My uncle passed away. To my knowledge, he was very old. I have never met this man, as he left for Taiwan before I was born, and mysteriously came back a few years ago for reasons unknown to me. My mother claims I have met that "side of the family" - she says it in the hushed tones when you talk about things you would rather not have to talk about. It is all very intriguing and mysterious to me and leads me to think - 'This Is A Man Who Had An Exciting Life'.
In true family form, the information of his passing came, and very quickly descended into the following:
1. A heated phone argument with mother about whether to fly or take a bus back to Penang due to "flying being very expensive", apparent "flight phobias", "nobody will pick us up from the airport", "cannot find IC, so cannot book flights". This is a debate between a 2 hour end to end journey by flight, and 5 hour end to end journey by bus. Why.
2. Me and father not allowed to go, as someone needs to stay behind to feed the dogs who "will die if they are not fed" followed by a detailed explanation of how the dogs need to be fed "two tins of the biscuits in big bag, mixed with half tin of the canned food, heated. No feeding them together because the fat one will steal everybody's food". It's true - the fat one is sneaky that way - I find the argument logically sound, but disproportionate to the context.
3. I give up and call my father to "sort this out".
4. Sanity prevails. I am allowed to book flights. Father and I are allowed to go for day trip and dogs will not die as they will be fed and watered in the morning and we will be back in the evening.
5. A flurry of whatsapp messages with cousin about who is going back to Penang (everybody!) and where we will eat (everywhere!). A voice in my brain asks myself if such glee is appropriate for a funeral and is promptly ignored
6. A flurry of whatsapp messages with my brother saying he would like to send flowers. Mother shuts that shit down. She says "Send money. We are not white people". I secretly message cousin to give me the address of funeral as I remember funeral parlors without flowers being quite sad.
7. I come home early thinking my mother may need someone to be around in case... Mother eyes me suspiciously as I sneak in at 130PM; "Why are you home early?" She seems fine, and more anxious about me being home early than her brother having just passed away. I do not belabor the point.
That's me day.
In true family form, the information of his passing came, and very quickly descended into the following:
1. A heated phone argument with mother about whether to fly or take a bus back to Penang due to "flying being very expensive", apparent "flight phobias", "nobody will pick us up from the airport", "cannot find IC, so cannot book flights". This is a debate between a 2 hour end to end journey by flight, and 5 hour end to end journey by bus. Why.
2. Me and father not allowed to go, as someone needs to stay behind to feed the dogs who "will die if they are not fed" followed by a detailed explanation of how the dogs need to be fed "two tins of the biscuits in big bag, mixed with half tin of the canned food, heated. No feeding them together because the fat one will steal everybody's food". It's true - the fat one is sneaky that way - I find the argument logically sound, but disproportionate to the context.
3. I give up and call my father to "sort this out".
4. Sanity prevails. I am allowed to book flights. Father and I are allowed to go for day trip and dogs will not die as they will be fed and watered in the morning and we will be back in the evening.
5. A flurry of whatsapp messages with cousin about who is going back to Penang (everybody!) and where we will eat (everywhere!). A voice in my brain asks myself if such glee is appropriate for a funeral and is promptly ignored
6. A flurry of whatsapp messages with my brother saying he would like to send flowers. Mother shuts that shit down. She says "Send money. We are not white people". I secretly message cousin to give me the address of funeral as I remember funeral parlors without flowers being quite sad.
7. I come home early thinking my mother may need someone to be around in case... Mother eyes me suspiciously as I sneak in at 130PM; "Why are you home early?" She seems fine, and more anxious about me being home early than her brother having just passed away. I do not belabor the point.
That's me day.
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