She Reminds Me....Of You

Silver hairs. Wrinkles. Old-voice. Passé outfits. Expensive jewelries. These are the usual terms we used when we are describing our “lolas” specifically when we consider their physical appearance.



I have a memorable experience yesterday. I was on a hurry situation. I ride on a crowded bus and someone offer a seat beside me for an old woman who was looking for a vacant seat. This old woman looked very kind and so I didn’t feel any shyness to talked to her and from that simple conversation, I enabled to know her name. Her name is “Lola Melang”.



I have a good time chatting with her. Undeniably, I felt comfortable seating beside her, sharing my experiences… and so on. I wonder the strange feeling inside my heart. I don’t know her and so, I asked myself: Why I am acting like that? (intrapersonal communication only, okay).We don’t know each other personally but still, there’s something that connects us with one another. A feeling of having a close relationship with someone who you don’t know… what a very strange feeling, isn’t it?



Again, for the second time around… I conducted an intrapersonal communication (me and my mind) and from there, I realized the reason behind that “weird feeling” of mine. And that is because of, she reminds me of my grandparents, especially my “Lola”. The way she talks, she smile and even her taste in dress and jewelries. She made me think of my Lola’s physical appearance and our memories together when she gives me pieces of advice and so on. Unexpectedly, I felt sad and my tears began to fall. I failed to hide it from her and even to the people around us.



The highlight of that extraordinary experience was this worth to remember conversation of mine and Lola Melang: I am just worried about her so I try to ask her if why did she go out alone? To which she answered, “Iha, I am not alone, someone up there is always there for me.” With astonishment, I stare at her and observe for a while.



That’s too weird! Before my lola had passed away, she told me the same thing, as like what Lola Melang have said to me at this time. Wow! That’s the only term that I can used to describe that experience. She’s really admirable…she amazed me not only because she can go out alone but also because of… she completely reminds me of my lovely Lola who also has a strong faith to God. And I agreed to what my Lola and now… she told me. I also believe that “God is always there for me, for us”. What do we need to do is just to “ Pray and Lift up everything to Him”. Because, if we trust everything to Him, nothing is impossible! Like what I had experience, I know that it was a God’s gift to me. “God is really the way, the truth and the life”.



And finally, because of that encounter with Lola Melang, I also realized that it is indeed true that a grandmother is a little bit parent, a little bit teacher, and a little bit best friend. Someone who has silver in their hairs and gold in their hearts. She is also a voice of the past. A role model of the present. And she opens the doors to the future.

*As long as there are grandmothers, there will be love in the world, it's true!

  To God Be The Glory!