mic : "chit-chat" with dad

Woke up early this morning and prepare myself to "meet" dad after 4yrs. Went for breakfast at Salam with family before heading to Tambun where the medium is.

We reached Tambun at around 8:30am but the medium has yet to arrive. Called up the person in charge and says 9am. So then we got back into our car and drove around back to where we used to lived.. Taman Cempaka. Many flashback of old memories there especially the thoughts of dad.

Went back to Tambun, waited for awhile till the caretaker came. Gave him dad's details. 10mins passed and the medium came, a plump lady dressed modernly. We waited for her to prepare herself where she changed into an all white robe. The atmosphere was tense as we dunno if she could "invite" dad after so long since the last time we communicated through the same medium 100days after dad passed.

She started with the basic burning of incense and chanting while spreading some rice onto the porch. Chanting intensifies and she got into a trance. A pleasant speaking "took over" and greeted us. Then came 2 children running in and called her "god mother". After asking some details from us, which we never gave her was the "address" of dad's resting place in Paradise Memorial. She got the address right. Weird...

Well then after the medium chatted with some guardians which we can't see... Dad "came"!! 2nd sis started crying. I guess dad is very happy to see us. He knows who were there at that moment, he can tell who is who but maybe he is forbidden to say out our names. "here is my wife, my son, my 2 daughters, my half-son(my bro in-law" and my grandson".

A series of questions were asked just to prove the authenticity or if the right person was "invited". Mom's first concern was dad's health, the first time we communicated with him, he was very weak and can't walk. Surprising dad says he is fully recovered! Great news to all. He says the "doctor and nurse" we "burnt" for him helps him heal a lot since then. What a relief for mom. He even say sometimes he even walk to temple nearby to chat with friends and the "doctor" won't let him use the wheelchair we "burnt" for him. He continues to say that he can walk fine now. No more flam and cough like last time. Can even smoke timm... So then we passed a cigarette and a lighter in from of him. He picked it up and lit the cigarette. I say "this is HOT cigarette not MENTHOL" he says "Menthol smoked until die jorr in real life" -.-"

Everyone was eager to ask questions but dad wants to hold everyone.. He was holding mom's hand while chatting with us. Then he called for my nephew from US a.k.a his grandson. "wahh so big and tall now" and my nephew stood there numbed coz he doesn't understand Chinese. Then dad says... "dook guai shu" Chinese also dunno. Then say why never call Goong-Goong where my nephew obediently obliged.

So then we asked "have you seen other relatives around? How about grandpa and grandma?" Dad says he met them all. Grandpa and Grandma is very old now. And all those uncles are around. He even mentioned about our aunt (grandma's sister) who recently passed away. But say she is still in "inside" and not yet come out. [inside] is referred as the heavenly hospital where the sick had to stay until they are well enough to join the "community".

I asked dad "how's the environment that you are staying there right now? Is everything sufficient?" Dad replies, he has everything there. Big house, but lonely when having dinner at first coz the "maids" and the "servants" only stood there when he eats. He doesn't want that and asked everyone to join him at the table during meals. He says he has 8 people at the dining table with him. 4 servants, 1 doctor, 1 nurse, 1 driver and him. Then I asked "do you have Astro there?" He says got Wah Lai Toi and other channels too. Sometime watch till fall asleep which become the TV watch him and when he wake up, he'll continue watching again. Mom also asked "how is he getting along with the people there?" Dad says it's more or less the same as in our world but the people the are not realistic, uses little money as amnesties are provided by the temple. "people" there are friendly and they live in unity. He also stressed that he couldn't find any Indian barber to cut his hair as there are only Chinese in the "community" no Malays or Indians.

Dad says he never gets to drink "tea" during my eldest sister's wedding(married in USA) and elder sister's kenduri(married to Muslim) and also SAY waiting for my "sum pou cha" ok now I feel stressed and pressured jor.

Dad tells mom while holding her hand to go travel... Now that she don't have to take care of him, asked my mom to enjoy more. Say ask [me] yes me Michael Chan to eat outside when mom go travel.

Dad doesn't want anything else but would like some singlets and old fashioned Bermuda shorts( we call them his underwear) so he can wear it at "home". Anyway, that's what he usually wear when he is alive. He got lots of nice cloths and leather shoes there but say there's no party or wedding to attend to so not much of a use.

He also remind us to "burn" a 轿 a.k.a. A sedan chair where 4 people would lift up the carriage and walk. He says this is for his 80th birthday. A ceremony of wealth and good fengshui for his descendants which are us. It is so unselfish of dad. Love you so much dad. It is required said some of the folks in his "community". He was a skeptic when he was alive now he believes it is true that there is life after death. He say he believes when he saw us there chatting with him.

I also asked dad for numbers to buy he says.... He gave it to me last time. Maybe it's the time where I hit 2nd prize few years back. Or is it the number he gave me in my dream? I have no idea.

Sis asked if he has ever came to visit us. Yes he says but both of you are scared even mom too. But mom just told me, she would really love to see dad reveal himself to her one day/night. Sis continue to ask.. "in what form he came back" Dad says in form of a butterfly but he says when he leaves the butterfly will die, I have lived before and know what living means and doesn't want the butterfly to die so he won't come back if it's not necessary.

2nd sis also asked if do receive what we burn for him. Especially the old style fan specially made for him coz it was his favorite. He says he received everything and the fan too.. Green in colour and "square" ... Strangely the one that we burnt was round. He loves to wash that fan when he was still alive. That's one of his past time hobby.

Before long the time has come for him to go back to his world. He wants to hug everyone, we hugged and hold his hand for awhile. He started crying so do both my sisters. He tell us not to cry and take care of mom. I tried my very best not to cry as well and eventually I didn't but this first time u cried during the whole process. In a blink of an eye, the medium came back. It was all over.

I, we, us all miss you dad. My only wish is to come chat with you every year. Well I just seem to hold back my tears now. I miss you so much. Emotions just got the better of me. Till we meet again dad, wait for me there .... Bye


Moral of the day : Treasure what you have, for whatever had is gone, you might not get another chance or replacement