My Love. Don’t Cross That River

There is a 200-year-old house by the river, and a couple who have lived together for 76 years. Mr. Byongman Jo is 98 years old, but still strong enough to carry lots of firewood. He is playful in a way that sometimes makes his wife cry. When he cleans the garden, he is prone to throw leaves on her. When it snows, he starts a snowball fight. When his wife does the laundry at the small stream, he likes pouring water on her. His wife, Mrs. Gyeyeul Kang, is 89 years old. She still cooks three meals a day for her husband and has never fed him a cold meal. They always wear traditional Korean clothes, go to market every five days, go on picnics with neighbours, and enjoy dance parties. They are still young. Recently, he started getting weak, and sleeps a lot. She often looks at the river in silence. Forty years ago, they moved here from across the river, and they have gone back to the other side of the river only when their six sons and daughters have got married. Her husband will “cross the river” one day, leaving her behind. She starts to prepare for the death of her husband and for the next life with him.

Introduction by Tiina Tambaum