Granny.

"Her grandmother, as she gets older, is not fading but rather becoming more concentrated."

Paulette Bates Alden, 'Legacies,' Feeding the Eagles, 1988

Today at my Granny's place, I told my granny that I'll be leaving for Japan in December. My Granny who is suffering from dementia thought that I had finished my JC education and was leaving for a Japanese university. She looked at me and left. Shortly after, she returned and gave me a red packet and blessed me. She prayed that I may have guidance on my trip. Sadly, she is confused for I will only be overseas for a few days. When I reached home from my Granny's, I opened the packet to find $10. It may not be much but looking at the 10, it made me think. This is what's left of her treasures. It made me see how I valued money. However, this is beyond the real value for what it's worth. The dichotomy between what opulence is from abundance. The abundant wealth of love. I then thought of the treasures of the world. All the treasuries the world holds are but piles of papers with values written on them. When will there be a treasury where what is written on the paper is not values but names. Names of those who appreciate us. Names of those who we affectionately call out to. Names of those who see us with endearment and us, onto them. It is the act of giving me what little she can give that made $10, priceless. Besides, she spoke Chinese whilst I, whom have seemly abandoned my roots, do not quite understand. I guess this gesture really breaks down the barriers of communication. Love does seem to override all. So I decided that I will never spend this $10 and wrote a reminder on the red packet. It reminded me of the one who gave me this $10. Now, I will always be $10 richer that I'd normally would.