Dearest Grandma,

Today is your sixth death anniversary. But the memories I have of you still remain intact. You were snatched away from me in a freak accident when you blacked out in the temple and never regained consciousness. Needless to say, it was a devastating blow for me then.

You were more than just a friend. You were my confidante. You were my pillar of strength. You shared my secrets. You knew my dreams. You made me believe in myself.

I will always remember the after dinner phone conversations we had, updating each other of the day’s activities. Even the most minute details would seem important to you.

I will always remember the meals we shared together in the kitchen – we would eat half a packet of food each and then trade. It was pure bliss and time stood still.

I will always remember the talisman you would get the Gods from the temple before my exams for me to drink. It was to bolster my courage and allow me to excel.

I will always remember the big ang pow you gave me every Chinese New Year. It was something I looked forward to.

I will always remember the kind and frugal granny who wore the thinnest of clothes as you accumulated money the hard way. And yet you gave me pocket money readily.

I will always remember the umbrella you carried with you, thus earning you the nickname ‘umbrella granny’. I have since never left home without an umbrella.

I will always remember the McDonalds meals you would eat so that I would get my hands on the toys that came along. I still have a portion of those toys.

I will always remember you introducting me to all your temple friends et al as your pride. It embarrassed me greatly then. If only I could hear you say it again. Just once.

I will always remember your life story during the Japanese Occupation which you orated to me for my Japanese Studies module in varsity. The lecturer gave me an A+ for it.

I will always remember your gift for languages which you have unknowingly rubbed onto me. You spoke at least 10 tongues.

I will always remember you urging me to go home early each time I visited. The journey home is long and you are tired, you would always say.

I miss you, Grandma. And time will only strengthen the memories I have of you within me…

Your grandson always,

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