This last two days, I've met some inspirational people in different places. That's the benefit of going places, I guess. These two are just samples.
On a Sunday, I went to a sup konro restaurant and sat on one of the empty chairs. That's the only available table where no one but an old man was sitting there. He was wrinkled, medium built and about 70 years old. I made my order, checked my money and sat while observing everything that was going on. A waiter came and put a glass of warm milk in front of the old man and he said, "Pak, there is only a half glass of milk." The old man nodded. I was suprised. Definitely, I was surprised that he didn't complain. He suddenly looked at me and asked, "Have you ordered your drinks?" Overwhelmed by his sudden question, I answered that I had a take-away order. "Please have your milk, sir. It'll be cold, soon." Out of the blue, a waiter shouted, "Ma'am, he's the owner of this place." I had to hear it twice because I couldn' believe my ears. Say what? He's the OWNER?
After I regained my 'consciousness', I started to have a conversation with him and I found out that he opened the place about ten years ago. He is a Chinese with a wife from Makassar. He used to study at a Moslem school until 4th grade. When I asked him how he'd started his business, he told me that he used to forbid his wife to work. The war days came and he wanted to help the soldiers to fight for independence in Makassar. He provided them with food and it was his wife who cooked and prepared 1000 sets of food for the soldiers. Since then, they had participated in the fight by providing food. Who would've guess that it was the start of a business? Yet, he is still a humble person. No jewelry, no expensive watch, no smell of perfume or even dyed hair. He looks just like any old grandpa you'd find on the streets walking slowly and cannot catch up with the running grandkids. Truly inspirational....
The second person was a person I used to know when I was in college: my boarding house keeper. I stopped by at the house on my way back from the hospital to visit my friend in Depok. She looked older but her eyes were as exuberant as ever. I remembered our wildest night when we persuaded her to go with us to watch "Kamasutra" in Kalibata Mall. At that time, we had to go that far from Depok just to enjoy the privilege of watching a movie. Kasiaaan deh kiteeee..... Anyway, she did not remember me, which was understandable since there must have been so many girls she'd met. The conversation went on and on and I noticed there was a small child running around us. I asked her who it was, she gave me a short answer: it's my child. Well, I found it hard to believe because she was quite an elderly woman. After a while, she'd told me that that child was born prematurely and that the mother and father did not want to have him. They already have four children and because of the difficult economic condition could not afford another mouth to feed. The house keeper was offered to be given the child and she agreed only because it was given, not sold to her. She asked for a legal document saying that this child now belongs to her. She knows her rights. That's good for her.
Amidst our chat, she told me how the baby was deformed due to the premature birth. It was so small, too. She mentioned a special brand of milk for that kind of baby and how expensive it was. She's happy that the child now is healthy, smart and active. The look on her face showed how satisfied she was. This look also gave me shivers. In a way, we could say that her condition is more or less the same with that couple who abandoned this child. They all are house keepers. What makes her so different? Well, you and I both know the answer. It's that big heart and an ocean of patience. What else would there be? Truly inspirational....
Don't you agree?
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