In just the space of five days, things came one after another.
The inevitable came. Yet, I suppose most tears were shed when my grandma was still on her couch, barely breathing, than when she really left us for good. And there I fought, with all my might, to hold back tears that threatened to flood as a broken dam would. I just could not cry out loud in that house. Still, a tear or two trickled down my cheeks, for who would be strong enough to stay expressionless when there's continuous sobbing around?
The two nights that followed was none other than ceremonious. Everyone was busy running around getting things done - so were the kids, who ran around the house with gay. The atmosphere wasn't at all solemn, albeit a funeral service. In fact, it was more or less a family get-together session, a reunion session, a catching-up session. Cousins rushed back, relatives drove back; and some whom I have never met too! For a rough count, there were about 70 of us - children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Our family is so big, and some cousins and distant relatives are people I have not even met before. And thus, I thought to myself on the funeral day, that maybe some time in the past we might have walked past each other on the streets, yet not knowing we could be this related in blood and flesh.
Sigh.
And Chinese New Year 2009 will never be the same again. With the centre of gravity gone, will everyone still gel together like the old times?
