In Loving Memories

I couldn't find any picture that could translate what I am feeling till I remember that my granduncle was a really adventurous man. He was my grandmother's brother and even if our relation was supposed to be "far away", he was a prominent family member. He remembers all of our names and he always greet us with a smile. And his words were always encouraging.

A few weeks ago, I heard news that he was admitted into the hospital. He was having respiratory problems and had a lot of test done to find out what was wrong. Despite numerous test, the doctors in Malacca couldn't determine what was wrong. He was then transferred to a hospital here in KL.

Early this week, he begin to rely on intensive oxygen supply and developed pneumonia. Many times, my mother had always called me to pay him a visit but due to a tight schedule and daily commitments, I was only able to visit him on Tuesday. When I saw him on a rainy Tuesday afternoon, he was already sedated. I didn't had the chance to talk to him, neither will he know I was there.

I met my distant family members and talked to my grandaunt who were all doing fine. But I could feel the weight on their shoulders. The doctors told them to "be ready" which is pretty much, a sleight ride down the hill.

Wednesday morning, the assigned ring tone given to only my family members rang. I knew the news before I even picked it up. My granduncle didn't make it through the night. He was 70. And I didn't know what to feel. 

He was a school teacher, an extremely humble and kind person and he lived a life well lived. He's been to almost every country in the world, traveled on the silk road and hiked the Mount KK - all in his retirement years. He even harbored hopes to conquer Everest - at 70.

His loss touched me, my brothers and my family so much. We are all speechless. 

A great man is gone.