ft. the stressful blue filter, just like ‘Ozark’
They’re of course not a perfect couple, nor a sweet match made in heaven. My parents’ relationship was built by circumstances and commitments. In around 1992, they met at this Buddhist temple, where both of them were volunteers.
Dad put a carrot in Mom’s bag and called her ‘Dewi,’ even though that wasn’t her name. Apparently, he looked at her face and decided that Dewi was the name that suited her. Maybe that’s how people flirted back in their day.
My dad drove members of the congregation to other cities when they needed to travel for religious activities. My great-grandma saw him there and instantly liked him. She apparently liked him so much that she wanted him as her grandson-in-law. But she wasn’t the one who introduced them. It was this guy who liked my Mom because she looks like a good girl volunteering in a temple and wanted her to meet his diligent nephew. And so, they met.
The moment my great-grandma saw Dad, when Mom brought him home and introduced him as a “friend”, her face lit up. I could almost see the blush in those old cheeks… if it was really that dramatic and I didn’t make this up.
Long story short, they got married. A week later, Jimin was born—that’s unnecessary.
Because what’s necessary is the life after marriage, where they had a couple of cute kiddos (hehe) and decided to always stick together through thick and thin. Almost like the Byrdes family in Ozark, except my dad isn’t as brilliant as Marty, wasn’t involved in any money laundering situations, nor did he meet any cartels (thankfully!).
I didn’t grow up thinking that I wanted to have a husband like my dad because Dad loves Mom so much. No wonder, they didn’t strike me as a sweet couple who are affectionate toward each other. But after Mom had stroke a decade ago, that perspective changed. Although they’re still not that affectionate, this couple really set my bar pretty high when it comes to a relationship.
Eventually, I learned a lot from their commitment, their jokes, the way they approached problems (the ones I wouldn’t do), and the way they love their little family (so much that I would definitely learn to do), they showered me and my brother with love until I grow up as a person who doesn’t demand many things because my love tank is filled.
I’ll forever be thankful that this couple who were my caretakers and life sponsors, have now become my best friends whom I can discuss and debate things with, and share laughs and love with. I feel privileged cuz not many parents are like them.
