Untitled entry

THE ONE WITH MANY RELATIVES AND A FUNERAL

My grandaunt passed away last wednesday. It was probably the fastest yet longest week in my life. (I know that's a silly paradox, but its true!)

I got the news early Monday morning that she had a stroke and a fall on Sunday nite. I was on a plane to Jakarta on Tuesday afternoon. By Wednesday nite, she had passed away. Funeral wake on Thursday and Friday, cremation on Saturday and ashes scattered at sea on early Sunday morning. The entire process happened within a week. Everything seemed to have occured so quickly. I am just glad that I was fortunate enough to get to see her and talk to her one last time. Even though she was in a coma, but at least I saw her, stroked her hand and kissed her.

Having never been to a funeral or seen someone who is dead, I think I managed to handle it pretty well. It was heart wrenching seeing her in ICU, with all the tubes running all over her body. It was even sadder to see her in the coffin, all dressed up in her favourite outfit, her beloved belongings placed to surround her. I think the worst was probably at the crematorium. When the coffin was placed on the wood and the fire started, the tears just kept flowing... Just so hard to believe that we would never see her again. She will never answer the phone when I call, she will never make fun of how much money I am spending on phone calls, she will never tell me to study or work hard again. She is gone...

My grandaunt was the one who took care of me when I was a baby. She was there in Japan when I was born and there is a picture of her carrying me when I was just a few months old. She has ever been my grandmother, even though she is actually my maternal grandma's elder sister.

My grandma seems to be taking her death pretty well, although I suppose my grandma has always been a strong person. Having your only sister, whom you have spent over 40 years living with, die is very hard. Yet, my grandma seems to be holding on strong. She cries, and sometimes she keeps saying how everything reminds her of grandaunt. But at least, she hasn't gotten hysterical so far. She has been calm, except when she starts crying, or starts to lecture everyone on how they treated my grandaunt badly when she was alive.

Think it's pretty ironic how we met alot of people that we don't know at the funeral. Relatives from all over the world appeared. Even funnier how everyone keeps telling me that I've grown up to look like my mom. And how cute I was when I was a kid. I don't remember ANY of these people, yet they know me! Meet some people whom I hadn't seen for 10 years! Cousins whom I haven't talked to in years and cousins who weren't even born the last time I was back in Jakarta!!!

Think she must be in heaven now, smiling down on us, happy that we followed her instructions to a T. A short wake, a cremation and ashes scattered at sea. Everything was done according to what she wanted, right down to who carried her picture and who was to scatter her ashes.

Facing death of someone who has been so important in my life has really taught me a lesson. The people around us won't live forever. They may leave without notice. That's why we should treasure them as much as we can. Or else it may be too late before we know it. Cherish our loved ones, cos we will never know when time is up...