Until we meet again 嫲嫲❤️

I have very fond memories of my grandma. My earliest memory of us is me teaching her alphabets on the window of our childhood home in downtown Yuen Long by blowing warm breath onto the cold glass, and using my fingers to write out the English alphabets. My grandma would squint and try to make out of the writing. Another memory is my dad scolding me for making grandma carry me and telling me that grandma was too old for that. I definitely felt guilty later as I didn’t know that my grandma was old then.

Of course, who can forget the most amazing onion fried egg that my grandma makes? One of my favorite weekly routines growing up was visiting my grandma and she would always make this onion fried egg dish for us. I would rave how good the dish was with my brother, and then chug more of them down my mouth as we eat in front of the TV with everyone huddled together - my grandma, my two aunties, my dad, mom and brother. It was a great time.

Another routine that I loved growing up also involved my grandma actually, which was visiting the dim sum palace and savor all the yummy dim sum. My grandma would always make sure I have my own basket of BBQ pork buns - so I can eat all three buns on my own. I love that special love that she had for me expressed through food. At the end of each meal, she would always use a toothpick packaged by the restaurant, and then keep at least another one to use later. As the pattern went on, I picked up the pattern that she loves the prepackaged toothpicks. So in return, to express my love for her, I would save the prepackaged toothpicks for her whenever I visit a restaurant. Sometimes, I would ask my parents to pass the saved toothpicks to her when I am overseas. It is nothing of value honestly, but to me it means my love for her, which I know she also reciprocate. I know it is a special love language that we share, and one that others may not understood completely. And that’s okay.

And how would I forget the red pockets that she would give ever so consistently every single year - she never missed my birthday, my brother or parents birthday. I suspect she remembered every family member’s birthday so precisely that she never failed to give them out early before hand as a token of best wishes. Very little words said on the surface, but many significant ones manifested through consistent behaviors.

As I grew older, my grandma would tell me of stories about her past, which she honestly seldom shared. All I could remember is that she would say how rough life was then and she needed to save very well to make sure the family is fed (thus her constant reminder to me not to waste any grain of rice). She also told me how she worked at the plastic flower factory during those days. She told me she received very little education, and said that I should pursue mine. She is a woman of little words, but big action. Looking back, I think it is because she knew very well by experience that action speaks louder than words.

My memory of her will always stay same - as i quote myself on an entry written 7 years ago - “she is a gem of pure elegance, grace and quiet persisence”.

I am so grateful that I could spend some last moments with my grandma - and create some lasting memories with her with the boys. We love you grandma 嫲嫲 and great-grandma 太婆. Until we wet again❤️