DAD

Last Saturday marked the 7th-year of my dad’s death anniversary, which incidentally falls on the same weekend as “cheng beng.” I was reminded of the song ‘Wake me up when September comes’, which sings…“like my father comes to pass, seven years have gone so fast”. Indeed, how fast time passes us by. Here’s just a little reflection of the man who means so much to me (and my family).

1. Dad is one of the humblest persons I’ve ever known. He never boasts about his successes. He’s a ‘do-er’ rather than a ‘say-er’; a man of little words. He always maintains a low profile, but yet gains the respect of many.

2. Dad is a very handy man; the ‘inspector gadget’ in the family. His skills range from carpentry to electrics to piping, painting and even botanic. If we lose him in the hypermarket, the best bet to locate him would be the hardware section. At the age of 60, he’s still climbing up and down, fixing things along the way. This is something that my siblings and I have yet to fully emulate.

3. Dad cares to do the little things that count for much. He often comes into my room in the middle of the night to reduce the fan speed and pull up my blanket. Even if I am still awake, I would voluntarily allow him to do that. After all, it’s good to feel loved.

4. Dad gives me ample opportunities to develop myself at a very young age. He stresses on all-rounded development and allows me to express myself in an array of activities such as taekwondo, organ, art, badminton and chess. It must have cost him a lot to pay for all the lessons.

5. Dad takes interests in my welfare and delights in my successes. He would come and give his support when I am involved in any sort of competitions and performances, whether it’s public speaking, chess or taekwondo. His very presence makes me feel important. What a child really longs for is to gain the parents attention, and I certainly had the chance to experience that (defying the middle child syndrome).

6. Dad likes to use reverse psychology to challenge and spur me on. Even if I score a 99 for my exams, he would pull my legs and say, “I won’t sign your report card, because you never score a 100”. While he meant it as a joke, I sometimes take it as a challenge to do better.

7. Dad may be small in stature but he has always been my security blanket. With him, I feel safe and protected. He is usually quite composed and exudes a lot of confidence in the midst of calamity.

8. Dad is also quite funny at times. He’s a bad dancer; but yet he likes to entertain us with his badly choreographed moves. Well, the good thing is…it brings laughter to the family.

9. Dad is my most faithful chauffeur (besides mum). Despite having to run a business, he tirelessly fetches me to school, tuition, church and for other extra curricular activities. Complains and grumbles I hardly hear of.

10. Dad works hard to provide for the family. He puts the family above himself. He would willingly spend on us, but for himself, he would not waste a dime.

Here is only a little excerpt of the story of a great man. When dad was called home on the 5th April 2001, he has left behind a lot of things; and so carved the writings on his tombstone…