******* Post includes photos of of my dead Grandfather *******
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My 92yrs old Ah Kong (Hokkien : maternal grandfather), always said this when we visited him, “What to do, the one above didn’t want to call on me yet.” He was called by the one above on Sunday morning.

I only visited Ah Kong once a year during Chinese New Year for the last couple of years. Too busy with work, too preoccupied with our own family, too far away, are these good enough reasons?

My earliest and fondest memory of Ah Kong was me holding on to him on the bicycle when he sent me to school.

My father, who’s not done much of his son-in-law’s duty after my mother’s passing, worked extra hard to prepare the program, readings and hyms for Ah Kong’s funeral service.

The BEC (Basic Ecclesiastical Community) where Ah Kong belonged to did such a good job with prayers organising, and providing support to the family. I’m so touched by these people. They may not know him personally, but they were willing to devote their time.

Yesterday, while attending Ah Kong’s funeral service, I realised, the last service I attended in a church, was my own wedding 12yrs ago.

The relatives and frieds who came for the wake and the funeral service, some of them I last met in my mum’s or my Ah Mah’s (Hokkien : maternal grandmother’s) wake and funeral service, more than 12yrs ago. Near and far, they came to pay their last respect. A wake, a funeral draws a better crowd than a wedding, a baby’s full moon. Isn’t it ironic?

The person who shed the most tears after Ah Kong’s passing was, Mala, the Indonesian maid, who not only took care of Ah Kong, but also his best and closest companion for the last 4 years. She was the last person he called for in the hospital.

The Eulogy in the funeral was given by Mala. Her speech was well composed, spoke so wisely, and full of confidence. It made me wonder if she was given the same opportunity like we did, would she have been some one important in Indonesia.

The girls, with Tai Kong’s passing, wanted to know more about him, and what he was like when he was younger.

The girls, with attending Tai Kong’s wake and funeral, seeing Tai Kong in the casket, have better understanding of death now. Only death in fairy tales can be resurrected with a kiss from a handsome prince.

Rest In Peace Ah Kong.