My Grandma’s burial in Jakarta Indonesia.
I’ve moved back into my place now that the renovations are coming to a close. I’ve still got to go back to Mum’s place to clean up the room I was sleeping in, living with Mum for the past couple of months has been great. She loves her wine so we often got plastered together after meals (they were amazing meals too!).
Conversations sometimes got deep and meaningful. Much laughter was had as well as plenty of emo moments. The other night Mum told me some more of Grandma’s story (She passed away at 80 a few years ago).
My Grandma, Erlina Lestari, was 10yrs old when she lost her mother. Her father had 5 kids to look after and he was dead broke, so broke that he struggled to keep the family alive. He ended up giving up Erlina’s 1 year old little sister to someone else in the village but one night Erlina and one of her brothers lit up a torch and went out in the village to get her sister back.
Erlina got to keep her little sister but she had to look after her. The little baby would cry non-stop and Erlina asked a neighbour for help, turns out the baby was starving, she needed milk but there was no money for milk so they just stewed rice, cooled it down and used it in place of milk.
When mum talks about stuff from the past it’s like she’s talking about the dark ages. Maybe one day when I have kids and tell them about all the stuff my Mum went through to have my sister and I it’ll sound like the dark ages to them too.
Erlina’s little sister is still alive and well now. It’s amazing what my Grandma went through at 10 years old and bringing up a child. Makes me think 10 year old kids sitting on facebook all day have it easy.