阿公 was a voracious reader his entire life. Even as his vision was failing, he would read encyclopedias, character by character, with several magnifying glasses bound together. These ad-hoc reading aids were scattered throughout his study, and remain as a testament to his endless pursuit of knowledge.
Tiny snacks were always present in 阿公's room. My 阿公 loved sweets, especially traditional Taiwanese and Japanese desserts. Even up to the end of his life, with his memory eroded by Alzheimer's, he would ask for "圓圓的，黑黑的，甜甜的". He had forgotten the word for chocolate, and this was all he could do to make his wishes known. We continued to find candy wrappers hidden deep in his jacket and pants pockets after he passed, molded into neat little balls.
While 阿公 was not very talkative in person, he kept up many correspondances with pen pals in a variety of countries. He valued these friendships highly: once, in anticipation of a reunion with friends he had not seen in years, he authored a six-section traditional Chinese poem, entirely written in calligraphy to commemorate the occasion.
阿公 kept a rigorous, disciplined schedule his entire life. He would wake up early in the morning and tend his rooftop garden for an hour. He would then come downstairs and eat breakfast, after which he would descend to his clinic on the first floor, or would return to his study to read after retirement. He was in bed at the same time every day; however, he often had to wake in the middle of the night to tend to patient emergencies.
Much of 阿公's study was dedicated to reading material; mostly Japanese, but also including Chinese, English, and German. He enjoyed reading literature and poetry, and kept up with current events via Japanese periodicals. He also had the habit of reading encyclopedias end-to-end.
One thing that was clear about 阿公 was that he highly valued appearances. Whenever I saw him outside his home, he was always impeccably dressed. He favored white shirts, flannel jackets, and flashy ties. He also had eclectic tastes: I noticed a modern Balenciaga sport coat in his closet, nestled among various conservative suits.
As a doctor, amber medicine bottles were a common sight whenever I visited my 阿公. Over the years, they started migrating from my 阿公's old clinic to his bedroom. Despite this, he remained in excellent health until well into his nineties.
阿公's clinic makes up the first floor of my grandparent's house. I had only been in the clinic a handful of times (usually when I was sick). It always seemed like a sacred place to me. Even after 阿公 retired, much of the clinic remains untouched, as if frozen in time.
These cabinets used to hold all sorts of medical supplies. The furniture has seemed ancient and dilapidated for as long as I can remember, even before 阿公 retired.
There wasn't much room in the cramped clinic. However, 阿公 made sure that multiple sinks were installed in the three rooms. 阿公 was a stickler for personal hygeine: he always washed his hands thoroughly and methodically, and tried never to touch food with his bare hands. He would eat M&Ms with chopsticks, and when eating bread would always leave the portion he held with his fingers uneaten.
Prescriptions and dosage amounts for patients long gone.
Before computers, patient records were filed in these cubbies. When my aunts were young, 阿公 had them help search for records, as he was afraid that his nurses were overworked. Apparently, many of the receipts were marked as "欠" (owed). Back then, many of 阿公's patients were desperately poor. He never turned patients away, and often left debts uncollected.
As a family doctor, 阿公 often treated families from grandfather to grandson. After he passed, many former patients came to pay their respects. One patient broke down in tears as he was burning incense, saying that both his father and grandfather were saved from death by 阿公.
There's something romantic about old medicine bottles. These look more like something an alchemist or shaman would use, rather than a medical doctor.
阿公 wrote all these labels by hand. Unlike the stereotypical doctor, his handwriting was impeccable. Must be all the calligraphy training.
This is the view that 阿公 saw every day for decades. Slivers of his personality and interests can be seen: gardening (flower on the left), travel (world map), family (picture on right wall), and spirituality (Buddhist tracts on right desk).