A Tribute to the most wonderful man

Dad passed peacefully in his sleep last Thursday. Because of Chinese New Year, we had to make speedy arrangements. But despite the haste, there was a huge turnout to the visitation and funeral. He would have been happy to have seen the banquet that took place in his honour. In fact, as one of his oldest friends said, he was likely enjoying a beer, watching over us while we feasted.

I struggled with whether or not to say anything at the mass. I was afraid I would lose it, become too overwraught with emotion to get out the important words. How do you capture in but a few paragraphs, the special man he was and the impact that he made on so many people?

But I felt I really had to, and I'm so glad I did. And I'd like to think I did him proud...

*****

I have the extreme honour of being the daughter of WMG. Not only was he a wonderful father and remarkable grandfather, he was an exceptional man.

From humble beginnings in China, as a very young boy he came over with his mother to join his father and brother in Canada, for a better life. They settled in Montreal. As far as he remembered, he was the youngest Chinese boy in Chinatown so most adults in the small Chinese community knew him. He was also the oldest boy in kindergarten, but he didn't mind the attention that the teacher paid to him.

He caught up quickly; he finished high school at the appropriate age, and then completed his degree in engineering at McGill university. He worked all through school in the family restaurant business, to help support the family. In the meantime, he also managed to court and marry a pretty young nurse. Dad was good at multi-tasking. All the while he took care of his mother and young sister; and became a much respected uncle to the growing number of nieces and nephews. And then with Mom, he started his own family.

He had a long and distinguished career at MB where he made many friends. And then he along with Mom worked very hard in a second career in real estate. He continued to make so many new friends throughout his life, as we have seen from the outpouring over the last couple of days. For although he was a quiet man, he had a wicked sense of humour and loved a good party.

To quote a message from our cousin who recently visited Dad:

“Your Dad is loved by all of us and we were brought up by our parents to respect him and to consider him as our role model and mentor growing up. My Dad was very proud of him and his achievements. He is a bright, intelligent, successful, righteous and honorable man with strong family values and is at the same time very humble. “

My father was a wise man of impeccable morals. I learned so much from him, about being responsible, honorable, tenacious, ambitious and generous. He was an inspiration and led by example, encouraging us to be the very best that we could be. Because indeed, that’s who he was.

The very, very best.

*****

I love you Dad. I miss you.

Wordless Wednesday - Winter Wonderland

Weekly Winners - Message for Grandpa

Not many this week.

We've brought my son to see his Grandpa several times in hospital in the last month and he's been okay with it so far. This past week, he was a bit reluctant because it's hard for him to see his Grandpa in this state. And to be honest, it's hard for all of us to see Dad this sick.

But on Friday, he wanted to see him, he missed him, and he knew that his Grandpa would be overjoyed to see him. And his Grandpa was. Over the moon.

My boy was so glad that he visited, even just to sit and smile at his Grandpa. It made both of them feel better.

My daughter, having just turned 4, has not done well at the hospital. She's scared, and it's only natural. She only likes seeing her Grandpa in the natural setting, at his home. So we don't bring her to the hospital anymore, but instead, she makes cards for him.

The one she made yesterday had the above photos in it, with the following message:
"Get better Gong-Gong" (Chinese for Grandpa). "I love you".

He couldn't say much, he was too breathless, but he did whisper that he couldn't believe what a big girl she looks in these shots. He kept opening up the card, closing it, opening it ... as if to memorize its contents. It made him smile.

*****

Be sure to visit other winners, at the home of the lovely hostess with the mostest LOTUS.

Days

Whatever the hell that means.

"I want the truth. "

"You can't handle the truth!!!".

These voices are screaming in my head.

The other words, so many words, are piling one on top of each other, trying to jockey for space in my tangled, exhausted mind.

I've been on emotional rollers coasters before, and even though there was a feeling of futility at times, at least there was a modicum of control. This time, we are spinning. A nightmare from which we wish we could wake up.

But we can't. We're living it.

Weekly Winners #53: Escape to Big White Mountain

Once upon a time in the kingdom of Souci, the Duke of Stressborough took it upon himself to book a ski vacation for his family, to commence directly after the Christmas holidays. Usually such arrangements were organized by his beloved spouse, the Princess of Souci; however, since she is a novice skier at best, it was decided that this particular journey would be planned by the Princess Consort.

As it happened, the King of Souci became quite seriously ill just days before the planned journey of his daughter and her young family. While running back and forth between the infirmary and her home, the upcoming trip became a source of great concern for the Princess. How could she leave the King and Queen while she went away, knowing that her beloved father and mother would be back home worrying and wondering when the King would gain enough strength to be discharged back to his castle? The internal battle between being the good daughter/ spouse/mother raged within the Princess' mind.

Finally, after discussing the situation with her parents, her siblings and even the King's doctor, the Princess reluctantly made the decision to go on this trip. For the sake of her husband and her family, she thought that they could at least try to salvage some quality time after what had become one of the most dismal Christmases in recent memory.

So with a heavy and guilty heart, the Princess accompanied her family to Big White Mountain.

The Little Prince and Princess excited to be on their way...


The "Do not brush your teeth" sign as described by the little Princess G:

The beautiful snowy resort being enjoyed by the Little Prince, who was well on his way to becoming quite the accomplished skier and snowboarder...

A horse-drawn sleigh ride courtesy of the horses named "Tom and Jerry", complete with hot cocoa to warm the hands...
Gorgeous, gorgeous snow-covered trees

The snowboarder in action, following his mother the Princess, (see further below ...
Who, against her better judgment, had decided to accompany her son and husband to the top of the mountain ... knowing full well that with her pal Murphy by her side, she would naturally face some injury requiring her to change her name to "Wounded Knee"...


Even the attentive and, ahem, handsome young knights of the ski patrol were of small consolation, as the Princess wondered how she would be of any use to the King and Queen upon her return to her homeland.

To drown her worries and sorrows, she decided to imbibe the infamous Gun Barrel Coffee, said to provide incredible healing qualities for both the mind and the body...




Did it help? Well, it did take my mind off of the pain for a few hours. But it didn't dullen the worry that we are still facing ahead.

If only life were a sweet fairy tale.

******************

My thanks to you wonderful blog pals for all your kind thoughts and words of encouragement. Dad was finally discharged from hospital on Friday and will hopefully be strong enough to start chemotherapy this week. I am crossing my fingers that he'll be able to withstand the ill effects of the treatment and that the drugs will kick some serious ass and kill those cursed cells that are wreaking horrible havoc on my precious, precious father.

I don't know what lies ahead, but we'll have to take it one day at a time. That's all we can really do.

As for my sprained knee, well, at least I didn't break it ... now that would have been special...

Be sure to visit other winners, at the home of the lovely hostess with the mostest LOTUS.

Where did the real posts go?

They're on hiatus, unfortunately. I just don't have it in me.

Happy pictures of my happy kids are helping.

I'm tired, but not nearly as exhausted as others in my family.

I alternate from being numb, to borderline breakdown, to stern resolve within a matter of minutes... all the while with an aching heart, heavy in my chest, and a scream nestled uncomfortably as a whisper in the depths of my throat.

But I have to get past that. It's not about me.

I try to maintain positive thoughts, put on a cheerful face, as they need to see it. We all need to see it. We all need to feel it.

Hope. Strength.

To fight it.

Weekly Winners #52 - New Year's Eve Pizza

THIS is what I want to remember about 2008 ...

It's about life, love, laughter ... and hope for the future.


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