They say Michelle resembled Mommy, while I resembled you more
I never thought to ask which part of me resembled you but it occured to me today
that a part of me may have died along with you forever in this lifetime
but a part of you still lives in and with me for as long as I breathe
Remembrance
Daddy, I will remember you for…
- Being the regular figure standing at my school gate, waiting to pick me up from school. I don’t know why but I took pride in the fact that you were always much younger than parents of my peers, so I was always proud to have you around with me.
- Never shoving me away whenever I cling my arms around yours.
- Buying me the golden hand-sewn journal book I eyed on. I wanted it to have a personal touch from you and asked that you write something on the first page. You wrote, “To err is human” in blue ink.
- Being the fiercer but cheekier and playful parent that you were. Jiejie and I were always scared of you when you got firm with us, but we never felt like we couldn’t approach you.
- Saying “I’m so proud of you” to me after the police was done taking my testimony for the molestation case when I was 11.
- Teaching me how to use the dictionary and encouraging me to read the dictionary in my free time.
- Being so excellent in ironing clothes. None of us at home can ever do better than you.
- Tying the neatest and prettiest bows.
- For breaking the ice when I was mad at you and refused to talk to you. I was only a primary school kid then. You sent me a text and said that you missed talking to me and that I am always your 开心果.
- For the late heart-to-heart talks when I was much younger. Just you and I.
- The piggy-back rides you gave me.
- Bringing Jiejie and me to swim, and how you would swing us up so high into the sky but we always landed safely into your arms.
- Always obliging to Jiejie’s and my requests for sweet treats and agreeing to not let Mommy know.
- Always seeing through me whenever I lie. You would expose me, but never rebuked me.
- The call I made asking you for permission before saying the Salvation prayer, inviting Christ to be Lord of my life. You agreed so readily, like how you very readily said Yes to him a couple years later too.
- Being the camera man in our family for years, leaving us with so many photo memories to keep.
- Stalking this blog of mine every once in a while.
- Telling me more than once that I will always be your little girl no matter how old I get.
These memories will soon be less vivid and the sound of your voice, I will soon forget. But I will take some time everyday to look back and rummage through the memory box in my brain and see if there are more to note and remember. I will never forget you, Daddy.
J. 