2nd Anniversary
18th of March is the 2nd anniversary of the passing of Gramma. Time passed, but my last memory of my Gramma is still like yesterday. Two years and one month ago, I was walking with her in the garden of my uncle's house, I remember she enjoyed the fragrance of the flowers and the peaceful evening at 4pm, Sunday.
Gramma was an extraordinary woman. She told me she got three mothers, not because her father was wealthy, but it was by chance and social requirement. First died at young age. I remember she told me that she was born from the 2nd mother, who died at young age as well. Contrary to normal expectation, her third mother was a very nice and faithful mother, raise and took good care of her and her brothers and sisters in the family.
My Grandmother migrated to Singapore at the age of 40 plus with my uncle, possibly at the age of 7 or 8 with his cousin brother, Choo Eng Koon. She came by ship, and stayed in a place for few weeks for quarantine where she described a horrible place she rather went back to China. I can imagine how tough it was as she has to took care of the two kids and cook in a small place waiting for quarantine confinement period, despite three of them were healthy with no symptom of sickness and diseases.
After the quarantine was over, they stayed in Singapore for few months before my Dad had requested my Gramma and my uncle to move over to Sabah. I guess Sabah must have a better prospect financially and economically even though Singapore seems to be an ideal place to settle down due to local dialect and the Hokkian community network. More interestingly, Grandpa, who settled down in Singapore much earlier but had decided to stay back to work rather than joining the family in Sabah.
I was not even borned yet when Grandma first landed in Sabah. By then, her three kids all had settled in Sabah. My late uncle, first married to my aunt, and had settled in Tuaran. My Dad, originally settled in Kota Kinabalu after he arrived few years earlier than my Grandma and my uncle, had started a bookshop after few years of hard work for his consin brother.
Grandma continued to play an very important role in the family as far as my childhood is concerned. She was a very determined lady, highly intelligent person despite she had no formal education. She had a strong sense of direction in educating her children and grand children. She guided me life, inspired me to pursue my dream, console me when I was down, and disciplined me when I was wrong. She gave me a balance of life, made me what I am today. Without her (and my Dad's) love, education, and guidance, I have not had the better side of me, perhaps not even close to anything from career to education. She is more than a grandmother to me, she is a mother, a friend, and a guru to me.
Gramma was an extraordinary woman. She told me she got three mothers, not because her father was wealthy, but it was by chance and social requirement. First died at young age. I remember she told me that she was born from the 2nd mother, who died at young age as well. Contrary to normal expectation, her third mother was a very nice and faithful mother, raise and took good care of her and her brothers and sisters in the family.
My Grandmother migrated to Singapore at the age of 40 plus with my uncle, possibly at the age of 7 or 8 with his cousin brother, Choo Eng Koon. She came by ship, and stayed in a place for few weeks for quarantine where she described a horrible place she rather went back to China. I can imagine how tough it was as she has to took care of the two kids and cook in a small place waiting for quarantine confinement period, despite three of them were healthy with no symptom of sickness and diseases.
After the quarantine was over, they stayed in Singapore for few months before my Dad had requested my Gramma and my uncle to move over to Sabah. I guess Sabah must have a better prospect financially and economically even though Singapore seems to be an ideal place to settle down due to local dialect and the Hokkian community network. More interestingly, Grandpa, who settled down in Singapore much earlier but had decided to stay back to work rather than joining the family in Sabah.
I was not even borned yet when Grandma first landed in Sabah. By then, her three kids all had settled in Sabah. My late uncle, first married to my aunt, and had settled in Tuaran. My Dad, originally settled in Kota Kinabalu after he arrived few years earlier than my Grandma and my uncle, had started a bookshop after few years of hard work for his consin brother.
Grandma continued to play an very important role in the family as far as my childhood is concerned. She was a very determined lady, highly intelligent person despite she had no formal education. She had a strong sense of direction in educating her children and grand children. She guided me life, inspired me to pursue my dream, console me when I was down, and disciplined me when I was wrong. She gave me a balance of life, made me what I am today. Without her (and my Dad's) love, education, and guidance, I have not had the better side of me, perhaps not even close to anything from career to education. She is more than a grandmother to me, she is a mother, a friend, and a guru to me.
posted by dr.lawrence chu at
12:54 AM
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