Chinese New Year Revisited
Chinese New Year. This year we gathered around for the reunion lunches and dinners that we usually have at this festive season together with the tradition of ang pows to be given out. As most of our families are all nearby, the reunion dinners are minus the fanfare and the excitement of the ‘balik kampung’ rush. And since we see each other quite often, the main thing that distinguishes these meals from the normal ones is the variety of New Year dishes that make their appearance once a year.
The first two days are normally given to visiting my side of the family and Kathryn's side of the family while the third day onwards would be for visiting friends. Each year, it has become customary for us to have a family picture taken for each family in the morning before proceeding to visiting relatives through the day. In that way, we have a collection of family photos showing the changes in the family each year including new ones being added.
For us as a family, I would normally give out ang pows to my children and Kathryn on the morning of the first day of the New Year. The giving of ang pows is accompanied with some wishes for each of the children followed by a prayer for them. Kathryn and I would also exchange ang pows and whisper a prayer for each other. There would be much to rejoice and you could hear the sounds of much laughter in the house. We would then take our family pictures before we leave home to join the rest of our siblings and their families at our parents' homes.
Last year Kathryn was not well enough to join the rest of the family members in the reunion meal as she was very sick. We had the reunion lunch at our home instead of at her parent's home. Some of the cell members and friends were also kind enough to come around to have a meal with us seeing that she was unable to do the normal visitations.
This year as it was last year, there is an empty place in the extended family photos where she would normally be. This year, there is also an empty place in our hearts where she has been and where she will always be. There are sounds of laughter as in the past, but the sound of one laughter is missing. We do miss her so much.
I would like to share some photo clips from the last two years' CNY.
Chinese New Year 2009 and 2010
MT
5 February 2011
5 February 2011
My heart aches looking at her pics. Missed her dearly but memories of her will always be cherished. Just found a card from her thanking us for her 50th birthday celebration. The cleaners nearly threw it away and Kok Meng managed to salvaged it. These are precious in replacement of words of encouragement and her thoughtfulness that will never be forthcoming anymore.
ReplyDeleteBoon Kee used to call me and send scripture via SMS to encourage me to press on in my walk with JESUS...still have all her SMSes and her hp number...I think it's time to erase her hp number and accept her new position! Her journey of faith and hope in JESUS is not in vain...to GOD be the glory!
ReplyDeleteKian Yap,
ReplyDeleteMelissa has taken over Boon Kee's HP number. So you can just change the name to Melissa's and still contact us using that as an alternate number.
Jen and all the others who are following this blog, thank you for walking this part of the journey alongside us for the time being. It is still like being in a dream. The thought of her still brings tears every day.
ReplyDeleteMark, thank you for sharing with us your journey even in the absence of Boon Kee. You and your family had and still is impacting lives through your writing and living. The pictures posted speaks alot, a message of warmth and love. Thank you.
ReplyDelete