Today on my way back home from work, I walked by 么鳳, a very traditional Chinese dried snack shop in Causeway Bay, which suddenly reminded me of my aunt (whom I grew up calling "姨媽媽") and my mom who loved taking me to this shop when I was very little. The thought of them made me emotional and miss them very much.
I called my mom at once, trying once again to persuade her to come to town and visit me. She then told me about my aunt (in her late 60's) having hurt her foot some weeks ago and had been having trouble walking even around the flat - but she refused to see a doctor.
I spent a long time trying to explain to my mom how she needed to keep pushing Aunt to have her foot checked out, as it could be serious. My mom kept telling me how difficult it was to persuade my aunt..... how my aunt said that she couldn't walk across the street to take a taxi..... how taxis couldn't stop right outside her building's entrance..... (My aunt's son is mentally handicapped so naturally he can't help her. Her husband, for some bizarre reason, also has not taken her to the hospital. Neither has she called the ambulance, for fear of embarrassment.) I called back and taught my mom what counter arguments she could give, how she could called an ambulance for her if she really couldn't walk, etc.
It makes me very sad sometimes trying to care for someone who keeps refusing my help or giving me reasons why he/she doesn't need help. It really pains me, makes me 心痛. Like for so long I tried to convince my parents to move back to the city, to be closer to me, so I can visit them and take care of them. They keep saying no, and yet they aren't really taking good care of each other.
I understand that sometimes we hope to save the whole world but we can't. I don't intend to save the whole world, I only hope I can at least help those I love and care about. I wish I could do more, if only they would let me.
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