Remembering the Recently Departed

The past 2 weeks have been a time of reflection for the people in my lives who have recently left us for the world beyond… No, I’m not talking about the football greats Maradona and Rossi, or the larger than life James Bond actor, Sean Connery. Everyone has their own important people in their lives, the people who matter. Here are a few which struck my heart.

My aunt, my dad’s eldest brother’s wife, passed away in Ipoh on 26-Nov-2020. I’ve known her since I was born, as we lived as an extended family all in one house when I was a kid. My cousins and I were really close. Aunt had been sick for the last 3+ years. Rest in peace, Ah Mm. God bless your soul. God, bless my uncle and give him strength to go on without his wife and partner. Bless my cousins to strive on in life, carrying sweet memories of their mom.

On 6-Dec, Ajit Singh, my friend and ex-colleague in 3 companies, passed away. I’ve known him since umm… 2004 or 2005. We had worked closely together in at least 2 past Projects, in Dubai and in India. We would always visit his family when we make a home trip to Ipoh. Rest in peace, my friend… God bless your soul and your loved ones to carry on without your physical presence.

Two months earlier, James Ng, another friend and ex-colleague (who also worked together with Ajit, and I, and many other Malaysians in a Dubai project in 2008-2010) passed away. So our big group of Malaysian ex-colleagues is sadly reducing in numbers…

The last I met my aunt and Ajit was in last year’s trip back home, in July 2019, in Ipoh. I’ve not met James since we parted ways in 2010.

Times like these make me mull about the impermanence of life. Many of those dear and close to me from my father’s generation are in their seventies and eighties… A number have gone on their ways, including my mom (1985), paternal grand-dad (1987), paternal grandma (2010), step-mom (2016), and so on. Some cousins and friends from my generation have also sadly passed on. One day, it’ll be our turns… Before that comes, I hope I can be a contribution to my fellow brothers and sisters in this world… I hope that when I passed on, I would have helped someone on the way…

Thank you Lord, for giving me life, for maintaining my health and sanity, for giving me a loving family, for your blessings in abundance, for showing me your love and your generosity, for forgiving each and every time that I sin and stray. I hope I can give the same in return to my family, my friends and fellow human beings… Amen