Tag: protection

  • POPPY the best of all!

    Favorite animal? I don’t have a specific favorite, but if I were to choose, it would be dogs. I remember we had a dog named POPPY when we were young. POPPY was a faithful companion who seemed to understand our language and had a great affection for us. It would even hunt down small animals that posed a threat to our crops and accompany my dad on hunting trips. Unfortunately, POPPY passed away around the age of 10 or 11.

    After that, my parents couldn’t bring themselves to adopt another dog. Some dogs we had later either got lost at a young age or were unfortunately hit by vehicles, especially since we live near the National highway. I miss having such loyal friends around. I recall how, when POPPY was with us, I could confidently stay with my younger siblings in my parents’ absence at night. We knew that POPPY wouldn’t allow anyone to harm us. It used to sleep right outside our bedroom instead of its kennel when our parents were away, guarding us throughout the night without taking a nap. I wish I could meet a dog like POPPY again.

  • Super Nana!

    Let me take this chance to introduce to you my grandma, who I have held dearly in my heart but rarely discussed with others. Apart from a few, I’ve never thought to mention her to anyone. Okay! She is very dear to me. Although I spent less time with her, I can vividly remember her face and the way she adored me.

    She wasn’t educated, and she didn’t even learn to wear shoes because she found them uncomfortable haha. I often saw her singing songs (literally folk songs) for her loved ones, especially for her husband and her three children who passed away at an early age. Her profound understanding of life differed greatly from my world. She shared stories of walking miles for a week to reach the nearest town (Now Imphal). She would return with some clothes for her children. She told me about eating sweet corn instead of rice or Hao Khamui (Sticky rice bread), and how she would climb trees to protect herself from animal attacks while resting at night.

    You know, all of this happened during the 1940s or 1950s when India was still struggling for independence from British rule, and to celebration of freedom, she was there, selling some of her hard-earned crops to buy pairs of cloth to keep her family warm. She embarked on the toughest journeys to provide her family with their basic needs.

    Well, well, well… that’s it for today; I’ll continue in the next episode! 😄