My Story

A few days ago, I met one of the most remarkable women of all time. Namely "Nanang", my great-grandmother. At 89 years old, she stands tall, wears a serene smile, and has natural dark hair with a few strands of white. At 89, her mind is sharp, her humor intact. She radiates peace and kindness and wisdom and love.

In her 89 years, she has accomplished a lot. By working in the land she inherited from her father and selling eggs for a living, she has raised and educated her children, her grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. At 89 years old, her grandchildren already have grandchildren.

She told us a few stories. Her life in the US (she's been living there for around 4 years, being taken care of by her grandchildren), her tour in the Holy Land, how she met my great-grandfather, and a few stories of her youth. She told me that my grandmother, Lita, who died before I was born, was smart at school.

I wish I had asked for more stories. I wanted to know what her life was like. I wanted to know what my grandmother was like. I wanted to know their stories, to catch glimpses of a younger world, of a generation slowly fading and giving way to the new.

I may never get to see my grandchildren. I may never even have children. Only time will tell. But maybe by writing, I can give the future generation a glimpse of what life was like in my time.

Other than, writing is my creative outlet. My expression.

So these are my stories.