Upside Down

Wednesday, June 07, 2006

Ok I cant continue the day without first doing this.

Since young I have disliked Chinese, even before I knew what Chinese was.
My mum told me that there was once someone called our house, and I quickly picked it up. And so the caller asked,”Is this a Chinese family ?”
And Simple minded me answered instantly ,”YES”
Luckily my mum was nearby and saw me in my ate,pt of picking up the phone and took away from me. My thinking was since we speak English, we are English speaking therefore we are English.. wahaha
Aniwae, as I grew up I slowly disliked Chinese and the teachers, balding ones, sissified ones, the ones that try to bite of your head.. ALL of them..

Then my Grand Uncle，叔公，gave me tuition, My叔公having been Chinese educated, and being a chinese teacher, and even having participated in the hock lee riots.. [cool...]
I think he felt that it was very important that as the eldest son of the Lim family I had to know chinese. So叔公taught a very defiant and spoilt brat. ME. So much so that one day, 叔公caned me. I mean caning was no biggy, butfor a 50 plus elderly to be caning me, I should be ashamed. 叔公was so troubled that he spent a sleepless night. I mean, it was not so much as a LEARNING chinese thingy, it was this syndrome, banana syndrome, losing your heritage. Then he contracted cancer and had to stop tuition. After it was cured叔公continued the tuition and taught me more symbolic stuff, like calligraphy. Man I was so interested in that, and after that followed up by my grandaunt’s nice dinner. It was nice.
Even as I was in boys town I would always go and visit him and he and叔婆would tell me about how I ws growing up and needed to take care of myself. I even remember once walking along a tree shaded path and slowly talking about how I needed to be good and listen to my folks.

Then cancer crept back in and before long it slowly stole him away. Slowly everyone knew it was time and spent more time with him.

One Day someone in my Family [like uncle etc..] suggested we spend reunion dinner with叔公. The mood was solemm and sad. He looked very happy and even gave a victory sign as we were taking pictures. But still there was a blank look in his eyes.

On chinese New year morning, we all overslept, but surprisingly no one blamed anyone at all. Instead we went on like nothing happened. By the time we reached my grandmas place it was about noon. Just as we were eating there was a call telling us that叔公was not going to make it and so all the adults left for his Place.

A few minutes later, The adults called us up and asked us to take down the Red Cloth.

So that chinese new year our whole family spent it helping my 叔婆 with the funeral.
They told me that when they brought him down in his rocking chair it looked like he feel asleep, all peaceful and serene.

What really surprised me was that it was a Christian Funeral. Halleluia!
On the last day as the pastor was giving a testimony on my 叔公. I was Stunned
When the pastor went to visit 叔公, he said,”我要吃团圆饭”
And My Good Heavenly father allowed him to spend it with all of us.

So why am I writing about 叔公 ? Is a mere flashback of him ?

No.

I am writing this because if not for him , I would not be here in China and i can only thank God for him. I can also rejoice in the fact that when I move on, I will be able to see him just like all those who have fallen asleep in the Promised Land.

I thank God for my 叔公

making my life a miracle 10:01 PM