how they should be and as humans we are taught to cope with whatever we experience. And by that, we are different.

    I do not think living in two eras was possible, it's by far human nature. To live in a time and have the urge to go back in time and see how things were. If that were possible, then that would be grand. Nevertheless, my mother always said;

"Change is inevitable, you just have to outsmart it and accept what fits you as a person."

That's an open statement, if you're smart enough you'd really get what she is implying by that. In the end, we all are truly human but we all have different intentions and different paths and beliefs.