Category: Memories

Posted on

Eulogy For My Father-In-Law

Hi, my name is XXX and I’m Budd’s daughter-in-law. Since he has always said that I’m bossy, I think it’s befitting for me to do the eulogy. I know Budd doesn’t like long eulogies, so I’m going to keep it really short. Firstly, I would like to thank everyone so much for being here this afternoon to support our family.

Budd was a kind and generous man, he never said no to anything I asked of him even if he didn’t like it. He would reply “I suppose”. I’ve asked Budd to make me a flower bed at our cottage and he did it for me. I asked him to make a coat hanger on a nice solid piece of wood, and he did it. I asked him to grow some okra for me and he did it. During his illness, I asked him not to die on me and he tried his best to make it through. I told him I wasn’t ready to let him go, so he said to me… he will try. My father-in-law never said no to me except when I asked him for mahjong money, but even then when I was doing radiation in Halifax and was so bored and asked him to sponsor me for my mahjong, he said ok.

Budd loved his sons Chris and Richard and granddaughter Chloe very much and would do anything for them. He knew how much Chloe loves peas, corn, strawberries, and raspberries, so he would have them ready for her every summer. He was a good friend to many, he was smart and always had something knowledgeable to share. You would always learn something new from conversations with him. Budd had a good sense of humor as well as an eye for good-looking women and he never had a bad thing to say about anyone. He was the best father-in-law anyone could ask for and I was privileged to have spent 21 years with him. I want everyoneto know how important he was to me, I’m going to miss him dearly but I know that he is no longer in pain and is back with Olivette now.

Posted on

Farewells

I’m not good with farewells, so I try not to say them not even to a very good friend from Peru who is moving to Ottawa in a few days.  So I said see you soon – that way it wouldn’t be too sad for all of us.  I’ve come to know Jackie thru’ our kids – the girls attend the same school but Jackie was shy and rarely spoke to me till the kids went swimming at the YMCA.

After Chantal was born, we became really good friends but alas, they had to leave for Ottawa – so sad !  But I guess they would be having a better place to stay in and more to do in Ottawa and I’m really happy for them.  But farewells are too sad – and we will miss them terribly especially Chloe with Layla because Layla is such a good kid – I wished they had a chance to grow up together.

But no worries – I’m sure we will always be friends wherever they may end up.  We love you Jackie, Layla and Shantal.

Posted on

Another First Without Grammie

First Halloween without Grammie – one of the many first *sigh*  – so sad but what can one do but to make sure we show our loved ones that we care for them.  But sometimes it is hard to visit because no proper food cooked for the kid in the evenings when we visit and no proper place to eat.  Plus sometimes Grampie is busy with his own stuff to do and cannot spend much time with Chloe when we visit – so it defeats the purpose when Chloe comes home and complains that she didn’t get to spend much time with Grampie now that Grammie isn’t around.  *sigh* but what can we do – we do try and I know Grampie is trying too – I guess he just don’t know how to play with Chloe yet – like Grammie did.  But he is trying and so is Richard.  She thought that Grampie was going to carve a pumpkin with her but in the end PB had to do it for Grampie was busy with other stuff.

Posted on

Camera For Vacations

We are currently making preparations to leave in a few days to Moncton for a wedding.  I’m very excited because it’s PB’s cousin getting married and we are all invited for it.  I know that traveling time and hotels will cost us a lot but I don’t really care about money right now but more about family.

I’ve many kind of cameras – some bought by myself and others by PB but what i would really like for this trip is to get a  canon 7d  , unfortunately, I have yet to be able to convince him – maybe the last day of our vacation eh?  when they are tired and most vulnerable. If I get a Canon 7d – I would either donate the rest of my cameras away or resale them at the store – that’s why we have the store.

Posted on

That Dreaded Call Came

It was still dark outside and rightly so – since it was only 6am – the phone rang – i didn’t want to pick it up because I knew what it meant and PB didn’t wake up from the ringing at all.  The next time it rang – I woke PB up to pick up the phone and yes, Grammie wasn’t going to make it – she was going.   PB’s aunts had called and  told him that they had taken out her drips because she was gurgling water out from her mouth and they didn’t think that it was going to help her.  The nurses figured it would be between 2 – 4hrs.  We called the father-in-law immediately to let him know and we got prepared to wake Chloe up and send her to school first before going to say goodbye to my mother-in-law.

Another call came at 8am and the hospital wouldn’t talk to me – PB was in the toiletttttttttttt!!!  and yes – by the time we called back – Grammie had left.   We sent Chloe to school and then we went to the hospital – Grammie laid there all still and her hands and fingers were turning black and so was her face.  The cancer had taken completely over – it was just so sad because she wasn’t ready for it and she was excited about her trip to New York this year and also wanting to get her first pension cheque.   I know she was worried for Chloe and rightly so because we didn’t know how Chloe would take the news.  We dreaded it.

Posted on

If You Don’t Like Something

Someone very wise told me a month ago – that if I didn’t like something, change it. Life is too short – live life to your fullest – do things you love and don’t waste time over-analyzing and I took his advice. My life is here in Canada – there is no going back and there is no way – I’m going to take care of others before my own family. Once that was settled, I knew exactly what I had to do. And I also learned that everyone have their bragging rights and if you don’t like it – then I can choose not to listen and walk away – the same for those who don’t like to hear me.

Yes! I’m very blessed! I’ve got a good spouse and an awesome and funny daughter, I haven’t “really” worked since I came to Canada and I loved what i do online – and I’ve good advertisers who look out for me and my friends often. My health is getting better everyday and I’m spending time with Chloe and able to do things with her more than I did before. Plus, we have good business acumen and do not have to worry about our daily expenses. What more can I asked for right?

Posted on

A Collection Of Jewelry

My love for jewelry started when I was very young – I think it was my grandmother who actually got me interested in jewelry and when I was young and visiting my grandmother – she would take out her jewelry to show me. My great-grandmother who loved my sister so much – left her a ring – on her deathbed – so you see how we all got started young with loving our diamonds and gold. My grandmother also kept most of her jewelry at home therefore, she had all her jewelry insured – even an engagement ring insurance – that’s to tell you how early she started with buying insurance for all her jewelry. Being a Peranakan – descendants of Malay and Indonesia – they have exquisite jewelries – it’s too bad that my mother didn’t get left with a lot of her jewelry since she was the oldest amongst her siblings. But because of generations of love for jewelry – I too develop a love for them and passing on the tradition to my daughter.

Posted on

Growing Up

I watched these twins grow up at our store – they are such delightful girls even when they were much younger. I remembered both of them telling me that they wanna come work at our store when they grow up – so cute! I met them yesterday during the Multi-cultural fest at the hotel and they were manning a counter for tickets to U2. And like usual – the 2 gals – they are twins were as lovely and polite as ever. When I see them I think of our old babysitter for Chloe and I feel a intense sadness rushed into me. You see I watched her grow up too – like these girls and I know that growing up can sometimes be hard and tough – but when I think of my old friend – I cannot but feel a sense of sadness.

I asked PB why some kids turn out the way they are while others turned out so well? Is it the parenting ? or the friends they are with – and PB said it is mostly the friends they are with. I watched my friend’s kids grow up with us – seeing that she haven’t finished her studies yet – or do what she said she was going to do for years – just makes me feel sad. She had so much going for her – because she was definitely a good looking and intelligent gal – so what happened? what went wrong? so why all the stories? all the fibbing? it didn’t do anyone real harm for now – but in the future as she grows older and the lies and stories become more intense – someone is going to end up hurt and wanna hurt her in return. We’ve all been teenagers before, and we have gone thru’ a certain amount of being shitty but it’s really sad to see my friend’s kids turn out this way – and now I fear for my own Chloe and hoping she isn’t going to mix with the wrong company – yadda, yadda, yadda. Well, you know what i mean right?

Posted on

Friendship

I don’t have many friends and those whom I called friends are those who’ve known me for a long time and treasure me and accepts me for who I am. My rule for any friendship is I would never ask to borrow any money from my friends if i treasured their friendship – now would i take my friends for granted. But my friends need to back off and give me space when I need it. Even though I am very talkative – truth be told I’m a very private person – Chloe and PB are the most important people in my life – and of course, I have good friends that I’ve known for many years. It’s hard to be my friend – because I’m quite picky.

In my 11 years in Canada – I’ve gathered a group of friends – and these people are truly good to not only me – but Chloe and PB as well. They care for us unconditionally and remembers all our special dates and days – they are there for us – if we needed a helping hand – or a warm home to stay in – if we get power outages. I’m happy with my friends and the family I have – what about you?

Posted on

How To Get A 6 Months Visa Into Canada?

I’ve been asked many a times – how do one get thru’ custom and get your 6 months chop on your passport without any trouble. So when i received an email this morning from a fellow Singaporean – i decided to write it out here instead. First of all, don’t go to the embassy and tell them you are staying for 6 months – as soon as you do that – they might send in the information to Canadian custom to look out for you ( i think they are required by law to do so). Canadian custom frown upon people who are planning to stay this long. But having said that Canadian custom are not evil – they are just doing their job and don’t want over stayers and people who intend to stay in Canada illegally or work here illegally.

So here is what you do – if you want to enter into Canada without any problems and be granted a 6 months visit legally. You have to have enough cash with you – you have to tell them you have family and friends and a job waiting for you back home. You have to have a return ticket – showing when you are going home – but note – that you should not have your air ticket printing it 6 months from your date of arrival. Always buy a ticket that allows you to change your date of flight – that way – you can book for 2 months from date of arrival and then change it when you arrive and have gotten your 6 months visa.

If possible – bring a business card with you if you are working – if you are still in school – make sure you have school papers showing when you are supposed to be back for school. The whole idea is to show them that you have no intention of staying longer than you should – and that you are just here for a visit and sightseeing around Canada. And by the way – if you are coming to Canada in February – it is the coldest month here – make sure you are dressed warmly. Do not spend a lot of money buying winter clothes in Singapore – safe your money and buy one when you arrive – in the meantime – just buy something as warm as you can in Singapore. I hope the above helps – and like I said before – i never had any trouble with immigration Canada – and you shouldn’t too – because Immigration Canada is not out to get you – they are only out to get those who have ill intentions.