It has been a month or more I have not written anything for my blog in English. Being absent with English for such a long time, to certain extent, has worsened my ability to jot down anything I have in mind in English . As a long-life learner of The English Language, I truly realize the meaning of proverb which says ‘practice makes perfect”. That’s why I write this story in English, though it may be much better if it is written in bahasa.
Today, I don’t really know what forces behind me which push me to write a story of two elders whom I met this morning in my brother’s home. These two elders are a spouse who is familiar to me and most of my family members. This is how the story goes…..
First of all, let me introduce you to the first elder. I don’t know his real name but I am used to calling him ‘sama Boson” meaning that the father of Boson. His first son is Boson, therefore I call him Sama Boson. He is truly old, based on my mother’s story, his age is more than 70 years old. My mother told me that she was a little girl when she saw Sama Boson was a bachelor. It means he must be more than 70 years old since my mother is 63 years old now. He has moved from the village to live in Ngabang (a nearby city) for almost four years. Sama Boson has got several sons and daughters. His eldest son is Boson and Boson also has moved to the city to follow his father. Boson has got married with several children. Since moving to the city, Sama Boson has to look for a new job in the city. What makes me truly sad is that he must become A ‘STONE SCAVENGER’ PEMUNGUT BATU-BATU KECIL”.
He works as a man who collects stones and put them in sacks. He carries the stones from such a quite long distance. He, who is that old, in my opinion, should not do such job because that job requires good stamina and energy. Twice, I went to his home to ask him to make a cage or nest for my mother’s hens. He was not at home; he was working in the location. Since the location is around 2 km from his home, I rode my bike to go there. There, I saw his tired face, frowned skin, and old bones. In my mind I said “if he had a choice, he would not choose to do such job. He seems tired. I could see from his face. Then I came near by him and asked him to stop for a while coz I needed to talk. Then I told him my purpose of coming to him and he said he could do it on Sunday since Monday is the only holiday he has in a whole week. I feel really sad when seeing he carried the stones. By doing such job, he can only earn fifteen thousands a day. If you look at his hair, his hair is almost all white which indicates he is no longer young. Finally we agreed that he will come to my brother’s home on Monday [Monday afternoon when I write this post]. I am garteful to God for giving me a better life.
The second elder is Sino Boson meaning that the mother of Boson. Sino in my language means ‘mother’. Sino boson is also no longer young. She is almost 70 years old. She is older than my mother . She is my mom best friend. My mother few times told me that when they were young, they were good friends just like brothers or sisters. Even when both of them got married, they are still friends now. Unfortunately, Sino Boson is not as lucky as my mother. When I was a kid, when we wanted to go to the nearby city, Sino boson used to be my baby sitter. He carried me with a piece of cloth or ambin in my language. Everyday, Sino Boson also works as A STONE SCAVENGER or pemungut batu in this city. she follows her husband’s footstep. She told me that a pack of selected stones may worth ten thousand. The pack is 25 kg. From her physical looks, I can conclude that Sino Boson is no longer strong. Her face has shrunk to a certain levels; her backbone is no longer up right or Bangkok. Her hand, face, foot show me nothing but tiredness. I feel really sad when I see these two elders. This spouse has been living such a hard and difficult life. Their children should not have let them live that way.
So, you might ask me “what these two elders have to do with wisdom and misery”? here are the reasons:
If we look at the life the spouse lives, there is no doubt that they live a difficult life. Can we imagine if we do a job as they do? I can’t do the job.
In the hardship of their life, they do not really complain about their life. They know that they have to do that job in order to survive. They still thank God for giving them such life to live. They have the wisdom to face the life.
They still support their children with their low income. I always say to them ‘Neng (Kek) why don’t you stay in the village and sap the rubber?”. They trully become wise people.
But there is a question which haunts me in my mind, why don’t they live in the village and sap the rubber rather than work as stone scavengers?
My mom told me that actually they have lands in the village. They actually can earn a better living [income] if they sap the rubber. Let’s say they get 10 Kg of rubber [karet] per day, they can get 90 thousands per day. I don’t know the reasons why the spouse chooses to live in the city. City is cruel to its citizens.
This morning, at 6.30 I picked Sama Boson. I took him to my brother’s home and made his a cup of Cappuccino while waiting my mother came home from the church. He asked me which nests to be made; I said I did not know.
One of the most adorable things I love from my mother is her compassion. She went to the market and bought some vegetables, fish, canned food or sarden. She cooked as if we had a special guest. Frankly speaking we often go out and eat in our favorite Chinese restaurant “Pinten” . I asked my mother in my dayak language “ badakah omeh kum nanuk dangkayuk no?”
Which means Mom, why did you cook so many menus? She told me back by saying “dama jarak ka diri jadi harus nyamanlah ne uman, ne diri kan nga biasa”? which means “ This elder seldom comes to us and eats something good, so I cook him something better”. I always see people as what they are. I am a poor man but i am lucky to have tested the better life.
Sama boson said that no needeed to be busy by cooking and whatever. He said that he just did a small job. We ate together and offered him the food. He ate fully by adding the rice twice. All of his children live in the city and work the job he does. Why do they choose that job? I don’t know.
PS: Actually, I have photos of the spouse in my cell-phone but I cannot post it because my DVD/CD DRIVE is out of order.
MAY GOB BLESS THEM
LOVE
KRISTIAN
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