Tribute to My Parents
I remember the nights you worrying how to pay the creditors
While we had to pay our school fees
With a humble voice, you asked for delaying the debt payment
All to ensure we stayed educated to the best we could
You struggled day and night
Tending our menial store until late to catch more buyers
At the end of the day we counted the earning and expenses
And you jotted down all the money we had to the pennies
You both argued often over every cent we spent
On medication and nutrition for us to grow healthily
Yet, it was this sacrifice that enabled us to excel in the school
Relatives & Friends in Bogor were weary to lend anymore money to
us
As the last hope, Papa went out of town to Tasikmalaya
Asking his wealthy relative to help paying off our new kiosk
So Memeh could keep our menial store open for us to survive
Most importantly to continue our education-our path out of
hardship
I won't forget this effort before you left us forever, Papa
Still dreaming of you coming back even 30 years after your
passing
Life was difficult and Memeh faced criticism for keeping us in the
school
Relatives suggested us working to lessen Memeh's financial
burden
Despite this, Memeh stood firm and supported us all the way to
university
Without her devotion, I would be still working as a store keeper
in Bogor
Through your persistence and high education we could afford to
attain
We finally reached the dreamland, all because of your
sacrifices
All the burdens you carried were for us to have better life
We stand here full of pride but you had gone too soon Papa
You didn't see how we grew up following your vision
As teenager I often didn't obey what you wanted me to do
But I followed your life principles to pay what we owed and
Not to forget any support we got in our difficult times
When the Tasikmalaya relative's house was burnt down
I sent them a relief money in honor of your promise
Memeh, you also left us too early to enjoy the fruit of your
devotion
Wish you could have enjoyed the much better life we have
That you wished for us and a life that probably beyond your
dream
All I can carry now is your name and unwavering devotion
You gave everything you had and we had no chance to make you
happy
Memeh and Papa, what we are now is our tribute to you
Wira Tjong
THANKS TO ZHANG FAMILY ASSOCIATION, PINANGSIA RD, JAKARTA FOR PROVIDING THE FUNERAL FUND AND ARRANGEMENT FOR OUR FATHER WHILE WE WERE TOO YOUNG TO HANDLE IN 1972.
THANKS TO HUSADA HOSPITAL, MANGGA BESAR RAYA, JAKARTA FOR PROVIDING CARE TO OUR FATHER WITHOUT FINANCIAL CONSIDERATION.
2009 Mother Day Remembrance
As I sat back on the plane looking at the sunset over Washington DC, my mind was struck with my childhood memory on how difficult was my mother's life. My mind was back on traveling to Garut for Uncle Muk Dang's wedding in 1968, when I was 12 years old. Garut is about 180 km Southeast of Bogor where we lived.
I remembered that my mother brought us, myself with two older sisters and the youngest brother, a baby at that time. It was the first out of town "journey" and vacation that the family ever had since I was born. We sat in a crammed old commercial "suburban”/mini van traveling through the winding road of Puncak about 40 km from Bogor. We heard many accidents due to reckless drivers and brake or steering failures. The driver drove aggressively and made us dizzy. Although we took Antimo pill for motions sickness, I, probably my sisters too, threw up along the way. My baby brother cried many times - maybe feeling dizzy.
We brought new clothes that was made specifically for this wedding in the only old suitcase that we had. My mother carried the baby in a "kain batik/batik sheet", and my sisters helped her carrying a hand bag with baby milk and food. The travel took about 8 hours passing at least three winding mountainous areas.
Without passenger reservation like what we have now, I don’t know how my mother managed to transfer and to negotiate the fees to a another "suburban" in Bandung's terminal to go Garut. At sunset, we finally arrived safely at my grandparents house in Garut. I was born in this town and spent my first year in this house. s.
We met a lot of relatives from my mother side and I believe we stayed for a week. I was so happy when my grandmother gave money to each of us before we went back. My grandmother also gave some money to my mother to cover the trip's expenses. My grandma knew that my family could not afford traveling to attend the wedding. The income from our kiosk was not enough for the family with five kids. When I remember this "journey", my eyes are wet…feeling how hard my mother's life was.
I have been extensively traveling to remote places in different parts of the world in the last 15 years. Several of these places were still developing countries similar to Indonesia in 1960s. The difference was that I had driver and car ready once I landed. I feel grateful that we can improve our life and afford the traveling with ease.
I wish she could be with us - enjoying all the conveniences that we have today as a reward to her devotion -raising us through the "turbulent" time. Regardless of her shortcomings, where we are today cannot be detached from her caring and love nobody else could match.
