The picture of happiness
Ya know, happiness is a very subjective concept. For some folks it’s represented by piles of money, or gold, or food, or toys, or so on. For others happiness means simply having the time to do a couple things around the house. For one special person, it’s the ability to walk a few meters out an open door.
Behold:
When our readers first encountered Sonnam Yutron, she had been become bedridden by arthritis. She hadn’t seen the sun in four years. Her ability to see anything was dwindling, due to cataracts in both eyes. She could feel, and speak, and hear, and with those senses still functioning she could at least conduct her daily prayers.
So what happened?
Well, the Emergency Medical Fund happened, that’s what. The original idea, back in 2007, was simply to get Sonnam Yutron out in the sun again. (Eventually, we succeeded.) Joy originally posted the need for enough funds to provide this woman with a wheelchair, so she could at least get outdoors for the big teachings and celebrations. People responded. And responded. Soon we discovered that we had enough money to help not only Sonnam Yutron, but other people in Rewalsar who needed assistance getting proper health care.
After treatment for her arthritis began to show some results, the next project was to get Sonnam Yutron seeing again. She underwent cataract surgery in nearby Ner Chowk. Lena carefully set up medication instructions for Lobsang, Sonnam Yutron’s husband. He followed Lena’s notes, applying eyedrops and creams diligently to the eyes of the wife he loves.
For months I’d become used to visiting Sonnam Yutron as she sat in bed, praying over her malas, perhaps turning a prayer wheel or petting a cat. I’d also gotten used to the idea that she didn’t pay attention to much outside of perhaps a four foot radius, and that when I waved to her through the window, she was waving back at a friendly shape. One morning I was startled as she told me the flame under the chai pot was too high, and asked me to turn it down. Afterwards I gleefully called up to the house to give Lena the news.
By Losar this year, Sonnam Yutron put on her tchuba and apron like any other Tibetan housewife, and insisted on walking to the lama dances. The walk was one of only a few meters, but for those of us who knew her story, it was like watching that first step Armstrong took on the moon.
And now? Most days I see her putter around the house on a daily basis, or simply sit outside to greet friends and perhaps invite them in for a cup of tea, with a smile that’s literally priceless.
Hooray! Do give them my best. I was thinking about them just yesterday.
Comment by Mel | June 20, 2009