and Love...
I haven't seen my Dad's family for more than 10 years now and then suddenly, yesterday, they came for Kakak's engagement. You can imagine the tears, laughter, stories, and then more tears and laughter. We talked for ages and then we went for the early Chinese dinner to Sabak Awor. Food has always been that medium of bringing families together. Take Chinese New Year. We have our traditional Makan Besar. Or Hari Raya, we have the familiar scent of ketupat, rendang and kuah lodeh with the sounds of sobs and sorrys in the background.
Families are not supposed to be divided and torn apart by distance and time, even after the death of that one soul who connected the two families in the first place. Like my Malay grandmother said - "Tak kisah la. Itu kan keluarga. Walaupun ugama kita lain. Mak Tok dulu pun tak kisah orang nak mengata mama awak kahwin dengan Cina. Tengok - keluarga baik."
It's so good to see my Uncle Leong, Aunt Patsy, Adeline, Yu Meng and the nicest Grandma ever. How they would hug you like you're something they can't let go. That feeling's mutual.
So here's to my Kakak whom is now someone's fiancee. To my late father's brother and family. To my mother who cried today for various reasons. To my brother who spoke more today than he would in a whole year. To me who see the look in everybody's eyes that says - "This is a good beginning of a new relationship as well as a forgotten one."
People, those who are gone live in the memories of us who stay.
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