Goodbye...

Goodbye Ah Poh...

Today concludes the 4 day wake that we held in memory of Ah Poh. Many thanks to those who came for the wake. My longans (Wan, Zaihan, Hisham, Donovan & Fae), My Slumber Gang ( Jason Chee, Daniel & Lena). Thanks going out especially to one of the Longans ( & my fellow squrriel ) Dee and my Slumber King - Jason Neo for helping to gather everyone on such short notice. To the folks from BAid Lasalle-SIA, thanks for the calls... Esp. Nic and Pam. To the people from Eco.ID - Thanks for the support and care over the past few days. Thanks Keyuan for helping arrange the food on Saturday evening... [The folks loved it! ]

It seems that parting with someone you love is always painful and heart-breaking... Fighting back emotions and tears the whole morning... It hurts to know that they must shut the lid of of the coffin. Grandma always hated being in the dark. It hurts to see them pile the soil over the coffin, as I sat in the back of my 2nd Uncle's car clutching her photo in my arms. Somehow, I guess I'm not really ready to say goodbye just yet. Turning my head, as we drove slowly out of the drive... my eyes just refused to pull away from that spot where she will now lay... The last time I saw her... I still recall saying to her left ear in Hainanese... "Ah Poh... Go and rest. Get some sleep..." and she will nod her head gently... But her eyes never shut... I will stand at the door and say "Bye Bye Ah Poh!" and wave... and she will reply in her wispy voice... "Bye Bye." She never liked the idea of sleeping... She always wanted to be around people... When she was better, she would always go down to the garden to mingle with the neighbours... But today is different... She must get rest, and embark on the journey to reunite with Grandpa and my 2 Aunts.

Even as she got weaker and weaker... It seems that she always found the strength to smile. I guess... That is one last lesson I will learn from her... No matter what, we must find the strength to smile. Cos in doing so... It will make things better already, no matter how bad it seems.

I will always remember you, Ah Poh.

Just one last time... And no more...

Bye bye... Ah Poh...