Turned out that 80 years old Mrs. Tan, the proud owner of the blue Mini had been driving this car for the past forty over years which she is still using to operate her retail business. She operates a stall selling ‘batik’ clothing at the weekend Satok Sunday market. She travels to KL, Singapore and Indonesia to buy her batik materials to sell them in Kuching and her mini has been modified to enable her to carry her goods. Hence the removal of all the seats (except for the driver) and the addition of a home-made rubber hose cladded roof rack. Mrs Tan is one of the liveliest (healthy and alert) 80-year olds that I had the pleasure to meet and she started telling me stories about her youth when she went boating with some well-known local personalities. She must have been quite a character then. She still operates her business at an age where most would be vegetating at home - as it makes her feel alive to be doing something.

We chatted for a while until my hand phone rang with an impatient client on the line asking when I would be back in the office to discuss the latest revised plans. I told Mrs Tan that I have to go and that it was nice chatting with her and that I’ll be looking her up at her stall at the Sunday market. Her face lit up on hearing that and she asked for my business card.

I think I made her day. And I’m glad I did, as she did mine.

Labels: Life, People

Stumble It!