My Grandfather

在这冬至的晚上...

I'd like to dedicate this blogpost to my late grandfather. He was born Christian and married to my grandmother in the same Church they attended. My mum was baptized there and attended that same church till she got married with my dad, which is also in the same church. By the time I'm born, my grandfather was one of the head Deacons. And so was granny.

My only childhood memory of him was that he's always ill and I was told (and saw) he had a battery installed in his left shoulder. I later came to know that its a heartbeat counter.

I stayed with my grandparents for half a year when I was 10 or so. Thats the longest time in my life we were together. When we migrated to Singapore for the second time when I was 12, we were never close anymore. Met up for dinners, birthdays, church events everytime I return to HongKong. Their golden 50 years wedding anniversary was the last. Followed by a few more meals together in the next two years, and he's gone. I'm grateful I spent his last birthday treating him and the family to a buffet dinner with my elder cousin. I would remember that meal for the rest of my life. Its the only time that we grandchildren had ever treated him together on his birthday.

Actually, I kinda blamed myself for his passing at first. I thought that it would bring bad luck by shooting a film related to death. He passed away exactly one week later after wrap.

I couldn't even be by his side and instead busy attending my short film premiere.

My dad spoke to me again later that day. Don't be silly boy. He lived his life well. He survived the World War II, and led a simple life as an Office Accountant for the rest of his working life. He retired on the year my elder cousin was born, dedicated the next 25 years to Jesus Christ.

My mum told me 2 days later that we christians do not believe in Bad luck because of filming. I felt much better after. So did she.

I really didn't have lots of pictures with him, especially digitized ones. I do have lots of hardcopy back at home in HongKong, but off hand I only had this one. Grandpa, Cousin ChunHei, and then 1 year old me.

Dedicated to my Mum, my aunt, and Grandmother

Dance with my father  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytjN27h3p-I&feature=related

Grandpa, I'm sorry I didn't get to spend enough time with you. Now that you're by Lord Jesus's side, may you Rest in Peace. Amen.

黄恩锡 执事

9th Jan 1925 - 12th Dec 2009