MAMA and I

Part 4

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Paul Yin

We had the last chance to celebrate Lunar New Year in Feb with mama. Family members had an early gathering and dinner in the evening of New Year Eve (Feb 8). Amelia made a lot of coin wrapped dumplings so everybody had an easy lucky pick. After dinner, we were greeting with each other and distributing red packets (laisees). Then one by one took terms sitting by the sides of mama and mami and said auspicious things to them. We also received overseas calls from Louise, Chris, Alvin and Trudy, all of them voiced their regards to mama. Though mama looked tired, she was happy. Day nurse Winnie and night nurse Sandy shared the joy and they were treated as members of our family.

Mama Forever

Shortly after the Chinese New Year, mama underwent nose tube feeding due to intake difficulties and for the first time I could feel mama was depressed badly. I imagined she could only enjoy club sandwich (her most favored snack) during sleep as I watched her mouth and teeth in motion. On Mar 8 mama was sent to the Canossa Hospital again as condition worsened. Mama finally left us on Mar 13, 2005. She passed away peacefully and gracefully. All siblings and in-laws were there for the farewell. In the past few months we were struggling with the Lord as Jesus had opened the heavenly door for mama while we were trying to retain her. We eventually lost as we knew one day reunion assemble would be held again in the home of eternity so we turned our sadness to joy. [O heavenly one, your sanctuary! Your magic reunites what custom sternly separated; all men shall be brothers there where your gentle wings tarry…Seek Him above the tent of stars! Above the stars a loving father cannot but dwell...!] “An Die Freude” Symphony No.9 - Ludwig Van Beethoven This shouldn’t be the ending part as all of mama’s virtues as a noble woman and a great mother remain and are never forgotten. Her benevolence wins hearts of a thousand, her humbleness is surely to be admired, and her tender love fills our souls with constant warmth. The story of mama will be passed on to our next generations and next and so on. Our offspring will be proud by mentioning that once upon a time there was an extraordinary nice mama of the Yin’s  I had been receiving tons of loving care from mama since birth yet am unable to repay; the blessings I took from her are in my memory forever: Feeding me while I was sick... Telling me stories as she knew I was lonely... Buying me comic books as she knew I was bore... Protecting me in the outbreak of war... Picking me up after finish with schools... Taking me to cinemas for cowboy movies... Bringing me noodles and soups when I was in hospital... Sobbing when seeing me suffered... Writing me letter when I was abroad... Soothing me when I felt grief... I had a few dreams; once I dreamt mama was walking toward a path paved by angels alongside with beautiful flowers of those some of the species were unknown. I also heard chanting lyrics that I had not listened before.  In my latest dream, mama is playing mahjong happily above the sky surrounded by cherubs while I sit besides her and with her usual grins, I see rainbow in the sky...