Grateful

I was having late dinner while my dad was watching tv beside me. It was some travelogue and one of the scene showed some old methods of fuel stone lighting. Rather amazing because it uses water to initiate the spark. Anyway, dad was telling me how the family used to use that stone in his kampong days and it just intrigued me to probe on. I was somewhat thankful that I have the luxury of a gaz stove and electricity.

I began to ask him where his kampong was and how was his kampong life. Honestly, I was really ignorant that I always assumed how my grandparents probably stayed in houses, not attap houses, but probably those 5 foot ways or some concrete buildings. They lived in a rented room of the house. 5 of them in one room. Their kampong was spared from the infamous Bukit Ho Swee fire. They were only separated by a road from the disaster. I thank God for keeping them safe from the fire.

I have never really asked or sought deeper knowing about my roots. And through this conversation, I got to know that my dad had never seen his grandparents simply because my great grandma is one of the many wives that my great grandpa had when he was in Indonesia... woooh... ok, I knew about this fact, ya, but it was like a recap since some time ago my dad mentioned about it. So when my grandpa was in his teens or something, he and his siblings were settled in Singapore. For that moment, I felt so blessed that I had a chance to see, play, talk and love my grandpa for twenty over years. Something which my dad didn't have. And my nephew even had a chance to greet "great grandpa" - in cantonese, he calls 'Tai Yeh'.

I can't be more grateful to know how fortunate I am to be borned in the era where life is not so hard and being able to live around with my extended family. It's been 2 years since grandpa left us. I missed him but I am also thankful that I had a chance to know who he is. I hope for the generations to come in my family that they will have the same blessings too!