Book Review Kim Hee-sook's Essay Collection 'An Old Woman Had a Baby, and You're Just the Same'

While reading Kim Hee-sook's essay collection 'An Old Woman Had a Baby, and You're Just the Same' (Published by: Geure-ul Ilkda, 10,000 won), which I received at a book launch event on the 4th, I found myself nodding repeatedly.

1. She was once told by her neighbor's grandmother, "That woman is tough and bold." Looking back, she has indeed lived as a truly 'tough and bold' woman. As the eldest of five siblings, a daughter-in-law to ten siblings, and mother to three children, she could not have survived this long without such resilience.

At age 25, she overcame cancer that began with a grape-like pregnancy, and in a makeshift shelter without electricity, she took on knitting as a side job to earn even a single coin. After seeing off her husband and younger brother early in the morning, she managed all the work at a pig farm while searching the fields and gardens for self-sufficient provisions.

Despite those difficult years, she never once thought to herself "I'm tired" or "This is painful."

She possessed a naturally beautiful heart.

She cherished memories of always carrying a friend with polio on her back during elementary school. At a Chuseok mass at a church, she met a child of small stature, gazed into their eyes, gently caressed their hands, and prayed for them to live peacefully. When watching broadcasts, she willingly extended help to a child living a miserable life in Bangladesh, and during a practice session at a daycare, she sincerely prayed that an autistic child she met would confidently go out into the world and fulfill their role.

2. When she came of age in matters of the heart, she once wept in embarrassment over her mother's pregnancy, and at age 37, similar to her mother's age then, she gave birth to her third child. At that time, her mother said, "I've heard that old women have babies, and here you are doing the same." Her birth mother became a star in heaven in early December last year.

After having come to death's door and gone through it, the daughter who lived tenaciously produced an essay collection 'An Old Woman Had a Baby, and You're Just the Same,' compiling 35 pieces of writings mourning her mother (思母曲), for whom she would have shed endless tears.

Working as a florist and running a flower shop, she has also included historical explorations taken with family in her spare time, and touching episodes with her 'husband who is crazy about Suwon Hwaseong Fortress' (Dr. Kim Chung-young, currently serializing 'Kim Chung-young's Suwon Microscope' in Suwon Ilbo) and their well-grown children.

3. With her hands cracked from trimming beautiful flowers, she prays that all who receive flowers will be moved and feel love. Kim Hee-sook, today too, commutes to her flower shop (Flower Hwaseong).