Writing III Descriptive I

My Beloved Grandma

When someone ask you “Who is the most precious person for you?” what will be your answer? Or if you have to chose about who you are really cared for? Who will be it? For all these years, people had asked me the same things and the answer always stay the same. It’s not my girlfriend nor the girl I had my crush on, not the kind-hearted lady who keep smiling for me. It is my grandmother, someone that I really look up to and cared for because I loves her so much. She was the one who took care of me ever since I was a baby, my parents were so busy with work at that time, they were transferred away and grandma took care of me. I love my grandma the most because she was the closest person to me, my grandma was loved by other members of my family also. She was a very wonderful person with many positive things to learn from, she loves literature and arts, she also taught others to be more aware of the value of life and kindness.

 Astamona Oemar, that was my grandma’s name back to her younger days. After she married my grandpa. She received “Nasution” as an addition to her name, “Nasution” here is a family/clan name of my grandfather’s family, she always said about how memorable that day when she married my grandpa. She loved cooking and was the best cook I ever know, she’d been cooking for our family for normal and special occasions. However, it’s a shame that no one among her six children who interested in following her footstep in cooking, none of us inherit her talents and passion for cooking. She was also interested in pastry, I often asked to help her to bake cakes and that was the best moment I ever have with her, it was always delicious every day and I’m grateful for having her as my grandmother.

Back then on her younger days, my grandma was known for talents which were not on cooking but also in arts and literary things. Almost all member of my family praised how beautiful her voice was, she was also part of a group of traditional dancer, she joined the troupe on her younger days and went to various place to perform the dances. She spent her leisure time to listen to old record of 60’s era singer, and then she also sang while cooking or when she helped me to take a bath as well. On my uncle’s wedding party she asked my grandfather for a dance, they were very cheerful and gracious on that time. On the other hand, she was very good on literature. She was really into things like poet and traditional drama, I think this is the reason of my interest in literature because she often took me to some group meeting where they read poet and also performed theatrical acts. On holiday she usually took me to bookstore and bought me picture book about ‘Nusantara’s folklores’,  she treasured books from various genre and her collection of books are still kept in our old house at padang sidempuan, Medan.

My grandma took care of me when my parents left me because of they were busy with works, she treated me kindly and taught me many thing. She raised me to be a man who can stands proudly to himself, she taught me the customs, the value and many other things that other were not aware of. I learnt about many thing from her and she showed to my little self about how to stand tall and overcome all trials which are appearing before me, to stay strong when others give up, and to keep my dignity as both man and a son of our family. She is precious unlike the others, she was teacher, mother, friend and woman I first ever admire, she is my grandma.

 Unfortunately, my grandma passed away several years ago. But the teaching and her spirit will always alive inside me, her will and her ideals will be my guidepost to walk my life. She taught me many wonderful things, she inspired me to find the literary part of me, and she also raised me with care and so much love. She will always be my dearest person for me, an  angel who keep watch over me. I love her.

By I Gede Bhisma Griwanasta

For Astamona Oemar, a woman, a wife, a mother and a grandmother who loved by all