Peh Leh Di

 Uncle 4 passed on this morning. One is never well prepared for a death in the family, regardless whether it’s sudden or expected.

We had been warned earlier given his deteriorating health. Family living overseas were told by uncle 2 that the funeral would be a short one (if it happens), hence no need to rush home. Uncle 2, who has been taking care of  uncle 4 all these years believes in showing care to a person while he is alive and not after he’s gone. So I’m glad that we brought bb S home recently to visit uncle 4. Although he couldn’t talk during my last visit, I believe he recognised me and probably wanted to tell me that he’s happy to meet his grand-niece.

I’m sad but relieved that he’s with the Lord now, walking on streets of gold. It’s probably a release for him, who has been trapped in a body that couldn’t move about freely and lost the ability to talk over the past few months.

To our peh leh di (aka uncle 4 in Hainanese)…

A well-loved uncle by all of the nieces and nephews. You were never mad at us, no matter how naughty or silly we were. You just laughed.  In fact, you laughed all the time, even to those who were angry at you. You enjoyed walking so much that you walked miles and miles everyday  to the beach, the mountains, the city as if your legs were powered by engine. Some say that you would have achieved so much as a lawyer had you not gone into depression. But I say that you have lived a great life to your content.