Lieber Opa

My grandpa would be 92 if he's still alive today. I have never heard much about him, nor have I seen his picture. Out of curiosity, I joined the extended families for tomb sweeping, just hours ago.

For the first time, I visited a real cemetery in Singapore. When my auntie and uncle passed away, they were cremated and the urns are now placed at the temples. It seems like burial is no longer widely practised. Also, for the first time, I saw grandpa's photo on his tomb... and his name is Jinlong. He looks like what mum has described, a combination of my second and third uncle. Grandpa died when he was only 54, because he was ill. But I am really amazed he managed 11 children, I couldn't imagine how hard life was when he left all of them with poor grandma who was a housewife all along.

During the journey back, my aunt told me some stories of the past... My aunties and uncles must have such a close bond, they sacrificed their lives in order to support the siblings and let the younger ones had the chance to go to school. Today, it is so different, children dread going to school...

So to let you in about what we did for tomb sweeping... I shall share a little.

When we arrived (in 3 cars), the graveyard was surrounded by cars, many people came for the same purpose. We celebrate QingMing festival (which falls on April 5 this year) in Singapore by visiting the burial grounds of our ancestors and paying respects to them again.

It was nearly midnight and pitch dark as these areas weren't lit by lamp posts, so we had to carry torches as my uncle led the way, excusing ourselves from the other "neighours". We found grandpa's. The cousins and I then decorated the top of his grave (which is covered by plants, snails, slugs and grasshoppers) with colored papers, I guess it's a good sign with all the living creatures around him! Signs of life. Then my aunties and uncles aranged food, a can of beer, cigarettes, candles, joss sticks and incense papers before his tomb. We each paid respects to him, kneeling before his photo and telling him who we are. He died 8 years before I was borned, so I guess my face must be a stranger to him. After he "finished enjoying his food", we burned the incense papers and slowly made our way back.

It was about 2am when we were done, and everyone went for a drink thereafter. I must be mad writing this past 3am in the morning, but I thought it's an interesting night to share :)