HUAT AH!

HUAT AH! 

Hello, my lovely people of the World Wide Web. Its still Chinese New Year so I'm not considered late, am I? I have nothing interesting to share about my Chinese New Year as it's the same old boring thing every year but I've decided to share an interesting story about my family! Isn't that wonderful? Actually it's an email but it's interesting! So, ENJOY! (by the way, I'm half Chinese - my mum's side is Chinese - so that explains the surnames and what not) 

Hello Cheahs,

Thanks very much for the photo shots. It was such a lucky chance that we managed to meet again. On several occasions whenever I returned to Penang, I had always ventured to my birthplace for a sentimental visit but always found your house to be bordered up. Seeing the house seemingly unoccupied, I had assumed it to be listed either for renovation under the Heritage Act or to be prepared for complete knock-down for reconstruction, bearing in mind that these row of houses were pre-war buildings of the Cheah clan. I was born in that house and your grandma took very great and loving care of me, taking me in as her grandson too. I still remember of her last few hours before she passed away. I was working in Penang when I heard she slipped and was in sort of coma. It appeared that she wanted to see all her loved ones before she departed, I guess I was the last person to see her, after work, I rushed back to be by her side, when I approached her, I broke down and called her a few times, "grandma, grandma..." she opened her eyes, smiled at me and managed to say " oh, ah hock, lu Lai kua wah, chin oo sim...." then she smiled and peacefully faded away.

Thanks for admitting I and my brothers into your house on that Friday and the opportunity to meet up with auntie Ah Peng (whom I used to address as Ah Kim. I was glad that she could still recognise me. What caught my attention when I peeped into your lounge was that cupboard with the green stained glass. That was the spot when as a child, I sensed that chocolates were stored there by your (Chor Chuan) dad. Very spot inside the house brought back fond memories of my childhood, even that boulder outside the house where I used to sit on having my meals (either it was Ah Ngor, or grandma used to feed me). The drain was where we, as kids of the neighbourhood would squat and do our business, we left a trail of our droppings on the side od the drain and the poor Indian labourers had a rough time cleaning up the mess.

Those were fond memories and I shall always treasure them, the photos that you took would be among my priceless collections. Incidentally, I also took some photos of the house in my previous visits last year.

I managed to visit Ah Ngor, thanks for her address.. Yes, she could still recognise me. She was attending primary school which was just around the corner down the road, would always call me from outside the house when she took a break from her recess time, dropped a few sweets through the door grill and then would run back to school. I was the pampered baby of the house to such an extent that I pronounced myself to be a Cheah and not a Loo. I never knew the significance of this but my dad realise that it was time for me to go back to my mum's parents' home in very ulu kampong and to be brought up as a Loo. I was only about 3 or 4 years old at that time.

It has been more than 40 years that I manage to meet you again by good chance.  Thank good providence.

Take care and God bless, 
Hock

So, moral of the story is, treasure your village. You may not know the mysteries that lies behind it.