A THOUSAND CROSSINGS X

Dear Diary...
Insights
lundi 15 février 2010

It has been a long day today, but it was pretty fruitful, I'll explain why later. [: I just returned home from my 二姑妈's home. HAHA. For the first time in 3 days, I HAD CONNECTION TO THE INTERNET! [: I managed to post 2 Facebook status updates as well as to quickly check the HCI ISP and SMB and went online for 30 seconds. Turns out that the bio online test was only supposed to be done on 2ND MARCH -.- I thought it had to be done this weekend, made me worry unduly.

Anyone going for the Nepal OCIP? [:

And for the first time in 3 days, I could receive SMSes! Suddenly received SMSes saying "Happy New Year/Happy Valentine's Day!" from everyoneee. HAHA. Cheras has bad communications infrastructure I guess. I managed to receive day-old SMSes only today when I went to 拜年 somewhere else. HAHA [:

Now for the fruitful part of today. Today, I realised the complexity of my family tree. My dad has 2 stepbrothers. I knew they were my dad's elder brothers but never knew they were his stepbrothers till today. And my paternal grandmother is my dad's biological mum, and the step mum of my dad's 2 elder brothers, and my 二姑妈 is my dad's biological sister.

We went to my dad's eldest brother's house to 拜年 today. Like my paternal grandmother, he stays alone in a one room government flat. He is already 70+ years old, has problems moving about but has kept the house spick and span. Today, when so many of us visited him; my many cousins, my grandmother, my 二姑妈 and 二姑长, my 大姑妈 and 大姑长 went to visit him he was so touched that he teared. I didn't know how to react but the entire scene moved me. When I passed him a paper bag to "拜年" and said it was for him to eat in Cantonese, he began to tear again. My uncle is a stubborn man, according to recounts from my dad and my 二姑妈。 To see him moved to tears today moved me deeply too. And when my uncle teared, my 二姑妈 teared as well. I think my uncle is a lonely man, living alone, with nothing to do to occupy himself. Although my grandmother also lives alone, she is a devout Buddhist and she - in a way - has her religion to accompany her (my grandma chants scripture 24/7, really!). On the other hand, the only thing in my uncle's house that I saw that can 'accompany' him is a portrait of his late wife.

Another thing that moved me was his determination. When we were about to leave his house, he went to his room. We all wondered what he wanted to do and then he returned with red packets. As he had difficulties walking, my 大姑妈 helped him to pass the red packets to us. Although we did not want to accept the red packets, he insisted that we have them. Although the red packet only contained RM2, his sincerity was worth more than that. I see him as a man of dignity.

The scene today at my uncles house would always hold a special place in my heart. I think it's fate's way of teaching me the meaning of Family. And I think my uncle is a brave man. [:

I suggested to my mum to go have reunion dinner at his home next year to keep him company, we'll see how it goes next year.

I guess family ties are the ties that never break. [: I experienced that today.

I want to join Fac comm. But how? :/

I'll be returning home tomorrow, and all my blog entries will be uploaded then. [:

Have fun reading!

Au Revoir

yongliang

I miss Taylor L! ):

he closed his diary at {23:21}