In May, activists Banghak and Dol visited Lee Yong-soo halmoni in Daegu. Halmoni seemed to be in an especially good mood, and her health also appeared much improved. She told us that she had slept well the night before. Although she still does not sleep comfortably, she said things had gotten a little better than before, and that her back pain had improved significantly since she began going to physical therapy.
At the restaurant where we went for lunch with halmoni, we were taken aback by the long waiting list. But when the restaurant owner recognized halmoni, they kindly offered us a table. When we thanked halmoni, saying that thanks to her we were able to eat sooner, she held our hands tightly and said, “When else would you eat if not at times like this? Use me as an excuse and treat yourselves to something delicious whenever you come.”
Halmoni knows all the best restaurants in Daegu. When we asked how she had come to know this particular restaurant, she said she had recently been going out for quiet meals with a friend. We told her how happy we were to see her living a healthy, joyful life.
Throughout the meal, halmoni kept watching to make sure the activists were eating well and trying everything. Under halmoni’s warm and attentive encouragement, Banghak and Dol busily moved their spoons and chopsticks. After the meal, we packed some abalone porridge from the restaurant as a gift for halmoni, and then headed to the gomtang restaurant she usually visits to prepare another gift. Halmoni was pleased, saying, “You came all the way from Seoul and are looking after me so thoughtfully.” We told her that we should go on many more picnics together.
Looking at Dol’s hair, halmoni suddenly said she liked it short because it made Dol look like a student. When we told her Dol’s age, she was startled and said, “Now grow it out again.” Halmoni also asked Banghak, “Doesn’t your mother tell you to get married?” When Banghak said her mother did not say anything, halmoni laughed and said, “Your mom is cool.” Halmoni’s witty jokes filled the room with laughter.
Halmoni asked whether many people had been coming to the Wednesday Demonstrations these days. We told her that the fences installed near the Statue of Peace had been removed. When we asked whether she remembered the people who used to shout whenever she came to the Wednesday Demonstration, halmoni said she did, and her face grew dark. We quickly explained that the fences had been put up out of concern that those people might harm the statue, but a recently revised law had been passed, some of them had been arrested, and the fences had therefore been removed. We also told her that the area had since been cleaned up and beautifully repaired, allowing more students and tourists to read the explanation of the Statue of Peace, take photos with it, and sit beside it. Hearing this, halmoni clapped her hands and said, “How wonderful.”
At the bakery where we sat and talked with halmoni, we bought her some bread as a gift. Halmoni joked, “What are you going to do if you spend this much money today? Won’t you get in trouble?” We told her, “We work this hard so that we can come see you, halmoni. We are actually so grateful when you tell us everything you want to eat.” Halmoni told us we were doing well and earnestly asked Dol and Banghak to make sure they continue leading the work well together.
Before parting ways, we asked halmoni if we could take a photo together to remember the day. Halmoni told Dol that the photo would be helpful later when he gets married, because he could show it to the person he marries, and then she tidied herself up beautifully. We took the photo together with bright smiles.
Every time we go to Daegu to visit Lee Yong-soo halmoni, she tells us everything she wants to eat, needs, likes, and dislikes. We cannot express how grateful we are that halmoni is still so strong and able to clearly tell us what she wants. Our hearts are warmed by the way she jokes with us whenever she sees us and looks after us like her own grandchildren.
We look forward to each month when we visit halmoni. Halmoni, please stay healthy until we see you again next month. We hope you will continue to be with us for a long, long time, eating delicious food together and going on many more activities. Halmoni, we love you.
At the restaurant where we went for lunch with halmoni, we were taken aback by the long waiting list. But when the restaurant owner recognized halmoni, they kindly offered us a table. When we thanked halmoni, saying that thanks to her we were able to eat sooner, she held our hands tightly and said, “When else would you eat if not at times like this? Use me as an excuse and treat yourselves to something delicious whenever you come.”
Halmoni knows all the best restaurants in Daegu. When we asked how she had come to know this particular restaurant, she said she had recently been going out for quiet meals with a friend. We told her how happy we were to see her living a healthy, joyful life.
Throughout the meal, halmoni kept watching to make sure the activists were eating well and trying everything. Under halmoni’s warm and attentive encouragement, Banghak and Dol busily moved their spoons and chopsticks. After the meal, we packed some abalone porridge from the restaurant as a gift for halmoni, and then headed to the gomtang restaurant she usually visits to prepare another gift. Halmoni was pleased, saying, “You came all the way from Seoul and are looking after me so thoughtfully.” We told her that we should go on many more picnics together.
Looking at Dol’s hair, halmoni suddenly said she liked it short because it made Dol look like a student. When we told her Dol’s age, she was startled and said, “Now grow it out again.” Halmoni also asked Banghak, “Doesn’t your mother tell you to get married?” When Banghak said her mother did not say anything, halmoni laughed and said, “Your mom is cool.” Halmoni’s witty jokes filled the room with laughter.
Halmoni asked whether many people had been coming to the Wednesday Demonstrations these days. We told her that the fences installed near the Statue of Peace had been removed. When we asked whether she remembered the people who used to shout whenever she came to the Wednesday Demonstration, halmoni said she did, and her face grew dark. We quickly explained that the fences had been put up out of concern that those people might harm the statue, but a recently revised law had been passed, some of them had been arrested, and the fences had therefore been removed. We also told her that the area had since been cleaned up and beautifully repaired, allowing more students and tourists to read the explanation of the Statue of Peace, take photos with it, and sit beside it. Hearing this, halmoni clapped her hands and said, “How wonderful.”
At the bakery where we sat and talked with halmoni, we bought her some bread as a gift. Halmoni joked, “What are you going to do if you spend this much money today? Won’t you get in trouble?” We told her, “We work this hard so that we can come see you, halmoni. We are actually so grateful when you tell us everything you want to eat.” Halmoni told us we were doing well and earnestly asked Dol and Banghak to make sure they continue leading the work well together.
Before parting ways, we asked halmoni if we could take a photo together to remember the day. Halmoni told Dol that the photo would be helpful later when he gets married, because he could show it to the person he marries, and then she tidied herself up beautifully. We took the photo together with bright smiles.
Every time we go to Daegu to visit Lee Yong-soo halmoni, she tells us everything she wants to eat, needs, likes, and dislikes. We cannot express how grateful we are that halmoni is still so strong and able to clearly tell us what she wants. Our hearts are warmed by the way she jokes with us whenever she sees us and looks after us like her own grandchildren.
We look forward to each month when we visit halmoni. Halmoni, please stay healthy until we see you again next month. We hope you will continue to be with us for a long, long time, eating delicious food together and going on many more activities. Halmoni, we love you.