Whoever says he is not afraid to die is a liar
Original conversation in Hockkien
Pic from archives
Have you eaten? You have a good woman. She looks healthy and strong.
I was born in 1913. I came from China as a young girl. The Second World War was a difficult time, After the war, I worked as a house servant for a family. When the wife died I took her place. None of the children are mine. We had a dinner, took photographs and then we were husband and wife. Things were simple. The family wasn’t rich.
This area used to be a good area. Now with clogged drains and frequent flooding, it has become a slum. You can see many people of other races from the rural areas renting rooms here now. The original families have moved out..
I used to be mobile. After falling three times, I can no longer move around. I wait for my grandchildren to prop me up against the chair every morning. I look out the window and see my neighours. I have not been upstairs for almost ten years.
My grandson is a good man. I wait for him to marry and then I am ready to die. I tell you every body is afraid to die. Whoever tells you he is not afraid to die is a liar. But I am tired. Very tired. My mind is alert. I know everything that is happening around me. But I can’t make my hands and legs move as I want them to. Nowadays my hearing and eye-sight are no longer as good as it once was.
I sometimes fall asleep at my chair. My husband and some of my children are already gone. I will join them soon. I will be in My Father’s home soon. I am tired. I will be ready. Every body has to go some time. I don’t know how many more Chinese new year i can still celebrate with my family. Only God knows. I think all my friends are no more.
Be a good man. Do no bad things and always save money for your old age.
Bengbeng | interesting characters
I’m not afraid to die and that’s no lie. When you have faced dying more than once, you make peace with it. You appreciate that it can take you at any time. Doesn’t mean I want to die, it just means that I understand what it takes to live.
It’s all about perspective when you realise that there are far worse things in life than death, and you know all of them.
u update kinda frequently huh.
he is not afraid, cos he is well-prepared to die.
I’m not afraid to die too because in the end, it’s not the years in my life that count. It’s the life in my years.
Heya
Hope you are doing fine
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Well, Im giving a free copy of my new book, 50 1 Malaysia away to any blogger who is willing to do a post review on it.
As you are my blogger friend, would personally like to invite you to get one
If yes (and I hope you will hehe), you can sign in your details for us to send the book over at http://themalaysiapage.com/501-malaysia/specially-for-bloggers/
Thanks
*The book will be out 31 July 2008.
I was very close to my mother’s parents, and they are both dead. Each died with courage and dignity and I use them for my model of how to die. There was no fear in either of them. I think if you live your life right, you will not fear the end.
- FF
A gripping story. I am scared of old age more, the diseases and other discomforts.
most of us feel like that
“My mind is alert. I know everything that is happening around me. But I can’t make my hands and legs move as I want them to. Nowadays my hearing and eye-sight are no longer as good as it once was.”
That’s the saddest part …
My dad doesn’t seem afraid to die. When he was 55, he was diagnosed with a weak heart. He followed the doctor’s prescriptions diligently, but he prepared for his own departure anyway. He bought a double plot on a hillslope burial site and had it built up like all traditional graves complete with a pair of stone lions guarding the front. He kept up with his morning walks. He’s now 86. Still not afraid to die, but enjoying every moment…
Lian Chye : i dont think i will b as brave as yr dad. i think i prefer to not live too old. on the other hand, when i am old, i might not think like that any more. only time will tell