Initially I was updating a text file so that I would post on this this on blog when I got back. That didn’t eventuate itself as my grandfather had died on the 9th of February and was too busy to write anything. For me, I didn’t have any emotional attachment to my grandfather so I was not an emotional wreck like some of my aunts and uncles. Mom didn’t like the fact that he had died on her birthday but that was something he could not control.
We had visited him earlier on the 9th as he was moved into a private room so that the family could have some privacy as it was nearly his time. At approximately 11:40pm that night we got a call that he had died. Only a select few people could go due to superstitions so it was only my Mom, Aunt Jen, Uncle Kevin and myself who went. It was my first time seeing a dead person and it felt so surreal. I couldn’t believe that it was happening. For us, no one was hysterical at the time as we were all still in shock.
Funny enough, throughout that day, there were signs that something was going to happen that day. Things like windows breaking, plastic knives breaking and just weird feelings as my aunt would tell us. I don’t really believe in those things but could it be a coincidence?
As it was already 3am we headed towards the car park to leave. This was not a place to be at after seeing a dead person as it was dark and there were not many cars around. Uncle Kevin had tried to start the car but it didn’t work. He looked at us with a “OH SHIT” expression. It was way too weird for all these things to happen and now the car didn’t want to start of all times??? Initially we thought we’d had to get out of the car to push but then Uncle Kevin realized that he had left the car in reverse. LOL, noob! 
Over the next couple of days we were busy setting up the funeral and arrangements for the tombstone. I was scheduled to leave Brunei on the 10th but since the death I extended my leave till the 15th. Since my grandfather was a Roman Catholic we had given him a catholic funeral. These funerals are pretty much exactly the same as you would see in movies.
One thing to worth mentioning was that when the family had went to the morgue, Aunt Irene had suffered an anxiety attack and one of my great uncles had fainted. As part of Chinese traditions, you are supposed to walk around the dead body three times to “send him off” but everybody was pretty much watching my aunt and great uncle. Some people didn’t get to send him off as they were busy attending the “show” . It’s the first time I’ve ever seen someone suffering an anxiety attack but she was ok once we were out of there.
Since my grandfather’s death, I’ve been worried with the health of my grandmother since she is currently in remission from having chemotherapy on her liver. It was hard for me to leave Brunei as I know later in the future it’ll be her time. Sometimes I wish I could drop everything I am doing so I could spend more time with her. *sigh*
Tags: death, grandfather
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