최종수정 : 2007-01-04 00:00
by Yonah Kim Martin
It is January 1st, 2007 - New Year's Day.
My father is in the hospital, and I am home briefly to record my thoughts. I tried to bring my mother home for a rest, but as usual, she refuses to leave his side - she is exhausted, overwhelmed, but inseparable from her soul-mate. Like Catherine and Heathcliff, "Whatever [their] souls of made of, his and [hers] are the same."
My beloved wife of forty-two years. My father's voice reverberates within the private hospital room. It has become his life-line, his soothing mantra.
Earlier this morning, an elderly woman had wished me a happy new year as we prepared teas at the communal patient counter. She is caring for a husband who recently suffered a stroke.
Just like me, there are many family members visiting their loved ones. We all exchanged silent New Year's greetings, explicit in our warm smiles and empathetic eyes.
Though we are of various ethnicities, we are connected by our common desire - to see our loved ones fight their way to good health.
There are many firsts throughout life.
Today is the first day of 2007. We will not eat my mother's famous dduk-gook(traditional Korean rice cake soup). The grandchildren will do seh-beh(traditional New Year's bowing ritual) by their grandfather's hospital bedside. We will play yoot(traditional games with four sticks) in a family room next to my father's ward. For the first time, my family will celebrate the New Year in a hospital.
"There is always sunshine after the rain," my father affirmed this morning.
It is raining outside, but my heart is glowing with many burning wishes for the New Year...
I wish for restored health for my father and all those who need it.
I wish for healthier families and for the home to be a place of refuge and love.
I wish for our local and national Korean-Canadian communities to be stronger, more vibrant and supportive of each other throughout 2007 as we continue to fully participate in Canadian society.
I wish for everyone to deeply reflect on what's most important in life, to "hold fast to dreams" and live each day with clear intention.
As Marianne Williamson, a spiritual activist, so beautifully stated, "We are all meant to shine, as children do...And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."
I wish this for my daughter, for all our precious children...and for everyone.
Seh-heh-bok-ma-nee-ba-deuh-seh-yo. Happy New Year.
Yonah Kim Martin is a teacher at Banting Middle School and the Chair of C3 Society (www.c3society.com). To make a submission, contact the editor at aymackenzie@telus.net.
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