Tribute to my Kung Kung

I was typing this entry from my Grandpa’s funeral parlour. He had lived till a ripe old age of 95, passing away peacefully on 6 Dec 2008. He lived a full life I must say. He went through World War II, the Dutch Occupation as well as the Japanese Occupation. He studied English in school and worked with British American Tobacco since he finished school until he was 55. Hence his excellent command of English!

Grandpa had 10 children: 6 sons 4 daughters. He outlived Grandma (who passed away in April 1997) and 2 sons (who passed on in 1998 and Jul 2003 respectively). He had 22 grandchildren (9 grandsons, 13 granddaughters) and 3 great-grandchilden (2 great-granddaughters and 1 great-grandson).

During his school days, he had to help his mother at her tofu stall in Labuhan Batu (a small town in Sumatra, Indonesia). Their home-made tofu was the best in town and noone there had never heard about the famous Loh Family tofu! Grandpa helped with the making of tofu, growing vegetables and chopping wood for cooking. He had also taken up odd jobs such as newspapers delivery, picking up tennis balls and fixing tyres.

Towering over 190cm high, I will always remember my Grandpa as someone very dignified and proud. Apparently, when he sold tofu, customers were not allowed to pick and choose. “Take it or leave it” he would say as he shooed the customers off. Looking at what he had accomplished in his life, I don’t think he was exaggerating. He asked for no favours and would not oblige to any favours unless he deemed appropriate. Ask him to 'curry favour' and he would fail terribly.

He was always full of proverbs to advise his fellow children and grandchildren. “Time and tide waits for no man”, “Don’t wait until tomorrow what you can do today”, “Healthy mind has healthy body”… He had a list of all proverbs, testimonials and education certs which he had been distributing to us all.

As little children, we feared Grandpa a great deal. He talked loudly and was quick tempered. Sometimes accompanied by a quick knock on our heads or a yank of our hair if we happened to get into his way or too slow in carrying out the tasks he assigned to us. Never be noisy or be running about when he was watching his most important programme on TV – The World News. As his eyesight was fast fading, he would need all the concentration to listen attentively.

But we all know, deep inside his heart, he cares and loves in a different way.

Grandpa’s memory had been impeccable till his last days. He loves to tell his life stories of his younger days to us. I am sometimes guilty of feeling bored whenever he wanted to start one of such ‘sessions’. Now when I think back, I would be missing those moments. He would distribute shirts for sons and son-in-laws, bars of soap for his daughters, canned food for the daughter-in-laws, books for his grandchildren etc etc. Frivilous things we would think, but it was his way of showing he cared. He would pass messages and reminders to his certain son in Singapore, or certain granddaughter in Japan or another granddaughter in Dubai.

My son is now 6.5 months old and I had always wanted to have him on his great-grandpa’s lap for at least once. Grandpa told my mother, “Tell Nini to always wash the gaps of her son’s fingers and toes thoroughly. It is between those gaps that germs thrive”. I was a few days too late to let the great-grandpa and great-grandson meet each other…

Grandpa, now that you are gone and free from all life’s miseries and sufferings, we would miss you dearly. You have definitely left a mark in my memory and you would hold an important place in my heart.

Rest in peace, Kung…