Hello Son,
Today is Saturday.
More importantly, it's
January 21.
Your anniversary.
13 years with JESUS and MAMA MARY.
You left us on Thursday, January 21, 2010.
The angels had gathered your family around your bed at the time.
Justine did not go to school that day.
Grandma came over.
It was evening time.
Before 5 pm when we were by your bedside.
We took out our rosaries ...
and started praying.
Hail Mary, full of grace,
The Lord is with You,
Blessed are You among women,
And blessed is the fruit
of your womb JESUS,
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
Pray for us sinners now
and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
After the 5 decades of the rosary, and our final prayer to Mary,
we put away our rosaries.
We were all quiet, watching you with your eyes closed.
Sleeping.
A few minutes later, you kinda regurgitated, dark red blood like,
and your spirit left your body.
It was at that moment when Mom realized that the Hail Mary,
that we have been chanting, all this time, suddenly made sense.
Mother Mary was truly by your / our side at the hour of your death.
It was comforting to know.
Right after we prayed our rosary, JESUS and MARY,
took you home.
Death.
Pause.
Mom hates this word.
It's probably the worst word in the dictionary.
No more death for you.
You cannot die anymore, Daniel.
JESUS made sure of that.
From that moment on, after your last breath on earth,
you begin to live forever.
Eternal life ...
with JESUS and MARY ...
over the rainbow ...
in Heaven.
Please tell JESUS that Mom says thank you for saving us.
Saving you ...
And keeping you safe till we meet again.
Mom is eternally grateful.
Is it true that everyone looks young in heaven?
So anyways,
Pause.
What's that?
(ear to the monitor)
Yeah yeah ...
Mom knows ...
she has side-tracked ...
totally ...
Mom is supposed to upload the remaining photos
from the Sydney trip in this call ...
She is so out of topic now.
Oh dear ...
Oh well ...
It is your 21st today ...
A few days before today, you have clearly been
reminding us that you are near.
Daniel, everyday ... all the time ... you remind us that
you are near. Thank you JESUS, for that.
Seriously, Mom cannot wait to retire so that she can
call you daily.
So anyway, on Tuesday 17th, Dad was at the lawyer's office.
Mom was in school.
Dad went to pick up some property documents that were ready
for collection.
At the lawyer's office, Dad sent this photo :
Ohh.
The painting of the horse.
We have one similar painting at home.
Ours was hand-painted by a Sifu (Chinese Master)
and he gave that to Mom when Mom commented that it was nice.
Your mother was born in the year of the HORSE.
So, don't mind her.
We were at one of our relative's house in Bangsar,
and that Sifu was a guest there at the time.
That's where Mom met the Sifu.
Ah.
Alright.
That's a loud Hello Maa.
You got your mother's attention alright.
Text message from Dad :
The office was on the 21st floor.
Time of message was 1151.
Decode:
1151
8
44
ZAP ZAP ZAP!!!
Yup, you clearly made your presence felt.
On Wednesday 18th, after school,
Dad and Mom were driving to DeMarket, our local grocer.
On the way, Mom suddenly noticed this car in front of us.
Oh my.
Mom pointed out to Dad.
How do you get a number plate like that? Mom asked.
Seriously.
PERFECT 41
Decode :
PERFECT 14
1 AM NUMBER 4.
Movie scene flashed through your mother's mind.
Daniel Daniel ... at the beach scene ...
(from the movie)
Perfect 41
What are the chances of your parents seeing this number plate?
Angel chance for sure.
Her son is clearly sending Mom a message.
PERFECT 41.
Helloooo.
13 years with JESUS and MAMA MARY.
You must be telling us that everything's
PERFECT where you are.
Life is just - PERFECT - over there.
Message received, Daniel.
3 days before your 21st, you remind your family
that all is good and PERFECT at your end.
Mom is so grateful to JESUS and MARY.
On Thursday 19th morning, Dad went to the bank
to get some new notes for Chinese New Year.
Dad said whilst waiting for the bank to replenish
the new notes in the ATM machine,
he had breakfast at the coffee shop right beside the bank.
Dad was on table 21.
Time of message :
9 48
Decode
9 12
12
21
Everywhere we are, there you'll be, Daniel. :D
So anyway ...
after school, Dad and Mom went to DeMarket for a quick lunch.
Dad dropped Mom first, before he went to park the car.
Mom ordered some food, namely curry noddles and half-boiled egg.
She was given the number 10 for her to collect her food when ready.
Mom looked at the number 10 at the cashier.
That number 10 did nothing for her.
Mum frowned at the number 10 and tried to
figure out a related memory ...
when the cashier said,
"Twenty-one ringgit, please."
Pause.
Ohhh.
What?
Like RM21 on the dot?
So perfect?
No cents?
Just 21?
Smile.
Grin.
Dance for joy ... in her head.
ZAP ZAP ZAP!!!
You really know how to make your presence felt.
More smiles.
So Mom found a table.
Dad appeared shortly after (parking the car).
Dad said that Justine was at the gym
(same building as your parents were at)
and that Justine would be joining us for lunch.
Your sister came.
Mom saw Justine order her food.
Then, Justine came to our table and put down
number 24.
 |
| Double 21. |
Ahhh.
NOW - it's Perfect!
Number 24.
Your birthdate.
Also, decode : 21
Double 21.
Double happiness.
Yes, Son, we know your 21st is right around the corner.
Thanks for staying close, Daniel.
So anyway, after lunch, we went home.
Mom has a hair appointment later at 4 pm, at a salon
that was in the DeMarket premises.
Dad will drop her later.
Fast forward to 3:45 pm.
Dad dropped Mom at the DeMarket place.
Mom went to the hair salon.
It was about 5:30 pm when Mom was finally done.
Dad was in school. He will pick your mother up at 6pm or
after all the children have gone home.
Mom walked to the grocer ... and suddenly spotted Grandma
paying at the cashier.
Mom walked over to Grandma, and tapped Grandma
on her shoulder, from behind.
Hahaha.
Oh my.
You must have sent Mom to help Grandma ... because
Grandma had 2 trolleys full of purchases. All her items
were just loosely piled up into a large heap in the trolleys.
No grocery bags.
Oh boy.
So anyway, one of the grocer boy helped us to push one trolley,
whilst Grandma and Mom handled the second trolley.
We were going to the car.
At the exit, Mom told Grandma that Mom will drive the car over.
Grandma will wait with the grocer boy and the 2 trolleys at the exit.
Grandma said, the car is parked quite far away.
Oh alright, Mom thought.
How far can it be? It would take say, 5 minutes the most,
from one end to the other end of the parking bays.
Off your mother went to look for the car.
Mom walked the whole stretch of the parking bay until she reached
the end ... no sign of the car.
Mom walked back.
"I can't find the car," Mom said.
Grandma reminded, "8118."
Yes, yes ... 8118 ... Mom could have sworn she looked at every car
as she walked by the parking bays.
Mom went a second time.
Once again, your mother reached the end of the parking bays
and still, could not see any sign of the car.
Mom turned back.
As she was walking back, she spotted the 8118.
Ohhhh.
No wonder.
She was looking for a white mercedes.
Grandma's car is grey.
Aiyahhh.
So Mom got into the car, and suddenly realised
she didn't know how to start Grandma's mercedes.
You must have shaken your head as you watched
your mother fumbling about.
Anyway, thank goodness, Mom finally managed
to get the car started (found the button) and put it into reverse,
to back the car out.
Would you believe it but a song came on when the car started.
Seriously, of all the songs that could have come
on at that moment in time.
When You Say Nothing At All.
It's amazing how you can speak right to my heart,
Without saying a word, you can light up the dark,
Try as I may, I could never explain,
What I hear when you don't say a thing.
(etc)
You say it best when you say nothing at all.
So as Mom was reversing out of the bay, the lyrics of
When You Say Nothing filled the car and her senses.
You really know what's going on, Son.
You must be rolling your eyes when you saw your mother
walking to and fro looking for Grandma's car.
Mom drove to the exit.
The grocer boy helped to load the car up.
Grandma wanted to tip the boy for waiting,
but the boy refused to accept the money.
Shrug.
Time to drive out.
There was a congested line to the exit booth.
Finally, when one car gave way to your mother,
Mom found herself driving behind this red car.
Gasp.
Mom saw an instant : MA 21
You were clearly with your mother the whole time.
How PERFECT.
Everytime and everywhere we are.
Oh oh oh ...
Speaking of which ...
Everytime and everywhere ...
we all heard that Michelle Yeoh won Best Actress
in the recent Golden Globe Awards for her movie
Everything Everywhere All At Once ...
Mom had mentioned to Dad, that the movie title
was something Mom would often say.
You are here and there, everywhere, all at once,
at the same time.
It wasn't until Mom later discovered (on the news)
that the 2 producers of that movie are called
DANIEL Kwan and DANIEL Scheinert,
that made Mom sat right up and take notice.
OMG.
What are the chances???
Both the producers are called DANIEL???
In a movie that's called
EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE???
OMG.
What are the chances???
ZAP ZAP ZAP!!!
You are just here and there, and everywhere, all at once.
Wink.
Keep the zaps coming, Daniel.
Happy 21st Anniversary.
We are thinking of you as we have our
Chinese New Year Reunion Dinner tonight.
Grandma just called to ask Mom to buy some salt for her.
Will post the Sydney photos in a bit.
Hugs and kisses from all at home.
xoxo
Mom
