Since having amma with me I knew that it would be trouble for the two of us to try to run the kitchen so I left it to her to sort out the kitchen and only occasionally did I step in (to throw out the accumulated junk) I realise now that to her it was a waste to throw away things because she was brought up in a totally different era when things were so hard to come by. Not to say things were easier when I was growing up but circumstances have changed considerably in the past 30 years. I was always trying to throw things and clear the house and she would secretly keep things which I had put aside to throw. The truth came to light when I was sorting through the kitchen cupboards during the days after her passing. I was on an extended holiday and there was no maid so I had to find out where things were kept. I cleaned out every cupboard in the kitchen.
I found many different types of ingredients which I had no idea what they were for. Amma made sure her kitchen was always well stocked and had a whole variety of things in the fridge and freezer. (Thanks to her son-in-law's frequent trips to the Indian grocer in Klang)I found the pots which I had packed to throw away, hiding in the cupboards. My mother obviously outsmarted me. We found a brand new wok in the store room which was still in the box unused just like all the other new pans which she reluctantly took out to replace the old ones. She must have bought it recently. I am using her special pot and will never have the heart to throw that out.
This is what I realised, I would keep all the junk in the world to have her back at home with us.
Miss you so much amma.
No comments:
Post a Comment