5679. Story 1. A very old lady travels on the subway alone. Story 2. A happy positive old lady with wet macular eye degeneration.

STORY 1. A very old lady travels on the subway alone on a Sunday morning.

Twelve hours earlier, at 9am, I parked my car outside the Upper Thomson MRT Station and took the train from Upper Thomson to City Hall. At the Bishan MRT Station to Marina Square line, a thin sun-tanned wrinkled skin, white-haired bun woman in her late 70s or early 80s boarded the train. 

 

A jade ring in her wedding finger. Translucent light green squarish false precious stone  ear rings. Dark grey dress with two broad vertical stripes. An imitation faded washed often "Burberry" shoulder bag with threads fraying from the straps. Eyes are bright. No glasses. Face grim. Dark brown low heeled shoes for enclosed toes.

 

Immediately a young lady gave her the corner seat reserved for the aged, pregnant or disabled. In the train she whipped out her slim handphone to see her image wearing the same dress in her Chinese text WhatsApp. Later she rifled her hand bag, uncapped a small bottle, her index finger rubbed some oil from inside the bottle and sniffed the oil.

A sad expression. Had all her peers passed away?Where was she going on this fine Sunday morning? I alighted at City Hall to take some photos of Suntec City. She was still in the train.

 

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4 Apr 2024.
STORY 2. A happy positive 77-year-old lady.
Shan's mother had been working all her life as a food court's server. She had a Rolex watch for long service from the first boss of Kopitiam which is now taken over by NTUC.  Her husband passed away some decades ago but she has two adult children, a son and a daughter who care for her. She had worked loyally in Kopitiam's outlets for 20 years. "Standing all day. My legs are very tired!" she would mention the harsh reality of standing to me.

Around 3 years ago, she had injections for macular degeneration. Her daughter Shan promptly took her to a specialist in private practice. A series of 4 injections into the eye over a year. She is now OK and can see and be active herself. She is forced to retire as Kopitiam in Kandang Kerbau Hospital wanted to transfer her to Changi Airport.

Staying with her sister-in-law and an adult son in the same house is good for senior citizens as they don't feel lonely.  She goes out for exercises, shopping and meals with friends and calls me occasionally to chat in Cantonese.  Travels to Malaysia are with Shan. She does not like airplane travels or animals. 

 

"My daughter keeps those mice as pets. It is a waste of money," she told me, in a sad tone. "People in other parts of the world are starving. She keeps "mice" as pets!". "Your daughter's hamster keeps her company," I explained. "She has no kids.".