My Grandfather Passed away

What a way to start the year 2008. My grandfather passed away on 11 Jan 2008 at 1.20pm. He was transferred from NUH to SGH after his condition took a worse turn on 7 Jan 2008. He was diagnosed to have lung infection and was put into ICU. However doctor say that there is little chance of recovery. And in 5 days time, He passed away peacefully though.

I went to hospital everyday during his stay in SGH But it was too late. I should have visit him more often when he is alive and not when he is critically ill. Everyone is very sad during the 5 days and only than i realize how close my cousins are to my grandfather. I have not be close to him and I seldom visit him except for the major festivals or his birthday. Even so, I am very sad when i see him on all the tubes struggling for his life. Many cried but i managed to swallow my tears.

I went back to work on Friday. I still tell my store man the feeling is weird waiting for call to say my grandfather is dying. Hopefully the call never comes. But the call came eventually. My father called. He said grandfather had passed away. Immediately I went to the hospital. My Aunt told me I am late.

I went into the ward looking at his body, my tears dropped. My grandfather is not moving and my cousins are crying beside him. My mind went blank and I don know how to react. Everything after that went passed very fast. There is one constructor that will settle everything for you on the funeral: coffin, monks, incense paper, and i mean everything. The wake lasted 5 days and there are moments that i cried everyday. I stayed there everyday and on the 1st day we are thinking how are we going to survive the 5 days, it is so long. But it went passed very fast. I think if the wake is longer, everyone will break mentally. My uncles they all already broke down. We often have cousins and uncles looking blankly at the photo or body of my grandfather. I almost broke down also. Sitting on the chair at the wake looking at the photo of my grandfather, memories of him when i am young came back. It seems to be lost in the back of my mind but out of no where it came back.

The last day of the wake came. Finally we are going to send my grandfather off. He is going to be cremate. Everyone cried. My grandmother asked me to have a last look at my grandfather. She told him to bless us and the only regret he might have is that he cannot wait to drink “Xi Fu Cha” On hearing this, my tears dropped even more and my heart ached. I am useless. I cannot fulfill his wish.. Don know he will ever have a chance to drink the tea a not.. In my mind, I told my grandfather that he can come to my dream anytime when he is free to talk to me. I always free as I am as lonely as he will be. I don mind talking to him.. I may be crazy at that moment.

The moment when the coffin is lighted, everyone almost went crazy. We just cried and cried. We were told to shout “ Ah Gong! Run Run Fire Burning” The next day, we went back to the same place to collect the remains of the body = bones.

What is left of you after you die is just some bones. From the moment you are born, you grow up and get married. Have children have grand children. And You died. What You left behind are just some bones. Haiz.. sad.. Life is short. Always treasure things that are around you. Don regret only when they are gone.

Happy New Year

A new year a new beginning. Many people say a new year, one should have some resolutions or targets that they want to achieve in the coming year. I should set some too. But I realised i did not achieve my resolution set last year..

So this year, I am going for simple resolutions. Last year has being a rather unhappy year. So my coming new year resolution is as follows:

1. To stay happy in the coming year
2. To concentrate on my studies
3. To get a car
4. To get a girlfriend (Nah! not my resolution this year. Know that it is not possible)
5. To Slim down (Nah! Give up le. Not possible i think. At Least do not get fatter)
6. To complete my remaining time in the army peacefully.