Skip to main content

Love Letter to Mum ( First posted on thebarefootfoodie.org on 25 Aug 2014 )

 


Photo taken in Jan 2014


Dearest Mom,
 
You left so suddenly on 19 Aug, to be with the Lord. I did not even get to hug you, kiss you one last time, or say goodbye. I will always cherish our 7 days together in Bali - 7 glorious days of mother-daughter bonding time, of spas, pedicures, chilling out over delectable breakfast spreads, shopping, walks by the beach, pigging out at dinnertime, and that sneaky trip to " Cocoon " for fillers, which made you look years younger. I have these precious memories which I will hold fast in my heart.
 
I was wrong to ever think that your world was too small for me. Truth is, your world was enough for you, and your heart was much, much bigger than mine.
 
It takes a very special person to work for 20 years to serve those who are severely handicapped, and attend to their needs. You were that person. I saw every single one of them come to say their last goodbye to you, in their wheel-chairs, struggling to cope with their loss of " Sister Leong", who was like a mother to them. You fed them, took good care of them, and they, in turn, grew to love you; this pint-sized lady in her white uniform, with a chirpy voice, and oodles of patience.
 
You accepted people unreservedly, without passing judgment, and became their friend. I embraced them as they wept for you. They spoke of the kind and joyful woman they knew, the MBS kaki, the soulmate, the listening ear.
 
I see your face and hear your voice everywhere I go. Many have told me that I look like you, have the same smile, and other little gestures.
 
You were happy and contented in your calling as a nurse, gleeful as a little girl when playing jackpot, and sharp as a razor in mahjong. When Darren and Andrea were younger, I could always depend on you to look after them and send them home after their classes. You were there with me during the difficult times when they were babies. You walked with me through the incredible journey of faith and grace.
 
Mom, you left behind big shoes for me to fill. You always put others before you, and you were generous to a fault. You are my inspiration and I am so proud to be your daughter. 
 
I love you so very much and I miss you every single day. 
 
 
 

 

 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

New Perspectives

  So What If The Day Started Badly This morning, as I was reversing my car out of the porch for a dental appointment, I drove right into a van who just happened to park in front of the house across the road, right at the very instant. The knee jerk instinct was to feel sorry and angry with myself at the same time. I said a little prayer for comfort and that the rest of the day would turn out better, with small mercies along the way. I also texted G, telling him what happened and that I was a little shaken by the incident, trivial as it was. The text came back " No worries". It was all the comfort I needed - no judgment, no reproof, just a quiet understanding and acceptance. The Rest Of the Day Got the tooth fixed, had my comfort food for lunch, left car with dented bumper with mechanic, took a bus to Ang Mo Kio library to while away the time. Along the way, discovered my favorite Yong Tau Foo franchise had moved to the food centre here, much nearer home, and also picked up a ...

Reflections on Father's Day ( First posted on FB on 20 Jun 2022 )

  Reflections on Father's Day Hi Daddy, you must be having a great time in heaven, together with Mum. Although we never had a close father-daughter relationship, I choose to remember those moments which were special to me - like the outings to Esplanade Park, Satay Club with Mum when I was little, accompanying me to take the school bus on my first day of school, how your face lit up when you attended my university graduation. Growing up, I have often envied other people's daddies and wished you were more like them. I wished I could talk to you when I had my first crush on a boy, felt ugly because my face was full of pimples during my teenage years, looked into the mirror and hated what I saw...So I decided that since I wasn't pretty, I could be clever instead, and lost myself in an alternative world of adventure, imagination and books by Enid Blyton, Alfred Hitchcock, Agatha Christie, Perry Mason, anything and everything I could get my hands on... At home, you were either...

Special Residents of Istanbul and Ephesus

 My recent road trip of Turkey traversed several cities. But it was mostly in Istanbul ( and a few more in Ephesus ) that cats who roamed the streets with the familiarity of a resident, independent and free, yet well-provided with food, shelter, water and loving affection.  On our very first day, we bought a bag of cat food and fed them whenever we encountered them. Some were hungry and responded to us, but others kept their distance, or came over to sniff at the kibbles and walked away. It warmed our hearts to see these adorable creatures as part of the landscape and culture of a most memorable trip in a land so richly endowed with the legacy of the past facing a challenging future ahead. Here's a gallery of cuteness overload. This link best sums up the history and back story of these adorable felines.  https://consciouscat.net/relationship-between-istanbul-and-its-cats/