When Do You Start To Live?

It is now.

Driving along the Pudu Bus Terminal to a Nursing Home in Tung Shin Hospital, I could not help but notice the vast difference in the traffic scenario recently emerged after the shift of the Bus Terminal to Bukit Jalil. In fact, the town has never been more quiet than this in the last few decades. It dawned upon me how a decision of the town council could change the ethos of the entire township. No hustle and bustle; instead a deep sense of loss and unfamiliar feeling. That's life? In its hey days the spot would have never fathomed that such a destiny could befall it.

Walking into the Nursing Home to visit a family friend struck with stroke, we were greeted by friendly medical assistants at the front but as we proceeded further, we saw mostly older folks incapacitated in one way or another; almost entirely stroke cases.

I saw an Indonesian maid pushing a gentleman around the Home compound in circular movements and I could decipher that the man had a stately look indicating that he must have had an important position before but he was physically impaired. He had a good looking cap on - white.

Then there was this lady in her 80s struck with a stroke after an angiogram calling for attention not wanting to be in her room. She asked us to move her up the bed and fearing we may incur harm we called for the nurse who immediately moved her onto a wheelchair and related that she would put her outside with more company. Apparently she doesn't like to be stuck there.

I ventured further to see the common room and saw a few other cases of the older folks watching the box in a dazed look ; resorting to a fate-like attitude. I also heard a daughter talking to her mum telling the latter to be obedient and cooperative.

Then I saw my family friend; quiet, unassuming and soft in her speech. She has difficulty moving and needs daily physiotherapy for her limbs and is a problem without proper nursing care if left at home. When it is your loved one, the strings at the heart are tugged. What if she doesn't engage in conversation with others enough ? The fact that she can't read doesn't help. Can't you bring her home? I asked. The logistics at home cannot help her condition ; I was told. Now we must let the left brain control our decision ; not so much the right one or we will be weeping.

On the way home, my brother and I called home to Por Por and Kong Kong .

"Ma, what are you all doing?" Mum related that it has been a busy Saturday morning and the weekly help has just finished cleaning the house.
" What's Kong Kong doing?" ... "Oh he's into his papers again. You wanna talk to him?"..." No it's ok, ma." We needed to be assured of their well-being. It gives us tremendous peace.

When we left the Nursing Home, we remember that life can be patterned after a certain course. But we learn to live under the grace of God and resolve to live as right as we can. We learn to live life now and not wait as my brother says for tomorrow ; for it may not turn out the way we want. He says he has changed in his perspective in life after his stint in Australia. No need to pursue actively after material things. Live now.

A reminder from some unfortunate tales and people sometimes put us in the right perspective towards life and can humble us as we realise our inability to control the future. We both agreed.

Live now.