Ah Kong
Friday, April 27, 2007 @ 12:10 AM
I suddenly miss my ah kong.
Those rough, callused hands, that hearty laugh and his usual greeting in Teochew when I open the door, 'Jiak ba buay?' To which, we would chorus, 'Ah kong, jiak ba liao!' My ah kong spoke only dialect and my brother and I being dialect-illiterate, couldn't really communicate with him except for those standard phrases. But we looked forward to his visits coz he would bring us either tubes of M&Ms or Sultana raisins. And my brother and I would almost always fight over the golden raisins.
There was once when my bro was still a little boy, ah kong playfully pulled my bro's pants and it slipped down over his knees. My bro howled instantly, much to the surprise on everyone's faces. That was a really classic memory. I still grin when I think about it.
One of my favourite childhood pics is that of ah kong balancing me on his thighs, with one hand cradling my tiny baby head and looking down at me. I was clinging to his shirt with one arm, with a look on my chubby face that spoke volumes of my confidence in his baby-handling skills.
I didn't shed a tear when he passed away. I still don't know why. Back then, I understood that he was gone but everything seemed so surreal. The entire clan gathered around the hospital bed cradling his lifeless body, sobbing. Ah kong, dressed in his black suit and lips etched in red, looking so still in the coffin. Us watching from a distance, as the coffin was pushed into the incinerator and his body reduced to grey ashes.
I didn't get to say goodbye to ah kong. When he was hospitalised, the adults didn't allow us to go visit initially. Germs, they say, and little kids have weak immunity. I was there with the rest the day his heart stopped. One by one, we went over to hold his hand and talk to him, as he lay there unconscious. Then, there was that fateful long beep from the life-signs monitoring system and the howling began.
There is one question which I've thought about long and hard . If there were to be a fire, the first thing I would grab would be my childhood photo album. Coz that is where all my most precious memories are. That is where I can flip back in time when my memory fails me. That is where I can show my kids, this was ah kong with mummy on his lap.
Labels: Memories
Hellos
Thursday, April 26, 2007 @ 11:15 PM
What I hate more than anything is my affinity with chi ko pehs.
I stroll along the streets in my casual tee and shorts and once in a while, I get lucky and get hellos from uncles when they walk past. This has been happening more often recently and so gets on my nerves. I swear, if I encounter something like that again, I will give that person the evil eye.
This has made me wonder about guys picking up girls in clubs. It just occurred to me that it's the same ball game. What is so different about a random guy coming up to say hello to you in a club and a random chi ko peh doing the same on the streets? You tell me.
And pls guys, I haven't been on dates! Haha all I do is hang out with Moomoo all day long. Moo is my one and only, cross my heart.
Miracle
Tuesday, April 17, 2007 @ 11:13 PM
I was having lunch with this colleague for the first time the other day. He was a lanky fellow and so, I just blurted out what had been on the tip of my tongue for ages. 'Eh, you should eat more you know, you are too skinny!' To which, he replied a little sheepishly, that he used to be overweight.
My brows shot up into the air, I'm sure. He had been in TAF club all the way from primary school onwards and it was not only till after JC that he lost weight. At the height of his 'glory', he was a magnificient 98kg. And now, he looks like a beanpole. Okay, visualise hossan leong. A hossan leong with a model's legs.
That was at least 30kg shed! And kept off! Makes me feel really motivated for sure. The secret to his success? He runs really long distances.
Here's a living testament as to what really works in keeping the extra pounds off. Time to chuck away those ads by slimming agencies, folks!
I think my brows were still up there when we parted ways that afternoon.
What's your secret?
@ 11:10 PM
Everyone's deep dark secrets on a postcard. What's yours?
Crave of the Week
Friday, April 13, 2007 @ 3:28 PM
I wanna watch 'The Hills Have Eyes 2'!
Those JC days...
Sunday, April 08, 2007 @ 11:00 PM
Our beloved Mr Muthu is on friendster! What wonderful memories he brings back of those days he actually chased fleeing students (who took the bus to evade him) on his trusty scooter bike...
http://www.friendster.com/2421303
Is he still in SA, you think?
In Mourning
Tuesday, April 03, 2007 @ 5:08 PM
Last week, I fell in love.
And then I fell out of love.
I wanted to bring him home. And I thought, how nice it would be to share my life with him. Cuddling together in bed and chilling on the couch watching late-night TV. Taking walks in the park on a lazy Sunday afternoon. It was the first time I felt such a strong desire to bring someone into my life.
What should I name him?
Something cute and catchy – Pipi?
After my favourite beverage and for his skin colour – Halia?
Or the likes of classier names - Rusty, Amber?
Alas, my mum put her foot down. And there I was, all dreams shattered.
I think I shall save these names for my kids in future.
