Today is supposed to be the late post of "7th of November, 2009". One year exactly after Charmaine's grand-dad passed away...
It will be always be a regret that I didn't get to meet Uncle in person. He who doted on Charmaine so much. But this is not Charmaine's real grandfather as per se. The thing is like this - Uncle's wife whom is Charmaine's "granny", is ACTUALLY her nanny who took care of her when she was young. No need to say, Granny also doted on her. Even Granny's daughter doted & helped took care of Charmaine as well. You can say practically their whole family loved Charmaine (well, who can resist her? hehe...) & doted on her pretty much. Even up till this day, they are still pretty much in contact & in good relations.
I remembered just a few months back, I was invited to dinner at "Granny's" place after my (then) work @ NUS. That was the second time I met Charmaine's "Granny" & "Granny's daughter" (the one who changed Charmaine's diaper before).
The first time was a brief introduction during Charmaine's sister, Pamela's wedding. That night was more of a "Ohhhh... so that is Leslie... Your boyfriend. Not bad ah, quite handsome!", "Remember to bring him to our place for dinner some time ah" and "Ah Ma wanna see him more". Hahaha.
Anyway, that night at "Granny's" place, I was treated with very much welcomed arms from "Granny & her daughter". They treated me like part of the family, & I'm grateful for that. Hehe. I hear from Charmaine that they told her, "Ah Gong would have approved of Leslie, if he saw him." =P
So today (7th November 09), I really wanted to make the trip to Mandai Crematorium to pay my respects to "Ah Gong". We took a taxi from Charmaine's place, and we were the first to arrive with some time to spare, before the "Granny" and her family came. Using the "alone" time we had with "Ah Gong", I secretly prayed to God & "Ah Gong" in heaven, hoping that he can "hear" me. I introduced myself as Leslie, Charmaine's boyfriend and told him not to worry for Charmaine, cause I am around and I will take care of her. Continue to watch over us, and I hope you will give us your blessings in heaven above. I also prayed to God to look after "Ah Gong" up there, and bless the rest of their family with good health & peace.
After my secret prayer, we just sat around talking to each other before his niche, until the rest of the family finally arrived. "Granny" & daughter & her two daughters, along with some of the uncles, aunties, nieces also came. You can see how much they loved "Ah Gong" as well, especially "Granny" who couldn't control her tears when she saw her photograph on the niche. The scene touched a part of my heart, and I had to hold my tears. =P Next, they laid out a bowl of fishball noodles, a glass of hot 'teh' & a can of grass jelly drink in front of him. All of it, once "Ah Gong's" favourite food & drinks. After that, as a norm (I guess), the family & us went around, checking out other people's niches.
After the visit, we went for a family lunch at a nearby restaurant. We separated into two tables, one for the uncles, aunties, the other for the kids & youngsters (includes Charmaine & me, of course!). Each table ordered a plate of Hainanese chicken, roasted duck, roasted meat, Wu Xiang and veggie. It was plenty of food for our table. Too much, in fact!
After the lunch, it was time for everyone to go back to their homes. We said our good byes to "Granny" & her daughter, as well as all the relatives and hitched a ride in one of the cars to the nearby MRT where we went back on our own.
It will be always be a regret that I didn't get to meet Uncle in person. He who doted on Charmaine so much. But this is not Charmaine's real grandfather as per se. The thing is like this - Uncle's wife whom is Charmaine's "granny", is ACTUALLY her nanny who took care of her when she was young. No need to say, Granny also doted on her. Even Granny's daughter doted & helped took care of Charmaine as well. You can say practically their whole family loved Charmaine (well, who can resist her? hehe...) & doted on her pretty much. Even up till this day, they are still pretty much in contact & in good relations.
I remembered just a few months back, I was invited to dinner at "Granny's" place after my (then) work @ NUS. That was the second time I met Charmaine's "Granny" & "Granny's daughter" (the one who changed Charmaine's diaper before).
The first time was a brief introduction during Charmaine's sister, Pamela's wedding. That night was more of a "Ohhhh... so that is Leslie... Your boyfriend. Not bad ah, quite handsome!", "Remember to bring him to our place for dinner some time ah" and "Ah Ma wanna see him more". Hahaha.
Anyway, that night at "Granny's" place, I was treated with very much welcomed arms from "Granny & her daughter". They treated me like part of the family, & I'm grateful for that. Hehe. I hear from Charmaine that they told her, "Ah Gong would have approved of Leslie, if he saw him." =P
So today (7th November 09), I really wanted to make the trip to Mandai Crematorium to pay my respects to "Ah Gong". We took a taxi from Charmaine's place, and we were the first to arrive with some time to spare, before the "Granny" and her family came. Using the "alone" time we had with "Ah Gong", I secretly prayed to God & "Ah Gong" in heaven, hoping that he can "hear" me. I introduced myself as Leslie, Charmaine's boyfriend and told him not to worry for Charmaine, cause I am around and I will take care of her. Continue to watch over us, and I hope you will give us your blessings in heaven above. I also prayed to God to look after "Ah Gong" up there, and bless the rest of their family with good health & peace.
After my secret prayer, we just sat around talking to each other before his niche, until the rest of the family finally arrived. "Granny" & daughter & her two daughters, along with some of the uncles, aunties, nieces also came. You can see how much they loved "Ah Gong" as well, especially "Granny" who couldn't control her tears when she saw her photograph on the niche. The scene touched a part of my heart, and I had to hold my tears. =P Next, they laid out a bowl of fishball noodles, a glass of hot 'teh' & a can of grass jelly drink in front of him. All of it, once "Ah Gong's" favourite food & drinks. After that, as a norm (I guess), the family & us went around, checking out other people's niches.
After the visit, we went for a family lunch at a nearby restaurant. We separated into two tables, one for the uncles, aunties, the other for the kids & youngsters (includes Charmaine & me, of course!). Each table ordered a plate of Hainanese chicken, roasted duck, roasted meat, Wu Xiang and veggie. It was plenty of food for our table. Too much, in fact!
After the lunch, it was time for everyone to go back to their homes. We said our good byes to "Granny" & her daughter, as well as all the relatives and hitched a ride in one of the cars to the nearby MRT where we went back on our own.
"It is always hard to have someone close to you leave you suddenly. But we must move on & slowly adjust back to our lives. And the truth is, they never really leave us as long as their memories live within us. Lives will end, but memories will never cease. That is the beauty of Life."
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