Goodbye Grandpa

(Liew Siew Lam, 1926 - 2008)

~oOo~

Ben called me at around 5am plus yesterday with the inevitable news that Grandpa has passed on. My immediate reaction was relief, that he has left behind the bodily suffering which he has stoutly endured without much complaints. He was a strong man.

I reached the hospice at around 6am. He looked serene and wore the briefest of smiles. We did some chanting. The undertakers took over and sent him to the void deck where the wake would take place.

The six of us grandsons took the night vigil, divided into two shifts. The first will cover till 3am and the second till day break when the 'adults' will take over.

I was in the first shift. Even with the help of MacDonald's coffee and a extra value meal, we struggled to fight off the sleep monster. It was really tiring. To ward off sleep, we sometimes chatted, walked around, checked that the incense and candles were burning.

Grandpa's photo, taken probably when my mum was still a child, showed a handsome man, with steel in his eyes and optimisim in the future. History would show that life was not easy for him, bringing up many children, a few whom left him early, losing his wife just when life was getting better and the children were grown up.

Looking at his photo, I reflected on the recent months when we had more contact. Visiting him in the hospital, fetching home after being discharged, visiting him in the hospice, trying to entertain him and seeing him gradually weaken.

He has led a full life, of 82 years, travelled many countries (in his latter years) and enjoyed the love and support of his family in his final days.

And it was time to go.

Goodbye, Kong Kong.

Hanging On

Grandpa's will to live is strong. This morning, mum called and said that doctor informed that water has started to fill grandpa's lungs and it will be a matter of hours before he goes.

So I informed my director and took urgent leave and rushed down. True enough, grandpa has shrunk further, the skin on his face pulled tightly around his skull.

The doctor has administered some morphine so grandpa appeared to be dozing.

And so the day passed and the few of us guarding his bedside continously. Sometimes, we will catch ourselves stealing a glance at his chest to see whether he is still breathing. It was a tiring day for everyone, especially for grandpa.

The end seems near

Mum called.

Doc said to be mentally prepared.

I remembered a story Ajahn Bhram said before. Sometimes, you have to tell the person it is ok to go.

想念雨生

张雨生。今早，听1003，今天是雨生遇车祸的日子。那是很多年以前的事了。当然，他不认识我，我却从他的音乐认识了他，也和他有一面之缘。

我记得，最早听到雨生的歌是中一的时候。在学校负责斗歌竞艺的音响，是初赛。当时没有CD，只有卡带，所以要找到karaoke 伴唱带是很不容易的。当事的伴唱带，是要调balance，比如转到左是纯音乐，没有歌手的声音。当时我不知道。当我播了其中一位参赛者的卡带，怎么歌声这么好，原来是原唱者的声音，那便是雨生的《天天想你》。

后来，在初院时，也看见雨生的音乐转变，从很好听但很商业的《大海》到有点自己的思想的《一天到晚游泳的鱼》到我不怎么听得懂的《卡拉OK、台北、我》，我渐渐喜欢上雨生。

有一回郭富城和雨生一起上节目，雨生谈吉他，Aaron唱，在他闲聊之际，雨生语重心长地说了其实你唱得很不错。这便是雨生。

后来，大学大概二年级的时候，雨生刚和张惠妹合唱了《最爱的人伤我最深》，他也出了《两伊战争》，到南大宣传。 我去听了他的音乐会，雨生歌声高亢，一个小时的节目，没喝到一口水，谈吐高雅，真诚。他走的时候，我跟他握了手。

过了不久，他便离开了。

在电视看到陶子主持的《想念雨生》节目，我跟着在遥远台湾的心灵一起伤心。

下午开车吃午饭时，听1003，安娜播了《我是一颗秋天的树》，她说很久没有听到这么好听的歌了。真的。

美丽的句号

“快乐学堂2008毕业典礼”


“新加坡——中国长者终身学习论坛”终於顺利成功的举行和圆满的结束了。


我和众多参与义工的同学也被邀请参与他们的“劳心劳力”慰劳会，出席的同学都精力充沛高歌一曲《当我们都在一起》，快乐、幸福洋溢在他们的脸上，玩起游戏一点都不输于幼儿园的小朋友们。哈哈！“快乐学堂”名不虚传！


以下是我“名人逐个拍”拍下他们的倩影，让大家一一欣赏：

校长黄明德。 他身旁的那位长者是谁，请猜猜看！

Dad due for surgery

Dad got the go ahead for his EVLT surgery for his varicose veins on his right leg. A one hour operation but requiring a one night hospital stay.

Accompanied dad on his previous two visits to consult the specialist. Was very unhappy with the service standards of the nurses. I suspect the reason is that the processes are not clear and the lines between using computer or human intervention are blurred. Case in point. We were asked to wait to visit a hospital officer after seeing the specialisit so that the officer can explain to us about the administrative aspects of the surgery. One nurse said we could just wait for dad's name to be called. So we waited. Until a point which I felt was too long a wait, I approached another nurse was was told we had to take a number. At which point I questioned the process and the two nurses, who told me different stories, could not really decide what was the real procedure.

I filled in a feedback form asking for a reply. It has been a week since.

毕业感言

100 小时的课程，结束了。 我们也毕业了。
毕业典礼的场面，触动了我的心。
除了要感谢老师的教导，也感谢幕后工作人员的努力策划，让我们拥有一个毕生难忘的回忆。

最重要的是要感谢我的丈夫每个星期六风雨不改的接送和支持，让我能顺利地完成学习。

让我想起在裕泉联络所牛刀小试的魔术表演，这一段的学习让我对自己更有信心。
在这段学习的日子里，我认识了很多同学，不仅因为年龄相近，也为着我们都拥有一颗愿意开放的心。我们一起学习，分享，聆听，互动。
课程结束了，我们也成为好朋友了。希望未来的日子里，我们能继续互相鼓舞和支持彼此。

明天一定会更好！

YAH - 兄弟姐妹篇

妈妈毕业，舅父舅母，阿姨们都来助兴！他们也都玩得很开心，仿佛时光倒回孩提时期。

千手观音pose!

姐妹情深。

火车，火车，嘟嘟嘟。。。。

好！

你追，我赶，大家赛跑。。。

同学们，举起你的双手。。。

跑吧。。。。。孩子！

YAH Graduation Day.

Mum's BIG DAY today. Her chance to wear the mortar board complete with graduation gown and taking lots of photos like all other graduates except that the 'convocation' was for her Young At Heart (YAH) course.

The ceremony was graced by Minister Lim Boon Heng who in PMO is the Minister in charge of ageing issues. He must have been heartened by how active the graduates (all seniot citizens) have shown themselves to be, remain engaged in society and happy to continue their learning journeys. He even volunteered to stay back after the convocation with the graduates and was so popular that the organisers have to step in to bring an end to the impromptu photo shoot.
Family portrait with the graduate!
Parents with Huang Mingde, principal of the YAH school.
Taking a photo with Huang Wenhong (Radio 1003 DJ) who emcee-ed the ceremony. He was very happy when I said I am a regular listener to his morning program "Don't give a damn".

Snowy's Birthday Trip to Changi Beach

Today is Snowy's 3rd Birthday, usually Ling & I would take leave to celebrate her Birthday... this year we're both busy with work, so we decided to make it up to the Birthday gal by bringing her out for dinner...

The plan was to drop by Pet Movers to replenish her food and buy some treats then head for changi beach with her packed dinner. Alas, when we reach Pet mover, it was close... forgot to check the operating hours... it's ok, Snowy's enjoying her ride in the car and we're also getting hungry. Stop at changi village food centre for Ling to buy dinner for us before we proceed to the beach. We had an enjoyable evening with Snowy plus we get to watch the planes fly past over our head.

Snowy getting ready for her dinner

Snowy's dinner by the beach... licking up every bit of food

enjoying the wind and snowy's company

snowy & her owner... Ling