January 18 2014, Saturday
What matters
These days, the weather has not been too stable. Temperatures rise and fall! Who are most concerned? Besides the fashion-conscious socialite, it would be my mother. Every evening, she gazes at the television in all seriousness to see what the temperature for the next day will be. If it drops to below 15°, she will call her friends announcing most unhappily that she is not joining the mahjong game.
When the game is on, her day becomes energized! My mother gets up early, has her breakfast, showers and gets dressed at a speed much faster than her usual. She is ready to go at 10. The game is to start at noon but all the four players meet for early lunch, yum-cha at about 10:30. Since her fall some years back, my mother has accepted the helper, Teresa, as her escort. Teresa accompanies her to take the taxi, has lunch with the other players and virtually sees to it that my mother is safely seated at the mahjong table.
The rise and fall of temperature matters a lot to my mother but I am sure not so to most of us. Whether something matters or not very much depends on that very moment! I used to cough a lot when winter came. In between all those coughing fits, what mattered most would be I stopped coughing!
I have learnt to respect my mother’s small matters. They are important to her and therefore, to me too!
What matters
