From the monthly archives: February 2011
I went to the service centre to get my broken speakers repaired this afternoon. I had barely walked a few steps outside the building after I was done when there came a heavy downpour. I ran across the road desperate to find shelter.
I started to walk under the sheltered five-foot way hoping the rain would stop long enough for me to run across the road to the bus stop. All of a sudden I saw a rundown building. It was the clinic of the doctor who delivered me some 50 years ago. It was an uncanny. I walked closer to the faded glass panel to look inside the vacant clinic. I had told myself often that I wanted to go back to the clinic again to see if I could find my doctor and to take photos of the old place. Of course I never did.
Until today.
This past week, I received a phone call from a woman who identified herself as an old classmate from Baharruddin Vocational Institute (BVI). The school is now Temasek Polytechnic. Emily said that our cohort had reconnected at the funeral service of a classmate of ours who had passed away of cancer. It was a wake up call for many.
I started receiving emails from a few of them.
I don’t have many memories of my time in BVI. Maybe I really didn’t want to remember. Only 40 had been selected of the 400 (?) applications for the Graphic Design course. For someone who was drifting for most of my secondary school days, BVI came as a shock to my system. The long hours, the pressure, the homework. I never coped. After six months, my principal called me in one day and suggested that I leave on my own accord. It would look better on my record than if they ask me to leave.
That was a catastrophic for me.
How interesting that my visitors have come back to me at this time in my life. I am no longer who I was 30 years ago. I walk with my head held high and a song in my heart.
God is in the business of redeeming lives. He has redeemed mine.
I found an old tin box among my father’s things. It gave me clues to who I am, why I love to write, take photos, and I care about the people and things that happen around me.
Everything good, we share it with people. Everything else, we give to the Lord. – Aunty Say Bay
Aunty Say Bay’s reaction and response to hardships, trials, and difficult people is always kind and gentle, and the words she says life-giving. I don’t know how she does it but it’s what I want to live by in my inter-personal relationships.
The Internet is another place for interacting with people. Powerful tools have been put in our hands. Educator and Media Specialist Jason Ohler says, “Committing a bad story to digital media is like giving a bad guitar player a bigger amplifier.” It’s amazing what a Tweet or a quick “What’s on your mind?” in FaceBook can say.
What are you Tweeting?
We had a meaningful family reunion last evening.
I found old family photos some dating as far back as 1912. I’ve started scanning them to put into the family archives that I am building up. I returned the first batch of these precious heirlooms to my uncles or their children if they were deceased. It started the family telling stories about the old days.
I hope when they are ready that they will write down their wonderful stories. Since 2009 I bought http://thekohfamily.net but it has been forever under construction. This is my umpteenth attempt to start this project. Another of my many ideas and too little time to pursue wishes.
Last night, I discovered from my cousin’s wife Che che (older sister) Alice that one day my aunty Daisy had asked her to write the Chinese character of my uncles’ name. Alice said, they were beautiful names: Humanity, Courteous, Virtuous, Righteous, Truthful (or trustworthy).
Che che Alice said the names were given by a Chinese scholar. In the Chinese culture, each name is a combination of three Chinese characters (some have only two). My dad’s name for instance is KOH YEW LAY.
KOH being the family name or surname. YEW is the character shared by the brothers, so my uncles’ names are: Yew Ghee, Yew Jin, Yew Tee, Yew Sin, and Yew Hoe.
Alice said that the shared name is based on a book of names. That was how lineage and generations are identified, preserved and traced. Alice said that each one of the brothers had lived up to their names.
I believe that every person and every family is born with a name and a destiny. May we each discover what that destiny is and live up to our calling to make a difference for this life and for eternity.
BTW, daddy’s name means “has polite behaviour that shows respect for other people.”
