June is normally a joyous month as it is a break from the usual routine of the academic calendar at EAST. I remember having gone on holidays with papa, mummy and sis in May/June right after the Commencement, many years back, to Hokkaido, Japan. It was a tour package type of holidays but still it was a memorable family holidays for us four. The only downside was that Kor and B were not with us, thus we never actually went on a full family holiday together as far as I can recall. That is perhaps my sole regret while Papa was still alive but it was never up to me to decide or control. Even for Taiyiyi's 80th birthday cruise to Redang Island, Kor and B could not join us as it was too near to B's expected date of delivery by then. The cruise was in September and she was due to deliver in early October 2013. In another two years, we will be celebrating Taiyiyi's 90th birthday, Lord willing, on 16 October. Hopefully, we can make it yet another grand celebration by then.
June was also the month I visited Mongolia back in 2010. That was more than 11 years ago by now! Incredible! Time just goes by so quickly. That amazing Mongolian trip was a highlight of trusting God for funds, for fun, for friendships made. Actually June/July has also always been a time for those ACTC conferences to happen. We shelved last year's conference and I am not quite sure what is happening for this year as yet. Things are kinda a blur for me these days to be honest. The Covid-19 pandemic has kinda messed up my head a little.
But June turned somewhat less joyous since five years ago, since papa departed the dawn of 17 June 2016. That morning, I was still sound asleep in Kandy, Sri Lanka, having celebrated Uda & D's wedding the night before. Hwei Wah was with me when I received the phone call from sis about dad passing on. She helped me book an air ticket home. I was kinda in a panic mode then. Grief has not truly set in. Perhaps guilt set in first, guilt for not being by papa's side when he departed. Still, five years on, and the guilt has dissipated. The grief lingers, somewhat, in the quieter moments of life. Still, I can look towards my Heavenly Papa who loves me perfectly and knows what is best for me. I still have my mummy dearest with me and I definitely should not take her for granted for I do not know for how long more I will have her with me, or me with her. One thing I know, life is unpredictable, even as God is fully in control. Trust Him, I must.
