Grandma

It's been a week since my paternal grandma passed away. It would probably take a long time before I would forget how I received the news or maybe I would never forget. I still recall how I received my paternal grandfather's news 6 years plus ago.

Her last day in this world came too sudden and too unexpected. Perhaps we should have heeded the signs and symptoms, perhaps I should have spent more time really understanding her health condition, perhaps, perhaps and many more perhaps.

People always say that we need to appreciate the loved ones round us, tell them how much we love them and not wait till the time comes and regret not doing so. I wouldn't say I have regrets in this area. I'm glad that in her more coherent years, I did as much as I could as a grand daughter to show my filial piety towards her love for me through these years.

My aunt wanted some of the grandchildren to share about the grandma we know. And out of all of them, probably only 4 of us have the strongest inkling what grandma was like. The rest of them only had vague memories or relationship with her. Grandma has 8 grandchildren in all. those who were overseas were back timely and coincidently for her funeral. I felt really privileged to have solid memories of grandma, the relationship I had with her in her living years.

While I thought I knew how hard she went through in her early days, our family found out more hard truths on the eve before she was cremated. We were shocked to learnt that grandma was tougher than expected and also certainly as fragile as a women could be in her darkest days. Of course on the lighter side of things, we also learnt how she "smoked" my grandfather in believing she would be educated enough to be literate until the day that both of them had to sign on the dotted line. Grandma didn't even know how to write her name and only put a 'X' on where she was suppose to sign. That pissed grandpa off but it was too late. Haha, how interesting and hilarious it was.

Grandma's passing also somewhat brought the whole extended family closer in some ways. We haven't had such good family support for a long time. No bickering, no arguments, all just compromises in the name of love for grandma. Uncles, aunts, cousins and my brother coming together to do vigil.

We all believe that grandma is in the best place anyone could go to after death. She is re-united with grandpa and is relieved from all pain, agony and frustrations. Till we meet again gramps, you will both be missed dearly!