Skip to main content

To grandpa,

I write this to proclaim my love for my beloved grandfather who has passed from this realm not two days ago.

My grandfather and I enjoyed a close relationship since I lived not far from him when I was in Malaysia. Grandpa lived a very healthy life well into his twilight years. Since I was little, he would take me to the city park almost every other morning just for a morning stroll, and I was always treated to a good breakfast with soy bean milk with grandmother after.

Grandpa's house was large- my family and I would visit everyday to eat lunch with them. For many years, it was the hub for festive occasions, be it Chinese New Year, Christmas, relatives visiting, funerals and so forth. I have chosen the house as a setting for countless essays during my primary school years, when I had to describe happy memories or celebrations. Indeed, Grandpa's home was such a collection of merriment and was very much an integral part of my childhood.

Grandpa was always there at every stage of my maturity, offering wisdom and much needed advice. I remember being admonished many times for my wrong-doings, but he was never ill-tempered when disciplining me. He was resolute but gentle, stern but caring. He was always concerned with my well-being, and I missed him ever so much after moving to Canada. Distance did not deter him from being ever more generous and loving; however, and he has blessed my family so much with his financial and spiritual support.

I will miss talking to him deep into the night. I will miss taking grandpa out on his wheelchair, greeting the neighbours. I will miss his calm demeanor and congenial attitude. I will try to love like you did, care like you have and live righteously like you have for so many many years.

May your spirit rest peacefully in the arms of the Almighty. You will be missed, and your legacy will be a difficult one to maintain here on earth, but knowing that you will see my every success and failure has motivated me to try even harder.

Til we meet in heaven,

Your grandson.

Comments

  1. RummGamon22 December 2011 at 22:09

    Hey Dennis, my sincere condolences to you and your family during this difficult time. If you need someone to talk to, I'm here (I may not be on msn, but I respond to emails very quickly). God bless you and your family.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Part 1: Why I chose to come back to Malaysia

We often hear of people moving to foreign lands to pursue better opportunities, to live more comfortably and to build happier families. Other countries present us with financial security, job prospects, friendlier people and desirable living standards. When I was 14, I embarked on a journey which I regard as the pivotal point of my life. It was a journey undertaken with faith and a hope that the pursuit of happiness will be easier over there, where the grass is greener and the skies blue. It was a journey to come home. As I write this, my journey has brought me home to the country where I was born and it is a place which I can truly call home. My identity is Malaysian, and 9 years in North America has taught me that nothing will ever come close to compromise that reality. I chose to come back because of a confluence of factors, but for this post I'll focus on identity. I'm often asked about why I chose to return to a country in which hope has been dashed by poor governanc
1 comment
Read more

Reflections on New York: Part 2

The Team Triumphant UBC Team with our 'Outstanding Delegation' in the United Nations Headquarters, Manhattan, New York. We represented the Republic of Madagascar in the National Model United Nations conference. (April 1st-5th 2012) This is Part 2 of my reflections. Before I dive into what it was like to live in New York, I would like to say a few things about the people I spent a week with. Needless to say, we performed very well and our awards are the fruits of our labour. What impressed me the most was that everyone recognized the importance of this trip and prepared accordingly through research, speech preps etc. Most importantly, all of them realized their potential and took their individual skill sets to new heights. As the team's academic 'trainer' and one of its members, I viewed our achievement as an unequivocal success. It makes me smile to think that this victory will serve as a cornerstone or stepping stone (call it whatever stone you desire), to
2 comments
Read more

Give Me Some Space

Give me some space. Give me just some space where I can spend my Saturday afternoons, a retreat from the sterile, air-conditioned corridors of those shopping malls. Give me just some space where I can enjoy a picnic with my friends. Give me just some space where I can be sheltered from the scorching sun. Give me just some space with trees, green grass, benches and pebbles, to watch others play softball or throw a frisbee. Give me just some space with well-lit pathways and snaking lanes which lead nowhere, just to explore in the evening breeze. Give me just some space with a canopy, so that bikers can enjoy the shade once in a while. Give me just some space so that I can look up at the clear blue sky, lounging as time goes by. Give me just some space so that I can feel that I live in a place.
1 comment
Read more