On Sunday, we (my family + 2 cousins' families + a bunch of other relatives we usually only see on Tomb-Sweeping day and CNY) went to the Choa Chu Kang (or was it Lim Chu Kang...)cemetary to visit the graves of our great-grandparents and grandfather. As my mother is now considered inexperienced (she and Everett didn't go for the past two years because Ev had his Taekwondo test right smack on that day for two years in a row), she planned for us to wake up damn early (5 a.m.!).
We always meet at the place I only know of as my great-grandmother's flat. This year, as our car pulled into the car park to join the others who were already there and wait for those who weren't, I thought it was kind of cool how with adults it often becomes a car congregation whenever we have a gathering.
Ro ended up coming along after all (she'd previously decided not to go because of lack of transport) with her brother, so I was all happy yay got company. Please be glad that you cheered me up so much. Haha I was actually looking forward to a boring and hot trip with no one to talk to.
After a surprisingly short wait (we waited for at least half an hour the last time), everyone had arrived at the meeting place and we set off for the cemetary (again, think multiple cars pulling out of the car park one by one. Coolness.). Thank goodness there wasn't much of a traffic jam.
Reached the cemetary to find a bloody hot day waiting for us along with a huge crowd of people (no surprise there). So began the procession. We made our way to the first stop - great-granddad's grave, laden with bags and baskets of offerings and the paper boxes for burning. Can't remember if I mentioned this last year, but the boxes are expensive.
As usual, I had half of the mandopop industry's finest performing my soundtrack for the journey. I was in a singing mood, so I began singing along to my ipod. Ro, who was walking beside me, also joined me. Sadly, the crowds of strangers walking in front of me took no notice of our heartrending renditions. To give you an idea of how inappropriate a time my singing bug bit, my playlist largely featured songs from Jay's latest album.
On our way to the last tomb, my cousin (Ro's brother) said "Shut up la, the whole world can hear you."
To which I replied, "No, my talents will be uncovered in a cemetary!" I think I was in too high a mood for grave-visiting.
After paying respects to my grandfather, Ro and I were suddenly hit by a wave of longing for him. Though it's a bit weird for Ro because she was like...3 when he passed away. I was 5. But I had been very close to him and already had memories. Ah well.
To reward ourselves for completing the hot and tiring (but somehow worth it) trip, mine and my cousins' families went to McDonald's for breakfast. We did that last year too. It was quite fun.
It's funny how annual events always make us realise how time flies. Like its metaphorical representation, the sands of time have once again slipped through the holes between the fingers of our lives. And like many other facets of time, we are powerless to control it. All we can do is to make fists by seizing the day, and slow down the passing of the sand grains between our fingers.
Ok, at least I managed two decent last sentences out of the entire blog post. Though they sound a bit Cheryl-ish. But still. Keep cheering me on, and my blogging skills may just return in full force.
