又是另一則坏消息。

An old neighbour, Uncle Yeo, passed away on Friday from complications of his liver cancer - an episode which he had fought hard against for more than two years.

I remembered this senior gentleman as an active grassroot worker. A friendly and compassionate man, Uncle Yeo had greatly devoted his time to grassroots activities during his tenure at the Pasir Panjang Community Centre. My Mom and his wife were good pals from the CC cooking classes.

As a young boy living in the same estate as them, the Yeo couple treated me like a son they desired (they had two daughters and six grand-daughters). They would drop by my house during Chinese New Year and random occasions for a chat, and would always bring some goodies along. Uncle Yeo was a fellow Teochew whom my family and I connected well with. In the Pasir Panjang condo estate of a mere 70 household units, he was easily among the closest neighbors we had even though he lived a block away. At that time in the 90s, nice and friendly neighbors who helped and listened to one another are already considered a rarity.

Perhaps what i (and Uncle Yeo) remembered most vividly was an occasion when Uncle Yeo had insisted fetching my mom and I back from the CC after I was done with drawing class. Upon arrival at my door, I was a tad late getting off the car and Uncle Yeo drove off unknowingly, dragging me along. I ended up with abrasions on my feet after being dragged along by the car. Uncle Yeo felt very regretful and upset because of that. I hope that wasn't exactly what he remembered most about me because I have never taken it to heart even as a vengeful and frightened young boy back then.

Yesterday, during the Sunday grocery-shopping session, Sis reminded mom about visiting Uncle Yeo as we knew long ago that he was undergoing chemotherapy. Mom left the thought in her mind for a while before she grabbed a copy of the Lian He Zao Bao newspaper. And in it she found the obituary of the late Uncle Yeo. I drove her to the wake later in the afternoon to see Uncle Yeo for the last time. I offered a respectful bow before him (Christian wake) and felt a pang. We spoke to his wife and daughters and heard about how he tried to fulfill his last wishes since the beginning of the year. He had gone on a few holiday trips despite his frailty and also had a party just 3 weeks ago - a lavish one that he called his last gathering of close fellow grassroots colleagues. He was happy to be able to accomplish all these.

I think Uncle Yeo left this world with no regrets - both daughters married to good men and 6 bright grand-daughters he got to hold in his arms. I felt a tad worried for Mrs Yeo who seemed unconcerned with life as a widow. I hope she will be okay when she moves out of her daughter's into a retirement home.

I am glad to have met this gentleman who had once touched my life as a neighbor and as a fatherly figure. It then reminds me of my father's cancer episode three years ago, and how lucky i am to still have my old man here with me. It makes me want to cherish the people around me even more, and to lead life even more fully.

I guess I have seen enough of gloomy days in this fateful year.

希望2008的陰天快點結束。2009 的春天快點到來。


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