dedicated to my grandpa

My gong gong is a very knowledgeable man. He knows everything about the world, reads alot, collects newspaper articles, stamps, notes. Anything you wanna know, he can probably tell you. His notes are compiled into almost being like an encyclopaedia by itself.

I remember so many things he has done for me since I was born. We have gone on many family trips together, going to kl going to genting and melaka. Both gong gong and popo took care of me when I was attending Kindergarden, primary school. It was near their house and I stayed there most parts of my childhood. When i grew older, and when he knows that I am going on holidays, or exchange or some immersion programs, he will tell me more about the place I am going, what I should look out for. He never fails to change some money for me as well and asks if I need more.

I remember every week he will sit by the radio before or during dinner and listening to the wan zi piao results. If he is lucky and strikes whatever result he will always pass me some money and ask me to pass some to my brother as well.

I also remember when I stayed at choa chu kang, he would come by and dabao us lunch and watch some tv. I would either be just back from somewhere, probably school, and see him there. My brother, if i recall correctly, and as told by my mother, would collaborate sneakily with him so he could play some pc as the door was locked.

My mother also chatted and reiterated the fact that he was a super independent individual, and very mobile even as he aged. He used to work at sbs, so he knew bus and train routes at the tip of his fingers. I recall he used to own a motorbike and rode around, i recall seeing the spot where his motorbike was and would be covered by a sheet in case of rain. I do not really remember seeing him ride personally though. But i know that he goes around sg quite abit on public transport.

More recently around the last few years, every sunday when visiting popo and gong gongs place for dinner and family gathering, I would also chat with him about random things, songs, oldies, china politics, his collections, anything. Then when i went out to watch taiwan drama with popo and chat he would be in his room and watching tv. When I was about to leave and want to say bye to him, he would either be awake and tell me to 小心看路 or he would have dozed off on his chair.

Even more recently though, his health deteriorated more, and had to stay at the hospital. I went to visit more when I could, as NUH was just beside school, so I had many chances to visit and talk to him. He managed to become better and leave hospital and stay home, but had difficulties walking. I stayed there for the semester so I had many opportunities to talk as well. He was unfortunately admitted to hosp again after that for a longer period but when I visited, he joked about a new attachment nurse from Japan that was really helpful and always engaged him. The last time I managed to talk to him was last Sunday, he asked about me and my brother, about popo and papa’s hand. He reminded me to stay safe, and said 哎呀到現在還沒有時間弄那個新電話、改次visit記得帶來. I said ya i will bring it and i reminded him he had the jin du nian sweets I bought to eat. I told him to take a break and sleep and I said byebye. That was my last few words with him.

I am glad I managed to learn more about him and talk so much. I hope he had no pain at all at the end, and left as peacefully as possible.

I have had so many cherished memories with him and only now when i think and recall do I realise how many things I have experienced with him, let alone adding his time with all my other family members. Celebrating a life truly well-lived, I will always love and remember you 公公.

From Ah Boy

Addition: i only knew today that gong gong had an english name, Paul!

Addition 2: managed to get some leads on gonggong’s ancestry

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