Thursday, May 01, 2008
First of May
Day after day, month after month, birthday cake after birthday cake, candles increasing in number with each one, and before you know it yet another year goes by and you think, "I can't recall when was the last time I cooked", and u start to quiver at the thought that u've been eating out almost every night. Such is the life of an overseas student.
But when it comes talking about days and times, one particular day of the year stands out and one cannot help but stop and think that there's something peculiar about it. It's not cause the Bee Gees wrote a song about it, not cause cricket was played in America for the first time on this day, the Philippine peso was circulated, Pluto given its name, not cos it is National Love Day in the Czech Republic nor even because it's May Day or Labour Day.
This day, simply and sensitively christened '1st of May' is a day always to be remembered because on this day 11 years ago, an event took place, one of both great joy and sadness at the same time. On this day, my 公公 (more affectionately referred as
kong kong) went to be with the Lord, while he rested on his bed in Penang, in the presence of his children and grandchildren, of which I was one of them.
I was eleven then, young, immature, unaware. I recall not crying right at the time of his passing. Perhaps at that time, what made me cry more was the sight of my mother crying, more than
kong kong's passing. And then it sank in. I will never see kong kong ever again, never hear kong kong ever again, walk with him, talk with him. So I cried. I never was that close to him. But I cried anyway.
But memories of kong kong still linger up to today. Memories like Penang hokkien mee and apom for breakfast with him in Penang, eating rice with dark sauce and pineapple, playing at the beach in Gurney Drive, his old Proton Saga and Honda Accord which made us all giddy, random paddle pop surprises, evening
gaigai to buy newspaper down the road. Even eleven years later, whenever we visit, we still call that place kong kong's house.
I guess some things never change. And only one thing remains. That kong kong is in heaven with Jesus right now. Do I feel sad? Maybe just a little. But do I feel happy? Oh for sure.
Thank God for salvation.
12:43 AM |
1 comments
- the lovers, the dreamers and me -
