We went to visit a few relatives today. My in-laws home was the first stop. On the 1st and 15th of every Lunar month, my in-laws go vegetarian, as do my hubby and myself. On the 1st day of Lunar New Year, mymother-in-law will prepare vegetarian bee hoon and noodles. The whole family will gather at her home and have breakfast. In previous years, we will go to hubby's grandmother place. We didn't do that this year because she passed away last year. The visit to the temple went on as usual after that. To pay respects to hubby's maternal grandmother, visit an old neighbour who is now a nun and to pray to Buddha.
We took a rest at the in-laws' until we were ready to visit my uncle and auntie. Some relatives came to my in-laws before we left so we stayed to chit chat for a while. Then it was off to my uncle's place which was nearby. My annual visit to my uncle is always interesting. He has many stories and comments.
My uncle is divorced. His wife left him many years ago and took both his sons with her. His sons have never acknowledged him except to ask him for money before they started working. They have not looked him up since. My uncle is a man of much pride. He had his ups and downs in life. When he was younger, he would go into many business ventures. He made a lot of money but lost a lot of money too. He was an easy going person. Money lost can be made again. He was also fiercely loyal. We used to be able to tell whether his was doing well by the red packets he gave us during Lunar New Year. When times were good, he would give us $50. When times were bad, he would give us $20. During the 70s, $50 was a lot of money for a red packet.
My uncle used to have a very bad temper. He would get into arguments frequently after he has had one drink too many. Once he was jailed for using a parang on someone. He was 60 at that time. He is now living in a 2 room flat in Bukit Merah. He is poor but he still has his pride. I respect him for keeping his dignity. His instruction to my dad was to cremate him and scatter his ashes into the sea when he dies. He heard that he can create good karma when the fishes in the sea consume his remains. I can tell he has accepted his fate and no longer has any misgivings about the past.
We went to my auntie’s place at Jalan Rumah Tinggi which was nearby. My auntie is a widow whose husband passed away more than 20 years ago. She has 4 children and 6 grandchildren. Her small 3 room flat is always packed during Lunar New Year. She doesn’t stay there on a regular basis any more but makes it a point to go back there during holidays or important dates. It has been her home for a very long time. We used to visit her every Friday when we were young, until my uncle passed away. I had an enjoyable time chatting with my cousins even though 3 of them were at least 10 years older than me.
I always enjoy meeting my auntie. She is a very caring lady. My auntie is a very stoic lady. She came to Singapore at the age of 3 with mygrandparents. Being the eldest in the family, she is firm and strict. She used to sell drinks at a school canteen. My uncle was a taxi driver. He was very devoted to my auntie. He would ferry her everywhere she needed to go. He would do the marketing for the family. He was a very good family man. He would sit at his favourite chair at home when we visit and watch us play while he chats withmy parents. My auntie is a very traditional Teochew lady. She would make sure her children greet all the relatives they met. During dinner, we would address all our elders in order of seniority before we eat. My auntie makes a mean ngoh hiang (pork roll) and sweet sour pork. I remember that I would only eat sweet and sour pork she prepared. I had an aversion to all other pork.
Tomorrow is going to be a quiet day with a visit to my friend and mom’s.
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