Dear Ah Ma
How fast time flies. You left us. And here we are now.
It's Qing Ming again. Pa and I have NOT made it back to see you. We should should should. We went a little earlier just to make sure the gravestone was in order. It looked fine to me, but to be honest, I wouldn't be able to tell the difference. On the way back he suggested that we stop by Tayton View to eat the beef noodles - but really - I think we all wanted to go and say hi to the house, and reminisce.
You know what? Gong gong's sign is back! Look! How cool? So they've now opened a little coffee shop restaraunt where Gong Gong used to run his trading business (or the Cave of Many Tasty Biscuits) downstairs from where you used to live. Papa also told me the story of why it is called Eng Nam Heng - i.e., because Gong Gong is from "Eng Chun", his business partner ("Tien Zhi Ko") is from "Nam Heong" and Heng means brothers! Apparently there was a 3rd partner who didn't quite get his name in. But you know. Sucks to be you (to him, not to you)
The sign - it is back.
And so went we went there we met Tien Zhi Ko's wife. She remembered Papa and Da Gu Jie. She looked like someone in my memory - and when she was there - I was flooded by memories of you, Gong Gong, the upstairs, the Cave of Many Taste Biscuits, running up and down the row of shophouses. I stared at her for a long time, I think it might have made her a little uncomfortable. But that's okay.
There was also the postbox. Remember this postbox? I remember the day Gong gong fixed it. WHY? So did Stupid Brother when I sent him the picture. This ugly plastic red postbox. Why do I remember it so well.
12A
I also took a picture of your gravestone - which looks very nice. But am not posting it here in case all my thousands of readers flock to it and disturb your peace.
I miss you. Always.
How fast time flies. You left us. And here we are now.
It's Qing Ming again. Pa and I have NOT made it back to see you. We should should should. We went a little earlier just to make sure the gravestone was in order. It looked fine to me, but to be honest, I wouldn't be able to tell the difference. On the way back he suggested that we stop by Tayton View to eat the beef noodles - but really - I think we all wanted to go and say hi to the house, and reminisce.
You know what? Gong gong's sign is back! Look! How cool? So they've now opened a little coffee shop restaraunt where Gong Gong used to run his trading business (or the Cave of Many Tasty Biscuits) downstairs from where you used to live. Papa also told me the story of why it is called Eng Nam Heng - i.e., because Gong Gong is from "Eng Chun", his business partner ("Tien Zhi Ko") is from "Nam Heong" and Heng means brothers! Apparently there was a 3rd partner who didn't quite get his name in. But you know. Sucks to be you (to him, not to you)
The sign - it is back.
And so went we went there we met Tien Zhi Ko's wife. She remembered Papa and Da Gu Jie. She looked like someone in my memory - and when she was there - I was flooded by memories of you, Gong Gong, the upstairs, the Cave of Many Taste Biscuits, running up and down the row of shophouses. I stared at her for a long time, I think it might have made her a little uncomfortable. But that's okay.
There was also the postbox. Remember this postbox? I remember the day Gong gong fixed it. WHY? So did Stupid Brother when I sent him the picture. This ugly plastic red postbox. Why do I remember it so well.
12A
I also took a picture of your gravestone - which looks very nice. But am not posting it here in case all my thousands of readers flock to it and disturb your peace.
I miss you. Always.