I recently ordered a second-hand book online and was pleasantly surprised when it arrived -- neatly wrapped in plastic, as if someone had taken the time to care for it.
That simple touch immediately reminded me of my late father. He wasn’t highly educated, but he had magic in his hands. For a time, he worked at the state library in Johor Bahru, where he learned the art of book binding and wrapping like no other. Because of that, all my school books -- even though they were buku pinjaman -- were always perfectly covered in plastic. Needless to say, I became the envy of many classmates.
My late father wasn’t alone in his creative streak. There was a period when he and my late mother were both into macramé, and together they created the most wonderful pieces. They were always busy with projects -- knotting, weaving, perfecting. And I remember so clearly: whenever someone came by and admired one of their creations, they would simply smile and gift it away without hesitation.
Here’s a picture I’ve shared before -- you can spot one of their macramé pieces in it.
Sometimes I wonder what kind of projects my parents would be working on for my own home if they were still around today. I’m sure they’d still be creating -- with love, as always. 😔
