Author: Clara Ng Li Eng
My maternal grandmother who passed away when I was in my early 30s, had given me more than a grandparent’s love and care.
My mother has total of 8 siblings including herself. Being the eldest in the family, she did not have much education and married young to my father and we were of lower income family who sometimes cannot meet our end. Thus when I was young, my older brother and I often stay over at my maternal grandparents’ place ( a three room flat) with 3 uncles and other grandkids.
My maternal grandparent is a traditional chauvinist, who only favours paternal grandsons, and I still have vivid memories of his disgruntled look to me and favouritism to my other cousins. However, I can always find comfort in my grandmother who always have had a kind voice to all her grandchildren and looked out for me. The first birthday cake I had was also bought by my grandmother who came to our flat on one of my birthdays while I was in the Primary education. My mother has mild schizophrenia, and we depended a lot on my grandmother to manage the relationship with our extended family and at times to get support in terms of groceries and fruits (my grandfather and uncle owns fruit stalls).
When I had my University graduation ceremony, it was she and my father who attended and the pride in being the first to have a Bachelor Degree in her extended family, made her day and mine too. When I started working and visiting her with money gift, she will always have desserts or Ngor Hiang (traditional handmade prawn and pork rolls) ready for me.
However, she had ovary cancer when she was in the 70s and my frequent visits to her with fresh threadfins fish fillets and fruits were what I could do to make out for her love to me. Sadly, she had her final journey at her home, with us dipping her lips with water till she took her last breath, to relieve her pain and suffering.
She mould me as what I am, and to be able to receive a good education and be a better person.
