Mak

Mak is 79 yo this year.
She is at that stage where she becomes like a kid again.. and I'm the adult who look after her needs and wants. Except that when I was a kid, she told me to do something and I will simply follow her advice/lead. Now, I say something and she will say something else..

I tried to fulfill whatever she wants whenever I can ..but there are times when I need make a strong stand and simply say a harsh no!

Case in point - on Saturday afternoon, we were driving from S'ban to S.A, along with my sis#3 and her youngest daughter. She kept on complaining about the  hot son biting her skin, the glare from the sun in her eyes (we were heading north, the sun is right ahead of us).. I did offer her my other sunglasses -  no, won't do! She does has her own clip-on but it was in another bag at home (next time, I need to include in my list of reminders for her: medicine, hp and charger, towel etc.). I want her to stay comfortable during the drive, with leg room and everything but all she wants is to stay seat-belt free at the back! And there was I driving with the hot son biting my skin, the glare from the sun in my eyes..

On Sunday morning, we went to visit my late dad's niece who stay in  healthcare service (convalescent - another long story) in KL. My SIL was driving us, as such mak got to sit at the back with me as the co-pilot. Upon reaching home and the many bumps typical in housing areas, we hitted one loudly! Lucky I don't get to see the underside of the PKE... I wished now her understand why I wanted her to sit  in front passenger seat.

On the way heading back to S'ban, again she wanted to sit at the back. This time, with an additional 32" LCD tv along side my sis#3 and niece, both smaller in size - simply no space!

Another point - on Saturday, our journey to S'ban was delayed since my BIL#2 came back to take the rambutan -in season now, both yellow rambutan gading and rambutan batu in red - to be served at the raya open house. He did invited mak to join the open house in S'ban at his mosque - as organizer. So, mak been saying we need to come back early from SA in order to visit the open house 10-12pm on Sunday.

Back to Sunday morning, after a short trip to KPJ KL, we reach SA and leave again about 10am. She already said, "Will we arrive in time? All the food will be gone if we arrive late..." - mind you, we already had a heavy breakfast - bihun goreng, karipap and roti jala. Somewhere along the journey, she said, ""It's ok if we didn't go to the open house, after all..." So, I drove fast and by about 10 minutes past 11am, we were already at the traffic light junction going into the housing area. She was asking, "Where are we going now?"
I guess, by now, I was lucky that I really understand that she wanted to attend the open house party even if she kept saying it's ok if we didn't go...

I drove straight to the mosque - mind you, this is not my area, I might have visited once or twice in the past 10 years or so (last Eidul Adha when ayah was still around and more recent during Ramadhan, at night). So I reach the mosque - in sight - but not the entrance. There were other tents around - I wasn't too sure which direction to go to. My sis#3 or mak weren't helping ..I was kinda lost, and after calling my sis#4, went to her house and asked them all to transfer to her car and went ahead to the party without me!

Why am I so mad at the situation?
If you read my previous post - lawak bimbo moment - I need to be everything: the planner, the driver, the navigator, the secretary, the communicator, the listener to all grouses, the ATM and everything.

During recent Eid, I already told my siblings to take mak along during raya visits - but of course, she wanted to stay home and waited for her nephews and nieces came visitings instead. By the the time everyone is gone on the third day, she had only been to a neighbour's house. I remember before Ramadhan, she said that she had no opportunity to visit her parents' graves last year - off we went before Penang trip in June and before Eid, I already brought her to visit ayah's. So, on the 4th day, I took her to visit her parents' graves again. By this time, I was already on my 3rd day of fasting (replacement) and her 1st day day (6 days of sunnah Syawal). I knew I needed to bring her around visiting her sisters in Asahan and Bukit Jalur. I targetted on Sunday, 10th Syawal - when she would be celebrating raya puasa 6 by then! But, no  - she didn't want to visit her sis in BJ due to (...long story here). Off we go to her sis in Asahan, after farmers' market on Sunday morning. First, she didn't like my attire -I was wearing t-shirt and pants and it was raya *gulp!!*! Second, why was I still fasting!!! I told her, it's ok  -I'm used to fasting and still making round, visitings during Eid like last time. But, but she said, you are not eating! I said, "Mak, not a problem lah... I can still drive and talk like normal..." She wanted me to follow her in fasting but I had a lot of things to consider myself - need to finish replacing those missing fasts before I was back in office - insert reasons here.

All in all, I am very happy to fulfill her wishes, she got to spend 2 weeks of Ramadhan in Penang with me, 1 week in S'ban staying with my sis#3, sis#4 and bro#1 and got to see sis#1 and sis#5. Visited bro#3 in between Pen-S'ban. Brought her shopping in Pen, S'ban (Fami.ly Store and Gi.ants a couple of time), Sepang for kerepeks and Nilai 3 for mats and also at hometown.

The recent weekend visit can be considered as a closure to Syawal  - met her future granddaughter-in-law *Ib.an!! Mak, she is a Muslim, her parents are Muslim!!* at my sis#3, then bro#3 in SA, backed to open house party with sis#4 and not forgetting sis#1's place for lunch. Now, she has those lovely memories to entertain her until I'm back again for Eidul Adha insya-Allah.

P/s: Another short, long story - during rinsing the rambutans (ants, lotsa them) on Saturday, mak lost her gold ring. She told me once we were on our way to S'ban. No wonder, she was getting in and out of her rooms before the journey. By Monday morning, after looking inside and outside drain, everywhere for it, she thought of searching the ground where we put all the dry leaves to rot. After only 1 poking around, there it was, shining yellow! She said, "Alhamdulillah... punca rezeki  yang halal mesti tak ke mana!" If tak jumpa, "Redha je lah, takde rezeki..." By the time I reach ukm office yesterday, I got the news that she lost her gigi palsu! Mak-mak... sabar je lah, she needs a caretaker now.

20150809

Location: Petronas Jalan Seremban-Kuala Pilah

Normally, I would fill up my PKE tank early in the morning before I start any long journey. But then, I have been travelling quite a lot for the past 3 days.

So, a pit stop to refill the tank is really necessary on the afternoon that day. My tummy were full post-lunch (it as a good one) and I was getting sleepy under the hot glare of the sun. Just looking forward to reach home and lay down to take a nap.

I leave my mak remain seated inside the car with both passenger and driver's window down and I already pulled the lever to open the petrol tank.

I went inside to the counter to make payment. Then only I realized I do need to withdraw some cash at the corner ATM. Queue for quite some time.

Went outside and headed to the car. I noticed that the tank cover was close now.. hmmm.. Took the petrol pump head and start filling up - nothing happened! Try again .. put it back and then try one more time. Getting angry now. Marched to the counter, "Dik, why the pump meter is not running? Nothing came out. I already paid just now you know!!?" *muka tak puas hati*

The young guy went out and came along with me towards my parked car - mind you, it was a busy time and many people around and all the petrol pump were in used.

Halfway point with me bubbling mad, he pointed  to a foreign worker and then said, "He already fill up for you kak..."

I wished the ground open up and swallow me immediately - MALU! MALU!!

And I hope nobody noticed my bimbo moment huhuhu...

Got inside the car and only then  my mak said, "No wonder that Bang.la guy raised his hand and waved just now..."

Aiyaiyai mak!! Why didn't you tell me earlier...