Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust

"Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust"

From the time I saw dad's last gasp of breath to dad's motionless right hand to dad's body being brought to the mortuary and subsequently up the van to Singapore Casket to dad's body returning to the wake after embalming to the pallbearers bringing dad's body to Mandai Crematorium to us clearing up dad's various accounts on earth, the above phrase never left my mind, tears often welled up.

Every birth of a child brings about tears of joy. Every last gasp of breath brings about tears of sorrow. It's funny how memories start filling up empty spaces only after the loss of a person. Even a stick of chicken ball has the ability to bring about tears to my eyes, remembering how daddy used to love eating it. Daddy was, especially, cute after his stroke, amidst him being difficult. He gave us interesting and amusing answers but each time, we know that all he wanted was for the good of his family. 2 weeks before his passing, his birthday, I gave dad a birthday card and asked him what was his wish. He didn't ask for good health, he didn't ask for a painless passing. All he asked for was that my sister and I to be happy and have a good life and of course, for us to take care of mummy. Right till the end, stroke or no stroke, his mind is only for his family.

Where there's life, there's death. Where there's death, there's eternal life. Indeed, we come with nothing, we leave with nothing. As we go about settling dad's various account, I noticed how easy it was that the customer service officer close and transfer the account to mummy. When we came to earth, we brought about a Birth Certificate. When we pass on, we brought about a Death Certificate. 2 papers to mark our life's journey.

Thank you all for your heartfelt condolences. I am truly blessed with friends and loved ones who stuck by me during this difficult time. Many had asked me 'How are you?'. Thank you. I am fine, really, because I know that time will heal. I know that one day, I will see daddy in heaven because I know that daddy's with Jesus now.