I can still vividly recall the days back when i was as young as 3. Sitting on the front of my grandpa's old scooter, he would bring me around the village with him. The usual haunt for him that is the coffeeshop, that probably has survived decades, to fulfill his addictive coffee, as well as to chat with his friends. For me, as a little kid, i would learn the way that my grandpa had taught me to drink the coffee, that is by pouring the cup of coffee into the plate. I would run arount the coffeeshop, mixing with friends of my age, playing toys with them, while nagging and crying for my grandpa to bring me back home.
Since young, whenever i go back, upon reaching my grandparents' house, i would call out 'Gong gong' and 'po po' loudly before i stepped into the house. They love seeing their grandchildren back with them. However, as a child, i always hated the way my grandpa would chase me and trying to tickle me when i reach, the way tried playing with me. cause, i would think that he bullied me.
My grandpa, as he grew older, we would sit on his old rattan chair by the window, reading his chinese story books over and over again. These books include titles such as romance of the 3 kingdoms, hong lou meng, journey to the west, etc. A familiar sight of him, a siliouette of him by the window daily.
My grandpa is a chef before his retirement. He had a great taste bud. He can taste the slightest bit of overcooked food or uneven marinating of food when u could not. On his usual seat on the dining table, he would always chew on his food in the unique way that u would take notice.
An avid smoker, he would smoke lots and lots of cigrattes daily when he was healthy, only to be forced to cut down when he was down with a heavy illness years back. However, he survived that odeal, only to be down with the old man illness. where he started to be more and more forgetful.
For the past few years, my grandpa had been sleeping everyday. Only waking up for his meals on a wheelchair. My aunt woould feed him daily, with my grandpa still sitting on his favourite seat.
Everytime i returned to my grandparents house for the past few years, i would have to go to his room to call him, instead of the usual. Thou, not reacting to the environment, my grandpa seemed to know whats happening.
I saw the smile and happy mood when i went back with my cousin and cousin in law for their 'jin cha' to my grandparents. Clearly, you can see the smile that he was wearing that day.
Perhaps, thats what he'd been waiting for before he leave for another world.
Last tuesday, i received news that my grandpa had passed away. Shocked, i packed my bag, and left for malaysia on wed.
Upon arriving with my cousins, i saw the unusual sight. The road to my grandparents' house were blocked. Tents were set up. i went in to the car pouch. From far, i saw my grandpa's picture. Lying behind, the huge coffin.
upon entering the gates, i greeted him just like i was when i was young. However, this time, with the joss sticks.I went round the coffin, i could not believe my eyes that the person lying inside was my grandpa.
I went to the side, looked into the coffin. My grandpa's lying inside, just like how he always sleep, but this time, wearing a little smile.
The buddhist prayers started soon after. we chanted and chanted for the night. The kids seemed unknown to the fact that grandpa had moved on. Perhaps the affection for them were not as much as those who had grew with gong gong.
The 'long time no see' relatives, cousins of my mum arrived for the night. They had a good chat with my mum and aunts. Perhaps, that is what is going to happen when i grow old. Meeting my cousins only when there is such an event like this.
I looked around. Everyone were rushing back to see my grandpa for the last time. My third uncle being one of the most filial, rushed back immediately from Sabah, the place that he worked. However, 2 of my cousins were missing. One is in England, the other is in Singapore, For whatever reasons, never got to see him for the last time.
On his final day, Everyone's wailing. As we chanted the prayers and going round the coffin, i could not help but got emotional. Tears welling in my eyes. I looked at my cousins, aunts and uncles, perhaps everyone's feeling the same. I could picture the past when my grandpa spent with us. The moments that he had left with us. The legacy that he had done to the village as a village chief.
On his burial ground, which he bought 20+ years ago, his coffin was slowly laid into. Thats the last that we saw him.
No longer, will i be able to call 'gong gong' when i reached the gate of my grandparents' house.
No longer, will i see the sight of him while eating on the dining table.
With only memories that can bring him back to me.
This whole incident, i think the one who got the most upset, is my grandma. She cried whenever, she thought of him. She cried whenever she sees her grandchildren. They had been married for at least 70 years.
He died at the age of 96.
Gong Gong, i will miss u.
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Charm: Away you may have gone, We will always remember the legacy that u have done.
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