Bye Loh-Tao (老豆) ！

"Bye, Loh-Tao (cantonese for 老豆) ! That's what myself and my sis usually say to our dad when we are saying our good-byes to him.

Really, I don't even know where or what to write, say?  My dad passed away in the early hours of 2 May 2010 at home.  His heart stopped and he collapsed on the floor.  My mom only found him later.  It was sudden and traumatic for all of us.  Very much so for my mom and sis.  My sis raced from her flat which is across the field to my mum's place.  She had to turn my dad and perform CPR.  But when she turned him, she knew dad had left us.  Still she persisted.

When the phone rang at 5.27am, I knew something was not good when I heard my sis on the other end.  Till today I can still hear the echoes of what my sis said.  I couldn't get there any earlier as hb was due to land at 6 that morning.

All I could do was pray, cry, pray and cry and ask God was strength and wisdom on how to handle the situation.  And especially to keep the family together and peace during this difficult time.  My family are non-believers although my dad was a Lutheran from birth.  But he was a backslider and very much followed in the ways of my mom.

I placed all my trust in God and God was as usual, always faithful, always good and a great source of my comfort and strength.  As He has promised, everything went so smoothly.  And Praise God, my mom received salvation on the night my dad passed. 

Last Saturday at Kimi's art class, I saw a copy of the Reader's Digest on the coffee table.  Teacher Maria places different kind of reading materials for waiting parents.  This immediately brought tears to my eyes.  My dad is a big fan of RD and National Geographic and has been subscribing and buying their books for many, many years.  So much so when a few months back my mom asked them not to send as my dad has stopped reading, they said it was complimentary to him for being such a loyal customer.

My dad would always encourage us to read, read and read.  I grew up reading these and I love them.  He, himself was an avid reader and picked up the English language himself.  Now, whenever I see the RD, I can't help but feel an emptiness and ache in my heart. 

My dad is by birth a Finnish. But, after 40+ years in Singapore, he is very much just like us, enjoys the local food and peppers his speech with 'lahs' and what nots.  Most people who have met my dad when he was younger and well, would say how handsome he was, and yes, he was indeed.  My dad even boxed at National Level when he was in his 20s for Norway - my dad's favourite sport, boxing! 

Daddy was a very easy-going and patient man with little complains or bad things to say about anybody or anything.  Although he had a quiet demeanour, he was also rather funny with a wicked, dry sense of humour.  Having said that, he was no push-over and was fiercely independent.  Even when he was rather weak in his legs, he refused to allow us to support him.  Chasing us away saying, "I can walk".

In all  my growing up years, I only remembered my dad scolding and using the cloth to discipline me ONCE.  And it was something that I did that was really mischievous.  I attempted to close the ladder my dad was up on by trying to push the lever up that stablilised the ladder. I wanted to see if the ladder could still balance - DUH!!!  Too much cartoons! 

The other day as I turned on the tv, Wheels of Fortune came out.  Immediately, I felt lousy.  This was also 1 of my dad's favourite show and we would sit and watch it together and raced to see who could solve the puzzle first.  My dad loved the tv and he absolutely loves Chinese Period Dramas and all things kung-fu.  At one time, he insisted we call him 'Ah-Teh" (as in cantonese for 阿爹 that people who lived eons ago addressed their fathers).  Of course we refused!  So, that resulted in us calling him 'loh-tao' (老豆).

In whatever ways he could, my dad indulged in us.  In the days where most parents (when we were growing up in the early 70s) frown on drinking Ribena or anything sweet, my dad insisted that we had a glass each day, drank milk (didn't matter it was chocolate or regular), ice-cream at our discretion and the insistance of eating his homemade cucumber vinegar salad.  Obviously, we preferred the other stuff.  Oh, how I miss my dad's pancakes!  I can still remember the smell and taste.  A few years back, I asked him to make them but he has forgotten how to.  I believe I can recreate it. :) 

As kids, we loved the meatballs my dad made!  It was so yummy especially when it was hot and just out of the pan with a slight crisp at the sides.  I particulary didn't like them soaked in the brown sauce.  So, my dad will keep these aside for me whenever he cooked.  Then, it came a time when we didn't want to eat his meatballs cos he was so fired-up about experimenting.  Brown sauce is good on its own, well, maybe with a dash of spice is still acceptable.  But we really pulled on the brakes when he was throwing in things like sesame oil, 5 spice powder, chilli powder and whatever he could get his hands on in the kitchen!  Is this how the phrase, 'cooking up a storm' came about?  Haha! Quite a comic character at times!!

An engineer by training and profession, he was quite a prefectionist (maybe i got some of it from my dad) and did everything methodically and was fastidious about putting things back in their places.  He was even like this up until just before he passed on.  Whenever Kimi was near, he would always remind him to put it back where he took it from.  Of cos, my little one never does.

I remembered as my dad was getting on in years, he suddenly became the most kay-po person around.  Instead of his usual quiet self, he wanted to know everything!  Even when my aunty or friend called, he would asked what they wanted and wanted to know everything we chatted! Haha!  It sometimes became rather exasaperating.  Oh, and I remembered when hb and I were dating, he refused to allow me to chat with any other boys on the phone!!  He would be rather curt with them.  He emphasized that I shouldn't fool around.  But, these were truly platonic good male friends!  Well, that's my dad. :) 

And who says that men don cry?  I say that real men do!  As macho as he is, my dad has such a soft side to him and he would part freely with his money to anyone with a sob story.  There were a few times where I saw tears glistening in my dad's eyes whenever he is told a of a sad situation or someone going through a rough patch or an animal that is suffering.  He is just so rich in his emotions.  A lovely man I would say my dad was.

Kimi brought him much joy the last few years and he was always happy to see Kimi.  Kimi, being more affectionate than most kids never fail to kiss and hug Grandpa when prompted and enjoyed hanging out with Grandpa.  It was heartwarming to see Kimi sharing his food with Grandpa ever so often.

Kimi and Grandpa enjoying ice-cream at Ikea 2 months back

In the last few weeks, besides God, Kimi was a great comfort to me.  It's a wonder how attuned he is to me and my feelings.  The other day, I was sitting at the sofa and suddenly I just felt sad.  Kimi was playing on the floor with his Lego and Playmobil and he suddenly sprang up and asked me if I was sad.  He then asked is it cos I missed Grandpa.  I told him yes and he said so innocently, coming close and sitting next to me with his hands on my hair, "Don't be sad, ok mama".  And the other day, he told me, "Grandpa passed away already.  Don't worry, I will take care of you".

I know as the days come, I will see more and more things that will remind me of daddy and it will sadden me but these are also memories that are so precious that sometimes I feel afraid that I will forget. I think when someone passes on, the thing that we fear most is not able to remember how they sound and look. But, I am comforted that daddy is safe in Jesus' hands and we will meet again in God's Kingdom.  Bye Loh-Tao, we love you and you will be missed!

Farewell ... Ah-Ma ...

Hb's paternal grandmother passed away last Thursday, 4/9/08 in the afternoon. Although we are saddened by her departure, I believe it is also a relief for her. Compared to many others, she is considered 'fortunate' to have 'suffered' only 1+ year, deteriorating faster the last few months. She lived to a ripe age of 96, hardly a common feat these days.

I met her in 1988 when she came back from China after having gone back to Swatow to live with her daughter for some time. She was a sprightly old lady almost always armed with a loud, infectious cackle that made her eyes disappear.

Being the tough 'dragon lady' she was to my mil, accepting no nonsense whatsoever, she was, however, always warm to her grandchildren and to me even before hb and I were married. She would fondly hold my hands, stroke my cheeks or placed hers against mine. Such was the unabashed ways she would display her affections.

Even at 70+, almost 80, she would continue to walk to the market for her grocery, cooked her own meals, handwashed her clothes and even helped out with ironing my fil's work shirts. She even had the memory of an elephant to boot!

But, sometimes, she was just as greedy as any young child, 'stealing' titbits to eat when she is not supposed to. There was once, she complained to my sil, asking her why the snack was so hot... well, she tried the silica gel! Luckily, she spat it out when she felt the burning sensation.

And then, you'll be surprised by her hospitality - despite having a good memory, we believe she had selective memory and remembered only the important stuff. Why? Cos from the time that you walk in the door, she will ask you to eat or drink, only to repeat again, a couple of minutes later. And this can go on till you walk out of the door! Sometimes, we laugh it off, sometimes, it drove us nuts!

Besides being independent, she is quite an active paricipant in her church activities. Going on day trips even at 80+ years old! No doubt the oldest charge there! And we will hear about her trip for the whole month!

Ah-ma's health deteriorated after she had a fall and sprain her arm. It's funny how old people, when surrounded by their friends and being mobile gave them a lease of life. Take that away and they are quickly reduced to almost an invalid. It's rather heart-wrenching to see someone so active and full of life to have life slowly dissipate from her.

It is with much regret that Kimi did not have the chance to meet this sprightly old lady when she was still cackling and telling us not to speak ill of the people on tv lest they hear us. I think Kimi and Ah-ma would have made each other very happy, cackling and laughing their '1-line smile' together!

There are just so many anecdotes I can share, these will become memories for us all. Memories we will hold dear. Today, as per Ah-ma's request, her ashes were scatterd at sea after creamation. Indeed a brave and unconforming move for someone of her generation!

Farewell, Ah-ma, may you find happiness wherever you may be! We will miss you!