The old folks just got older

Dad started going to the daycare centre. And out of a sudden, there appeared a community of old people at our void deck in the morning, all headed for the same destination – the daycare centre.

Maybe uncle Goh was the first. The jolly man had been one of the old folks I am always happy to bump into. He would always greet me with a cheery ‘Good morning’ in English, followed by “young lady, going to work?’ in Teochew. Aunt says he used to be neighbours with grandparents at Weld Road, and he was widowed when his children were very young.

He was one of the first to start going to the daycare centre. I saw him board the mini bus starting sometime late last year. I met him at daycare the other day and asked how old he was. 97 he says. Most mornings, he would sit at the void deck waiting for the bus with his maid and greet me in the same cheery tone when I flash past him, saying ‘Ah peh, good morning!’

Recently I saw another elderly  man at the adjacent block waiting for the mini bus, accompanied by his wife. I have never seen him before. But he looks fairly healthy.

Yesterday, other than him, I saw Ong sitting nearby, his eyes were red and suddenly he looked weary and old. He has always been active, moving around in his bicycle and in every sense of the word a social being, always hanging around a group of old folks chatting in an animated fashion. Yesterday dad told me that he, too started going to daycare too. I saw Ong again this morning, waiting at the same spot for the bus.

After I passed Ong, I passed another old neighbour. I do not know his name, but he is another of those unofficial community leaders in the neighbourhood. When Junsheng passed away, he was always around rendering help to uncle. I was told he was a devote Buddhist and was very active in the Buddhist community. He too, looked shrivelled and weary, almost a different person.

When I see them, I see a reflection of my dad, ageing. But uncle Goh remains a shining example of strength and optimism that does not fade with age – the kind I would wish for in my dad.