A New Years Eve thought and ask.

I have found that one of the things I do a lot of now is drive my Pop to his medical appointments. He likes riding in my C30 because it makes him feel young like he’s in a sports car. He is going to be ninety-one this coming year. He is frail but strong. He is slower but still thoughtful.

He says it is quieter in my C30 than their car which mom still drives around and he can hear me better sitting in my car. We talk in a language all our own. Part English, part Japanese, part nodding and not hearing, part letting the other person sit in the patience of not really hearing the other person but understanding anyways. Kind of seeing ones self as the other and not worrying about bothering with the real words so much. It is a relationship we have developed over many years.

My Pop loves Canada. Pop is 90 now and is hard of hearing and has some trouble walking. He has an enlarged heart and his heart specialist says he is a miracle because his heart is only working at 30% efficiency. But, it is his team of medical support that has created this miracle. He goes to his doctor who is of Chinese descent. He goes to his Respiratory specialist who is of South Asian descent. His Urologist was from England but retired. He checks in now with a young female doctor born in Canada. His heart specialist is of Jewish descent. His pharmacists are a team of women at the local supermarket of Asian origin and they take care to make sure he has the right meds. His hearing technician is of Asian descent and she always takes time to talk with him in Japanese. Pop likes this. Our neighbours are Caucasian Canadians of many years and they always check in with us when they see Pop walking. His great grandkids are of mixed decent and bring him lots of joy and one carries his name. Little Hayao he calls him. With all this help and support and love, I am sure my mom and pop will make it well into the 90s.
I kid him and say he has the United Nations of medical support. He says this is one of the reasons he loves Canada. People from around the world are here helping each other. Only in Canada, he says. I say in Richmond for sure. Despite all the killing and wars around the world it is stories like this that give me hope that one day we can all learn to live together peacefully and help each other enjoy our short time on this Earth.

I keep thinking that if we all learned that we are living out stories that we have created for ourselves and not to be so judgemental of others we would have a lot more peace on this Earth. But, that is a difficult ask in many troubled parts of this world.

So, on this eve of a New Year I wish for peace and love for everyone I know and those I have yet to know.

Alan