Conversation with my Grandfather #1

I thought I'd keep a record of my conversations with my 公公 for the time being.  Not sure how long this will continue on for, or if this is a one time deal, but I find learning about his past quite fascinating.

On Saturday early afternoon I stopped by 姑姑's house and saw a couple albums out on top of the coffee table.  I hadn't seen these in forever, and even so, I've never really took a good look through the photos.  Upon seeing the "ancient" photos of my grandpa's family - his dad, uncles, cousins...my paternal grandparent's wedding photos...my uncle and aunt's wedding photos...I began probing and asking him questions.

Amongst the very first questions was "Who put [the albums] all together?"  I was surprised when I found out it was him.  He was, as Dodo puts it, "the collector of memories".  I never knew how sentimental my grandpa was...I'm a little surprised only because he seems to always have on a stoic persona.

Regardless, I learned a little more about my grandmother and my grandfather's family.  I have known since a child that my grandma was born and raised in Burma, but I didn't know she lived there for 14 years of her life until she moved to 福建 during WW1 in 1941.

I also learned that my grandpa had 3 uncles and 1 aunt?  But 1 uncle and 1 aunt died at a young age...his dad was the oldest child with 17 and 13 years of an age gap with his 2 remaining brothers.

Browsing through the memories...seeing the photo of my brother as a child at his Chuck e Cheese birthday party covering his ears from the loud noises...and my dad beside him smiling and laughing so happily at the camera brought tears to my eyes.

And then I saw a photo of me and Bernice.  Just the two of us - 3 or 4-year-olds with both our heads bowed down, her (or my) arms wrapping around my (or her) shoulders.  The other one receiving the embrace with her hands clutched tightly in front of her.  I remember this moment...it's when we argued and daddy told us to kiss and make up.  I just couldn't remember who was the one who reached out to the other for the hug.  Pretty sure it was Bernice that was reaching out to apologize - because more than not likely it was her fault.  Hahaha...she really was a bully back then.

I don't remember daddy even holding a camera up to snap that photo of us reconciling, but I think it goes to show how much he treasured and loved us.

I know he'll always be a part of me for as long as I live.  Most importantly, I am glad to have had a trip down memory lane with my grandfather.