+ Parents | Great News

Mom at McDonald's in Admiralty MRT station

Happy faces all around while we made our way to the Kopitiam cafeteria for brunch. The day was great so Mom decided to sit outside.

I received a call from my elder sister asking about Dad's condition. She was also relieved to hear the good news.

Mom had Nasi Beryani Ayam, Chicken Curry Rice of North Indian origin while Dad and I had Nasi Padang, Mixed Rice of Sumatran, Indonesia origin.

While eating, we had a family of 4 Mynah birds asking us for food. A mother and father with their 2 noisy chicks chirping for food.

Quite extraordinary though, two chicks instead of the normal one, and quite tamed for wild birds as the birds came real close to us.

We secretly tossed some rice and the birds lapped it up fast. Did that several times until the birds had their fill and flew away.

Interesting lunch time crowd.

Part 2

After our meal, we sipped coffee. Dad's tone turned serious-like. He reminded me of his intention he announced to the family just before he was wheeled away to the OT.

He had intended for my name to be included as second to his and Mom's bank book each. He wants to avoid any complication that may arise if any of them were no longer around.

I obliged sincerely, but reminded them that all my brothers and sisters must be aware to avoid any misunderstandings between siblings later on. They both have already reminded all their children of this and they respected their decision.

Until now, I have yet to realize how big a responsibility this is. But am honoured that the trust and faith both of them have in me.

Mom had hers done first at POSB branch within SGH itself. It sure saved us a trip.

The procedure caught me by surprise though.

The bank teller had to question my Mom and required her reply - that she understood what she was doing. Implying that Mom was enabling me to get access to her savings!

Mom replied an embarrassing yet honest answer. She told the teller that her son has more money in his bank account than she hoped to have.

The lady smiled as she nodded and apologized to me. She was carrying out her job and its her duty to be sure.

Dad was at the pharmacy so he missed the routine question. I turned down a standard issue of an ATM card for myself and told Mom to keep her bank book for her use.

This way I will have no access to her savings, for my sake.

Once done, we headed to Causeway Point Shopping Centre. Mom finally found her ideal Tefal cooking pot with the non-stick inner layer.

She wants to limit the amount of cooking oil and avoid crusts from forming too. She got hers for S$23.00 at Metro.

We next headed to Admiralty MRT Station for UOB Bank. There the same routine was done, but this time I was prepared for the implied questioning.

A new bank book had to be issued, so it had to take 20 minutes to get processed.

We headed to McDonald's to have our break. Hot Milo for Mom and Dad, a Coke for me and a large fries share between us 3.

Received a second call. This time from my youngest brother wanting to know Dad's condition. He was delighted too to hear the good news and planned to visit them that evening.

More Kampong days stories, but most importantly the principles they stood by through hard times were explained to me. Their views on certain matters and why they do things a certain way. I learnt a lot about them in the most unlikely place - a fast food joint.

All that chatting made us forget about the time. We returned to the bank 35 minutes later and collected Dad's new bank book. Again, no ATM card for me and Dad to hold onto his book.

Back to my parents place and they gave me a surprise desert - Serawa Durian, a sweet durian syrup in glutinous rice, a traditional Malay desert that is very hard to come by nowadays. I have not known any food stall in Singapore sells this desert.

I turned down a second helping, but surrepticiously slurping the last few drops off the bowl. It was sinfully delicious! They packed some to bring home for my wife and son too.

4:oopm and was my time to leave. Both were at the door waving good bye to me until I turned the corner and down the stairwell.

Its their trademark to all their children that leaves you feeling nice and warm inside every time you bid them farewell.

It is the same way I emulate when guests leave our home. The same hospitality shown. Good habits die hard, and I can say that again.

+ Parents | Great News

Singtel Satellite along Bukit Timah Expressway BKE

Took leave off work for Dad's 3rd follow-up medical appointment at Singapore General Hospital - SGH..

It has been 5 months since his colorectal surgery. Dad has been in high spirits and energetic all this while. His recovery rate is incredible.

He is up and about to do his usual stuff - going out for groceries, to the barber and Friday prayers. Religiously tending to his garden and always so busy in the kitchen with the chores, while leaving the expert cooking to Mom.

My wife had to attend to her booth while my son has his cousin sleeping over. 5 people would defintely not fit in the cab, so I went alone with my parents.

Besides the medical appointment, both Dad and Mom wanted to do some shopping. Mom did go out much because she needs help even with her walking stick. Long walks meant she would rather be in the wheelchair.

Part 1

The journey from home was smooth. Since there was traffic jam at CTE due to the morning peak hour, the cab driver decided to take the BKE, PIE and Stevens Road route instead.

No luck there either. A broken down van made the traffic slowed down to a crawl, coupled with Dad forgotten to bring along his appointment card, it made me quite anxious.

Honestly not so much of being late, but more of the outcome of the blood test. I worry every time when the result is announced. Both Dad and Mom are kept out from knowing the cancerous tumor Dad had removed.

Mom made the ride less stressful as she pointed pointed out the beautiful blooms of pink and bright red flowers along BKE. The morning sun made the bloom so cheerful.

She pointed out to the wild ferns growing out from the undergrowth of the jungle along PIE and the abundance of tapioca plants as we about to exit to Stevens Road.

Reminiscing, we told me that Pucuk Paku or fern shoots were nice to eat when fried. So was the Pucuk Ubi Kayu or Tapioca shoots. Apart from its bulb, the shoots are normally cooked with coconut milk or Lauk Lemak Pucuk Ubi gravy.

Yes, we did ate the fern shoots when we went on a tour to Sarawak Malaysia just before Dad was diagnosed with the tumor in his large intestine.

The native there call it Sayur Midi they pick from the wild. They normally fry it with belacan or shrimp paste. It was my first taste to the wild fern shoots and it tasted great, just like asparagus!

Mom told me that it both dishes were common then when we were still living in the Kampong or village. I had no recollection of ever eating the fern shoots though. Unlike tapioca shoots, the fern shoots dish is non-existent in modern Singapore as far as I know.

We finally arrived at the hospital 6 minutes past 9:20am, our appointment time. Got our queue number 0937 but noticed the doctors were not in yet as all the lighted numbers in each consultation room were zero.

We continued our chat, mostly catching up on the stuff I missed or did not understand then when I was a child in the village. Some words of wisdom from them and some funny stories and incidences they experienced with the neighbours took us almost an hour before Dad's number was flashed on the queue board.

Dr. Ooi was exceptionally cheerful this morning. Lots of jokes with Dad that made his 2 nurses assisting him laughed as well. In between the jokes and casual talks, he interjacked questions of Dad's bowel movements, his general energy level and his diet.

All was good. He encouranged Dad to go out of the house to stretch his legs. He was happy to know that Dad had been doing just that since after his first follow-up visit.

More jokes from the drawn curtains as Dad was check by the doctor. All good.

As Dad got dressed, Dr. Ooi informed me of the good news. Dad blood reading was at 1.8, way lower than the 3.5 cancerous indication. His next follow-up will be spaced 6 monthly now.

I was relieved upon hearing the news. Guess it showed on my face.

That had always been the most tense moment with every visit I had to sit-in personally. Unknown to Dad or Mom of Dad's condition. For all they knew was that was a benign tumor that was removed.

Every checked out well, so Dad's next follow-up appointment will be spaced 6 monthly now. He is scheduled to go for a colonoscopy in mid June 2006, approximately a year after his surgery.

I am very proud of my Dad for religiously sticking to his diet and keeping himself in high spirits.

Off I went to tell Mom of the good news. Mom smiled and looked at him proud. Dad reciprocated with a smile that was even wider. No words were spoken but that was their moment.

I will not forget it. I was so happy to witness another beautiful moment. Wished all my brothers and sisters could have seen that too.

I thank Allah for the blessings He gives this family and more happy moments that we all get to share our time together.