family

So there, Aug 27 will not be a public holiday. No contest, no polling, no duties for the thousands of presiding officers & counting assistants. Welcome back, Mr N.

No PE, no kick? Don't worry, GE's probably just round the corner. With those omnipresent pictorial banners of smiling MPs, media hype over PAP-WP-SDA "gentlemanly rivalry" in the various wards, and the redrawing of electoral boundaries... haiz, get ready to sharpen your 2B pencil to mark out crosses in boxes.

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Yesterday, Big Uncle invited me to his humble abode for a homecooked meal. He must have missed his own children so much, he decided I'm a worthy 'substitute'. Not that I mind one bit, for I've always respected and loved him, & the fact that he cooks yummy dishes helps too (just kidding).

Anyway, yesterday over a perfectly simple but flavorful lunch of sweet corn & porkribs soup, minced meat omelette, and stir-fried kailan with mushrooms, Big Uncle did an unexpected. He thanked me, not once, not twice, but more four times over, for having popped by for lunch. HUH??? I thought I heard wrong the first time round. I should be the grateful one, isn't it? (and I sure am). His profuse expression of gratitude was unanticipated (& quite unncessary) and just, damn... makes it all very "xin(1) suan(1)" (literally translated as "heart sour"). From within his eyes, you can see this pain and great longing for his own estranged children to be there as well/instead. To hold his hand, to hear him talk, to tell him things are going to be all right and that he should continue his daily medication and not think negative thoughts, to tell him he is not forgotten nor abandoned and that they are going to be around for him as he age, and involve him in their lives' milestones, like when they land their first jobs, get married etc... This IS basic humanity, isn't it?

Next weekend, me and my aunt are going to arrange for a get-together meal. Hopefully, we can see a miracle happen.