As I'd said a while before, my mom has been with me over the last week. She's come along with my kid sister and her daughter as they've their holidays. And we've been undertaking short trips and visits during the period. This afternoon, mom had to be taken to the ENT specialist for a review that was long overdue. As she made her way to the car at the parking space I couldn't help but notice as to how frail she's become with an increasing tendency to drag her feet as she walked, since she experienced difficulty in bending her knees. The ayurvedic medical management is providing her relief, she says though I've my doubts!
It becomes an anti-climax to see her in this condition and I'm tempted to go back in years where I've seen my mom in an ever-active and dynamic mode. During my kindergarten and the first three years at school, she was a teacher in the same school and I remember her to have a great fan following. Kids and teachers used to come home even after working hours with their doubts, queries and problems but I and my sister used to get her to ourselves whenever we needed. Her 'teaching' phase ended when I was into my class II when she gave birth to my second kid sister!
I used to dread my mom when she used to teach me Maths. I mean I used to get flummoxed at the problem which gave the value of 1,000 coconuts but had wanted me to find the cost of 100. I just could not fathom as to why the bloke required the answer when he'd the option to buy larger numbers. And when I committed errors, in galore that too, she used to pinch me and I can still remember the discomfort of those painful 'administrations'!!
During my days at the boarding school or at the Academy, she never came to visit me in between like the mothers of my classmates. And when I'd queried her as to why she chose to refrain from coming to see me, her answer had her classic stamp and I quote, "You know, if I were to come and meet you in between I shall miss you after the visit and end up being miserable for days. But, don't worry, I can see you every moment". The thick headed guy that I was did not register her reply for quite a while as I remember.
When she was working as a Branch Post Mistress, years later, I used to be amazed at her sheer stamina to work continuously - manage the home and her official duties with a finesse. People, more than respecting her, simply loved her for her outgoing nature and the flair that she has for making instant friends! And as an extension of this bonding, she'd even stood for the Panchayat elections at the behest of some well meaning people but insisted on standing as an independent candidate. Though she lost by a paltry nine votes, the UDF and the LDF members had conveyed their inner feelings on her defeat(the UDF candidate had won that round).
And it's not because she's my mother that I say this but she really likes to channelise her efforts on causes for the betterment of the society and is very upright in her dealings.
I must hasten to add that her activities have now been confined within the walls of our house as she continues to receive people and listen to their woes and follows them up with her interventions, through telephonic calls or even visits to the concerned authorities or their offices if that were inevitable!
Mom, we're proud to be your children and would like to have you with us for many more years in good health.
Tailpiece.
Currently, she's gearing up for the 'Vayana Dinam'(Reading Day) on 19 Jun which happens to be the remembrance day of her father, the legendary PN Panicker. And this year, it's gonna be extra special for her as she'd be gifting books for the library of the Upper Primary School, near our house, from the endowment set up on her husband's name at the 'special assembly' to be called on that day to kick off the 'Vayana Vaaram' celebrations.
It becomes an anti-climax to see her in this condition and I'm tempted to go back in years where I've seen my mom in an ever-active and dynamic mode. During my kindergarten and the first three years at school, she was a teacher in the same school and I remember her to have a great fan following. Kids and teachers used to come home even after working hours with their doubts, queries and problems but I and my sister used to get her to ourselves whenever we needed. Her 'teaching' phase ended when I was into my class II when she gave birth to my second kid sister!
I used to dread my mom when she used to teach me Maths. I mean I used to get flummoxed at the problem which gave the value of 1,000 coconuts but had wanted me to find the cost of 100. I just could not fathom as to why the bloke required the answer when he'd the option to buy larger numbers. And when I committed errors, in galore that too, she used to pinch me and I can still remember the discomfort of those painful 'administrations'!!
During my days at the boarding school or at the Academy, she never came to visit me in between like the mothers of my classmates. And when I'd queried her as to why she chose to refrain from coming to see me, her answer had her classic stamp and I quote, "You know, if I were to come and meet you in between I shall miss you after the visit and end up being miserable for days. But, don't worry, I can see you every moment". The thick headed guy that I was did not register her reply for quite a while as I remember.
When she was working as a Branch Post Mistress, years later, I used to be amazed at her sheer stamina to work continuously - manage the home and her official duties with a finesse. People, more than respecting her, simply loved her for her outgoing nature and the flair that she has for making instant friends! And as an extension of this bonding, she'd even stood for the Panchayat elections at the behest of some well meaning people but insisted on standing as an independent candidate. Though she lost by a paltry nine votes, the UDF and the LDF members had conveyed their inner feelings on her defeat(the UDF candidate had won that round).
And it's not because she's my mother that I say this but she really likes to channelise her efforts on causes for the betterment of the society and is very upright in her dealings.
I must hasten to add that her activities have now been confined within the walls of our house as she continues to receive people and listen to their woes and follows them up with her interventions, through telephonic calls or even visits to the concerned authorities or their offices if that were inevitable!
Mom, we're proud to be your children and would like to have you with us for many more years in good health.
Tailpiece.
Currently, she's gearing up for the 'Vayana Dinam'(Reading Day) on 19 Jun which happens to be the remembrance day of her father, the legendary PN Panicker. And this year, it's gonna be extra special for her as she'd be gifting books for the library of the Upper Primary School, near our house, from the endowment set up on her husband's name at the 'special assembly' to be called on that day to kick off the 'Vayana Vaaram' celebrations.
No comments:
Post a Comment