Mama has a scar on her lap. Maybe it was just a birthmark, i thought to myself during my younger days. Little did I know she got scalded by hot water while mixing some formula for me in the car on a bumpy road, when i was just a few months old.
Mama has some extra inches on her waist and hips. Jokingly, I told her that she needed to go on a strict diet. Little did I know that all these years, while the rest of us enjoyed the drumsticks and the meatiest parts of the dishes, she was munching on bones alone in the kitchen.
Mama is a typical auntie who checks newspaper ads for the best deals in town and bargains like there's no tomorrow. Little did I know that of all those things she bought at bargained prices, none were for herself.
Mama doesn't give money to those asking for donations on the streets. I thought i had a better heart and donated. The very next day I read in the papers about the proliferation of charity scams. Little did I know that her bags were full of salvation army flags and old folk's home open day coupons.
'Little did I know' was the excuse I used as a rebellious teenager (seriously deluded by raging hormones), choosing to believe that my judgments were better than mama's. I knew that Mama helped a blind man cross the road everyday before dawn. I even knew that she once bought a bunch of rambuatans which was half-rotten from an old lady because it was raining. Yet i pushed every bit of those to the far-flung realms of my mind.
Recently, mama has been asking me stuffs about computers and the internet. I remembered the times I taught her the basics of using a computer, which were held in a hurried manner and with me being irritated by her questions. Mama never once raised her voice at me. She patiently learnt everything she could to keep in touch with her children living faraway from home.
Mama's e-mail to me yesterday slapped me hard across the face. It suddenly occurred to me that I am becoming the snappish, unthoughtful and ignorant son, making little-did-i-know excuses again. But this time, I'm taking my final steps into adulthood while mama's hair is turning gray.
My Mama, a filial daughter, a beautiful wife, a loving mother, and now a grandmother.
Mama, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you a very very happy mother's day, to apologize for everything i've done wrong, and to say that I love you lots and lots.
Happy Mama's Day!!!
These guys for sure raised a few eyebrows walking through the streets of Prague.
The park was already in a buzz of activity as we arrived.
Sunbathing in the park. No, the grandma in a bathing suit was not headed towards me.
People and more people everywhere in crowded Moscow.
A few photos with those sitting at the same table.
On Saturday about a hundred of us went picnicking at a park (organized by the Malaysian Fellowship). There was some serious torrential rain but it didn't dampen our spirits to have a great time. The picnic was a blast, albeit the bad weather.
I totally chose the wrong time to visit my sis in London. Julie was busy finishing up her reports before flying off to celebrate CNY back in Malaysia while Jun Yau was occupied with on-calls. And on the top of that, Jun Yau was relocated to another hospital, which means that they had to move to another place, which means shifting Julie's mountainous piles of clothes, which also means muscle aches and back pain for me after that. But nevertheless, they did try their best to make the trip a fun one for me...Thanks lots for everything!
Sunway City Ipoh
