My Dad

My Dad juz came back from work. Mum and sis weren't at home. They went to Muar for praying, one of the one-day trips that an auntie from the neighbouring block organises. Dad bought fried chicken wings with butter rice for my dinner, and he has the same too. Dad is always like that. He dotes on sis and i alot, and he always buys things that are our favourites or do the small little things for us. Almost half a year ago, sis has lost her pillow and Dad hand-made one for her. A couple of months back, Dad washed my bathing towel with hands, after seeing that my towel was dirty. I had wanted to replace it with a new one at first. But after seeing how white and clean my towel was, i kept it, and i'm still using it now. U muz be surprised of these little extra things that Dad has done for us! But sis and i were extremely touched.

A fren's Dad passed away just recently, and it has a great impact on me. Honestly, i have never seen her Dad before, but i can somehow feel the anguish she is in now. Yes, i have imagined how it is like if my Dad is gone. And it's not just a passing thought. I have thought about it painstakingly. In Buddhism, Buddha teaches us, human beings, that there should be no attachments on the path to Enlightenment. However, "attachments" is one of the factors why sentient beings can't let go of, and hence, they, including me, have to be in the samsara world. I can't let go of my loved ones, including my beloved Dad.

Dad used to be the typical Asian father, who is strict-looking and a man with few words. He came from a very poor family with many siblings and he is illiterate. He likes reading the Shin Min Daily everyday. A typical Virgo, he has a very monotonous and systematic lifestyle. He used to be a construction sub-contractor but he's now helping out in a coffeeshop. He has very tanned skin and muscular-built body (but the muscles are sagging..*chuckles*) due to the construction work for decades but over the years, he has added a "beer belly"..haha..a typical problem of 'uncles'.

These few years, he has become more humourous and affectionate to us. He makes really hilarious jokes based on his daily encounters with different people to us. U may not believe this, but sis n i usually kiss and hug him when he's at home! And he'll reciprocate...(",) We were afraid to do so in the past, as he's hot-tempered and he would regard it as a disgusting act.

Dad has been an active smoker for years. Frankly speaking, that's the main reason why I have imagined all the more that he would be gone someday. I'm not being superstitious here, death is part and parcel of life. It's just that people can't accept it. Whatsmore, he's no longer a young and daring chap. And he's a smoker! And after realising that the fathers of my few frens were gone, sis n i thought that we should express our love to him clearly. We don't take things for granted, not kinship especially, let alone that it's our beloved dad we are talking about here. Whatsmore, he used to work 7 days a week, without much rest and he does some household chores as well. Dad dotes on us so much that he doesn't want us to do them, especially during our exams.

Two weeks back, Dad called me everyday after work and asked if I would go home for dinner. Each day i replied "no" for a whole fortnight, each time my heart ached. For u know, my Dad sleeps at 8plus every nite and wakes up at 4plus everyday. It's his habit for sleeping and waking up early. I felt so sorry and sad, if it's not work that was holding me up, it's meeting up with frens and others for entertainment. Yes, i have neglected him and he's not happy, but he loves me too much to have 'cold wars' wth me.

"Dad, i'm sorry that i have neglected u for so long. i promise u that i would come home more often and earlier to keep u company." Dad always compliments that im his kai1 xin1 guo3 cuz he would be happy only when im at home. Lately, he has slimmed down alot and his belly has shrunk too. There seems to be more white hairs and wrinkles on his face. He's as stubborn as a bull. Whenever i hear him coughing, i persuade him to see a doctor or go for a check-up, but he doesn't listen. It's just a simple wish of mine to be able to bring him for a full body check-up, but when will this wish be fufilled? Maybe i have not tried hard enuf. Now, whenever i recite, i would dedicate the merits to him as well, hoping that he'll be healthy and happy always, same goes to my mum. I love my family. I love my Dad.

Frens, i just wanna share this with everyone. We may all be young and energetic, and we have so many things going on concurrently in our lives (like me - work, studies, relationship, family, gym, religion, frens etc), but please dun forget or neglect ur folks at home. Please dun take them for granted and do appreciate even the small things they do for u. Dun feel that it's only right for them to do so cuz they r ur parents. They never expect anything much from us, so why should we expect anything from them? They juz wanna their children to grow up (well, maybe we'll only be 3-year old kids in their eyes and won't grow up at all) as successful people and have happy families of their own in future. But they oso hope that we can take care of them when they r in their prime years in life. Maybe u can start by just saying "i love u" to them. Or give them a warming hug...(",)

After having said that, i will have to keep my promise..otherwise, all would have been futilely said.