Death, Life

One day when I terribly missed my grandmother,

I defined death as

not being able to hold the person's hand and feel the warmth.

She was so vivid in my memories,

and yet she just wasn't physically there.

It made me so sad to think that I couldn't hold her hands

no matter how much she's alive in my mind.

My grandmother, a true philanthropist who became a gynecologist back then,

was a special woman.

Known to be a poker face who kept her words to minimum,

she was extremely witty when she did say something.

I remember being surprised by her great sense of humor.

My friend whose father is suffering from

the same cancer my grandma died from said,

"Is this life? Toil all your life just to die like this?"

As much as I try to shun cliches, aphorisms, and maxims,

I must acknowledge that they are mostly true.

Carpe Diem. Festina Lente.

Savor each moment.

Live as if I'm gonna die tomorrow.

"Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for it is now that God favors what you do.

Always be clothed in white, and always anoint your head with oil.

Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love, all the days of this meaningless life that God has given you under the sun— all your meaningless days. For this is your lot in life and in your toilsome labor under the sun."

Ecclesiastes 9:7-9