My maternal grandmother is of Hakka descent & was born in Beijing, China in the year 1932. She was sent to Malaysia in her teens & was soon married to my grandfather or Kong Kong as I call him (he passed away when I was about 12 & although I never really got to know him, I remember a quiet man who always did what was right in his own quiet way), was also Hakka originally from China. They had a total of 8 children, 6 girls & 2 boys. Life was not easy as they worked hard day & night to make ends meet while raising so many children.
It is these children & their spouses plus offspring, a total of 34 individuals (give or take) including many other relatives & friends, who came together over the course of 3 days for my grandmother’s memorial service. As is with most Chinese people, my Popo actually put aside some money for her funeral & all I can say is that she would’ve definitely approved the outcome.
It was during this time that I came to fully realise what a strong woman my Popo was. Even towards the end, she still pushed herself to remain mobile despite painful arthritis & fibrosis in her lungs which left her breathless. Despite this, she could still crack a joke & dispense good, sound advice so that we would take care of ourselves & of each other. She knew her time was coming soon but my Popo remained jovial, loving & strong & it is these qualities that I hope with all my heart that I’ve inherited.
As I look back on the night we all spent sleeping over at the memorial centre to accompany our Popo’s last night on earth, I remember the jokes we made over sleeping positions, the hugs & words of solace we gave each other in comfort. It is this memory that assures me pieces of Popo lives on in each of us… She would’ve definitely approved.
5 comments:
This is so beautiful :) Kind of makes me wish i was close to my Popo. My condolences to you and your family, she sounds like such a wonderful person :)
I am so sorry to hear that. This reminds me of my popo too. I didn't really get to know her as she passed away when I was only 13. I was in KK and she was in KL. I didn't get to attend her funeral due to financial constraints. I often think about her, those days when she took care of all of us.
My condolences to you and your family.
We Hakka women are resilient that way...my condolences
thank you ladies for your condolences.
cynthia: i too was not very close with my popo but she always found a way to make me feel loved & always supported anything i wanted to do if i took the time to ask her. she was really wonderful.
chris: oh, i can't imagine how sad you must've felt! i'm sure your popo is looking out for you now.
turning40: yes indeed, hakka women are strong. i really hope i've inherited that particular gene.
Love and memories are so beautiful and yet a little sad but it brings a little smile.
I tear feeling how sad you were while writing this.
Made me want to just reach out to you and hug you.
Love is so magical.
Your popo is a strong and smart women. You have inherited that looking at yourself today.
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