Milestone

Last Wednesday was Chap Goh Mei. For the first time, My wife and I had to go for this annual Chap Goh Mei family dinner. Just 15 days ago on Chinese New Year Eve, our family was represented by 4 members. In less than 2 weeks, my 2 sons have left home for further study overseas.

In the past, we went as a family of 5, then 4 after our daughter went overseas for further study; then 3 after our 1st son left home for further study in KL. Now, our youngest son has also left for further study. That leaves 2 of us.

Well, this is another milestone, another fact of life I have to cross and get used to. There are countless of milestones to cross, from the day you are born. Saying Pa and Ma for the first time, taking the 1st step with 2 legs upright, celebrating 1st birthday, going to kindergarten for the 1st time, graduating from kindie, UPSR, PMR, SPM, A-Level ........ the list on milestones goes on.

What IF................

The recent tsunami disaster has never before led to so many "What if....." questions being asked again and again... and will probably be asked until this generation is gone.

I read about a story of a Singapore-based Sabah-born doctor who took his family to Thailand for a holiday. The wife and the daughters returned to Singapore first. The husband decided to extend his stay with his two sons to enjoy some more. They were happily enjoying in the hotel swimming pool when the tsunami struck. The father perished while the sons survived.

The wife would probably ask over and over again:

"What if my husband had returned together with me, he would be alive today"

"What if tsunami struck the next day, then he would have missed the disaster"

"what if we chose to go to Australia instead of Thailand, he would have survived"

"What if....."

"What if....."

This question can be asked again and again and you can never get a satisfactory answer. The fact is history can never be changed.

Why does this "what if" come to my mind...............

Well, I was thinking.... My mom could not tolerate staying in the same house wit my dad and somehow got him sent to a nursing home. He somehow complied without putting a big fuss. What exactly was my dad's thought, I really don't know - Bitter.... Hatred...Despair....

Then, I think. What if it was my mom who was frail and weak and my dad who was strong and healthy. If he decides to send my mom to a nursing home. Would she have complied just as my dad. But then, I think, this is only a "what if", I probably would never know.....