Salmon, Pineapple and Soy Bean Milk Tea

I don’t like my family, especially my mother, but I love them. Many articles, like books, songs etc, say, “You are loved” but, they’ve never moved my heart. However, on rare occasions, something makes me notice I’m loved.

One day, when I was a high school student, I was eating lunch with my friends as usual. Unexpectedly, one of them, who we were eating with said “Your salmon is always cooked. Mine is bottled salmon flake”. Definitely, her salmon in her lunch box was ready-made. I saw their lunch, of course mine too everyday, but I’d never noticed it until she said that. Needless to say, bottled one can save time, but my mother chose fresh salmon, grilled it, picked off the flesh of it and boned. It’s because she thought the baked one was more delicious and nutritious than the processed one. These things were all done for me. Abruptly, many pictures of her cooking came up in my mind. She sent me off with her handmade lunch every morning, but I had never appreciated it, because I took it for granted. What my friend said gave me a shock. Suddenly, I wanted to see her. I remember I sent her an e-mail after that lunch: “Today’s salmon was salty.”

I quarrel with my mother over trifles a few times a year. At those times, I don’t listen or talk to her. Also, I shut myself up in my room. Once when I was mad at her, I went downstairs to eat something. In the dining room, there was a pineapple on the table. Packs of soybean milk tea were in the fridge. Yes, they were my favorites. As I noticed it, I thought what a stupid thing I was doing. Whenever she comes home from the supermarkets, her shopping bags are full of my favorites. She remembers what I like and not only at the supermarkets but at other shops. She has me somewhere in her back of her mind, she buys something that I like. At that day, she must have not thought well of me, but she was concerned about me as if nothing had happened.

There must be things around me that I should notice but seldom do. It’s not that I can’t do that, I don’t do that. I’m apt to think people who love me and things that people do for me are ordinary. Especially if it’s my family, I hardly recognize them. I think many people are inclined to take them for granted like me. While I was considering it, I found many loves. I’d like to become the person who never forgets being loved and can notice the love. Then if I can, I’d like to be a person who can say “Thank you” without hesitation.