My Grandfather would have been 96 on July 7th, next month.
Although he was old, he had been very much alert and active, right up to last week.
Well, he was regularly going to the casino for his games, right up to few months ago. Or perhaps few weeks ago, I am not sure, I will ask his maid later tonight. Gambling is not something I am proud of but I am unable to deny that between my Grandpa & myself, it ran deep, or should I say, deepest. He has yet to reveal to me his secrets, but yet, it was me who had never asked. In his hay days, he had the reputation of predicting dice combination using his hearing. Although I've inherited his loud voice, his was more thunderous than mine.
I go to my Grandpa's frequently over the school holidays and I lived under his roof when I was 4 & 5 years old. And then again when I was 13 till 16.
We didn't discuss any deeper meaningful issues nor were were expressive. He had a lot going on in his life, family and race horse betting. So I had basically lived in part like a child-servant, cleaning cars, running errands, oh ya, stepping on his back, using my weight and heels for a back massage. I did this till I was rather old, like maybe 13.
During the June & December school holidays, my Grandpa would gather my cousins and I to greet him before he left for the race course. We would have to do the: "公公， 胜利!" cheer, triumphantly with raised fist. When we were young, we just did what we were told. It was a culture that still makes me smile inside.
Before he began his races, he would bring us to Tung Lok at Liang Court for Tim Sum breakfast. When he won money, he would give us $10 each. Judging by my faded memory, my Grandpa had a long winning streak. I do not know why he nor my uncles did not make good with the money they had. They could have invested. At least in properties, but they didn't. But well, they all had a flat nearby and had transport.
My Grandfather had a water-bed in the 80s. My cousins and I had so much fun playing Pirates and Gulliver's travels on my Grandpa's water-bed. The bed lasted many years despite our jumping and rolling. One day, it broke and the water flowed from his bedroom, emptying itself until the living hall. Luckily, I wasn't there to witness or clean up. These stories still makes me smile inside.
There was once I shattered a big, glass low table in his hall. That glass table was tinted black, and has the shape of a foot. I think it was three-footed, being triangular. All I remember was that I was circling the table, skipping to a tune. The next thing I know, there was a loud crash and the big piece of ornament was shattered. I had an earful not from my Grandpa but my Aunts. I was 5 and they always told me I was trouble.
Last week I visited my Grandpa twice. I took comfort that he declined the cash I had insisted on giving him. He told me to use it for myself and my children. Being a gambler that we both were, I took comfort in knowing that he was contented with what he had or had not gotten.
Grandpa passed away peacefully after his morning showers. We were told he passed in the same position as he was Baptised. He had lived a full life. Good bye, 公公. Thank you for the Adventures.
