Memories of Grandmother

 In the last 8 yers of mny maternal grandmother's life she was blind. her blindness was caused by glaucoma and in those days medical facilities were not like today's. the Sibu hospital could not removed the glaucoma as she was deemed too old to have the surgety. Besides Sibu was not even blessed by a good specialist .

Grandma lived with her handicapp and her children and grandchildren adjusted to her plight.

Today I share with you my grandmother's love for Quaker Oats.

One of her favourite meals, without disturbing uncles or aunties in the old house in Nang Chong was Quaker Oats. Something she could make on her own. Third Aunt gave her a flask of hot water, spoon, bowl, cup etc and she felt her way around in her life of darkness,

She would ask Third Aunty to get someone to buy Quaker Oats of Old Man Oats when she felt that her tin was half empty.

It would be my mum or Aunty Yung or a good nephew who would sed a tin of Quaker Oats down river. Down river was a term we learned from the Colonial days. Up river means the parts of the Rajang which was above Sibu.

Grandma would be circulated perhaps 2 months each time Third Uncle moved her. First Uncle lived in Pigeon Road Sibu, When she was with First Uncle my mother and Aunty Yung would visit morre often bringing food to the family and grandma. First Uncle was then a retired barber and wharf labourer. Life with him was not too bad as his children were humble and loving. First Uncle would piggy back grandma when she wanted to visit a doctor likke Dr., Ding Siew Hua.

In those days not many old people had wheel chairs. It was always a son who could piggy back his mother. Praise God for First Uncle.

Second Uncle was working in the logging camp so he was unable to host grandma. Second Aunty as the daughter in law would welcome grandma once in a while. She would cook chicken soup or make beef soup to send to grandma . She was busy too looking after her own grand children.

Third Uncle was the breadwinner who put food on the table, in the house at Nang Chong, downriver, not far from Bawang Assan.

Observing the goings on in those days I took in the great understanding of family connectivity and love.

An old mother with visual impairment needs the love and kindness of all family members.

Grandma was absoultely humble and loveable. Her sons and daughters rallied around her to provide most of the things she needed. She also had one good son in law to depend on,.

She longed to see her fourth son Lau Pang Teck who was in China. 4th Uncle Pang Teck left Sibu in 1954 to study in Beijing Univeristy. But he was actually scammed. He did work with machinery but he never obtain his engineering degree. He got married and had a son who later commuunicated with the family. He was sponsored two trips to visit Sibu happily. Uncle named him dragon. But he never saw his grandma. 

At times when I looked at grandma stiring her Quaker Oats breakfast I believe she was really thinking about her sons and daughters . She missed them in her quiet ways. And I listened to her and put many of her stories in my own memory bank.

She passed away in 1985.