the epitome of strength

My mother has been bugging me to tell my grandmother to go see a doctor. My mother said Lola has coughs for several days already, but I haven’t heard her cough for the day that I was there.

Ever since I can remember, my grandmother hates going to doctors and hospitals. Whenever she gets sick, my mother always tells her to have a checkup or take some lab tests, etc. But all my mother’s ramblings fall on deaf ears; Lola just wouldn’t go to a doctor’s clinic. She is my mother’s complete opposite. She dismisses every headaches, muscle pain, flu–every sickness–just like that, and it works for her. Up to now, she’s relatively stronger than most people her age. She still enjoys washing clothes (despite objections!) and going to the market. She’s active in senior citizen’s meeting and joins their every parade. When outside our house, she’s a happy person, and most people enjoy talking to her.

I admire this personality of hers. She doesn’t really need a time to relax or spa filters. She just loves doing things. Some people are just born hardworking, I guess. And in her case, some people are just born strong, physically and emotionally. She doesn’t want to go see doctors because she thinks she will, and she does, get well soon. She believes that going to doctors would only make her worse, especially when they tell you that have this or that sickness. Up to now, she remains visibly healthy, except for slightly slower walking.

She has a small frame, and yet she’s very, very strong. She has endured so much pain, and yet, she’s still standing tall. I hope she remains that way for a long, long time. I wonder if I will get that from her. I hope all of us her grandkids would.