A tough task coping with the grief

“THEY SAY Thais forget easily, but we will never forget this tragic loss,” said businessperson Pennapa Lertudom, 52.
Over the last seven days, the country has been plunged in grief, with many people struggling to come to terms with the fact that they have lost their beloved monarch. For many, this loss has been a life-changing experience. 
There have non-stop tears, prayers and story after story about His Majesty’s dedication to the well-being of his subjects. 
“I stopped watching the floodwaters, which flowed into my house, and instead watched the television [broadcasts of the royal ceremonies],” Pennapa said, recalling the moment when the Royal Household Bureau announced last Thursday at 7pm that His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej had passed away. 
The 52-year-old, who lives in Ayutthaya, said her house has been flooded for weeks and she has to take a boat to the highway where her car is parked due to the chest-high waters. The flooding had been her major worry until the beloved monarch died. 
“Usually, my family and I go out for shopping or for having meals together. However, since October 13 [when His Majesty passed away], we rarely go out as we are too sad to do anything fun,” she said. 
Another mourner also voiced her grief. 
“I stopped cooking right after hearing of the unbearable loss. None of us could eat what I had cooked that day. It was too sad and too heart-breaking,” Bangkokian Prarom Akkragul, 70, recounted. 
She said that she hasn’t slept well since hearing the news and always woke up in the middle of the night, as she just can’t keep the loss out of her mind. 
“I can’t describe my feelings towards the King. They are very profound and deeply rooted,” she said. 
Thousands of people have been crying aloud, aggrieved by the loss, with their towns covered in black and tales of His Majesty’s achievements. 
Aree Phetnil, 70, from Chachoengsao province said she and her neighbours no longer talked about topics other than His Majesty. 
She said she spent all day watching documentaries about His Majesty, as she did not want to miss any episode. 
“Everybody in the market [near her house] is wearing black. We don’t chit-chat and joke anymore. The only topic of discussion is the King,” she said. 
“Two days ago, nobody in the market was willing to sell stuff to a man who was wearing a coloured shirt. Also, a driver honked at a man wearing an orange shirt, while he was crossing the street,” Aree said, referring to the situation in her town and how things have changed since the passing of the monarch. She said she wanted to stop the clock at the moment when the King died. 
People across the nation are expected to wear black out of respect for the King. 
Some say that though they realise that life has to move on, it is difficult for them to enjoy or celebrate any events, including their children’s graduation. 
“Today is my daughter’s commencement ceremony. I’m supposed to wear coloured clothes and celebrate her success, but I just can’t,” Amornrat Boonrat, 50, said.
However, Amornrat who is a corporate employee yesterday attended her daughter’s graduation ceremony at Chulalongkorn University. 
The atmosphere at the university, however, was anything but celebratory with most people wearing black. There were no flowers, balloons, cheers or entertainment. 
“I’m glad for my daughter’s achievement, but I just could not smile because I’m always thinking about that unbearable loss,” Amornrat said.