the beginning and end of a fateful trip - WOW

5/2/13
2:27 AM the phone ring conveying a message
2:30 AM rang back to confirm
2:35 AM booking 2 flight tickets online
2:50 AM telephoning children
3:30 AM packing
3:45 AM starting from home

then  the hurdles started
1
car started well but it went off failing then to start even with a push
a rescue car from Chris rescued us
2
misplaced an ID card - requested entry through security gate
3
no ATM to take cash in the security enclosure
we had less than 500 between us
4
lost the boarding pass  and couldn't recover
went here and there to resolve the problem
5
directed to the departure - found the boarding card there
had no ID to claim the lost boarding gate
but persuaded the staff - may be by with the help of our greying hairs
and so finally retrieved the boarding card and so boarded the plane

WOW!
8/2/13
1
on return almost hindered and held back by another mishap
2
instead off two - only one return ticket
3
the ticket cost at the booking counter was already high
so book a ticket for the next flight and rescheduled the other ticket
and finally boarded, flew and reached home the same day…. 2 hours late ,,,

WOW! WOW!

  

In loving memory of Pipi

 Thank you Lord for all of these

And many more that we could not recall today

We had prayed for her to live long

She lived 99 years - even longer than we had bargained for

We had prayed for a peaceful ending when the time comes

The end came quietly and peacefully when it was God’s timing

We had asked for the end to be of least trouble for all others

Post 2 AM on a Tuesday Feb the fifth disturbed the others the least

The end time was right for us to catch the 5:35 AM Delhi –Imphal flight

So that we reached home by 10:30 AM in time for burial service

In time for us to pay our last respect with the traditional ‘ puandum’

We gazed and gazed at her still frame as if to forever engrave it within our hearts

Hugging her coffin we grieved and cried our hearts out as we bid good bye

We knew many who silently cried in their own places, as they couldn’t be there

Almost a century back her mom gave birth to her at Tinsong missions Hq,

Her father Nengkhat was perhaps the first ordained ministered among the Paites

Her dad was remembered as ‘Khaizaliana-pa’ who had his hairs tied into a knot

And used to ‘lamder-der’ – joyfully dancing to God around the village ‘pulpit’

She was known by all who spoke in sweet memory for 2 things she was

Her long straight hairs reaching below her knees and her love for ‘cleanness’

Many in different ways fondly remembered her - especially by her own children

As a hard working mom who led and showed how to ‘learn, labour and live’

To me I would cherish the memory of her ever-smiling face and her gentle manners
I would miss most our later days nonverbal communication that were nonetheless truly sweet   

I am truly grateful to God and her for all she was to Rebecca and my older kids

Her caring hands and her warm embrace to them when it was needed the most

In retrospect, I can see God blessed her in many ways –a long life, 'successful' sons,
grand and great grand kids, a quiet peaceful end and an ideal spot for her final resting place!

langkham@gmail.com 5-9 Feb, 2013 (Delhi – Lamka - Delhi)