Hello Son,
It's the 21st today.
January 21, 2024.
Your 14th Anniversary with JESUS and
MAMA MARY up there beyond the rainbow.
Daniel Jason Phua Yun Shih
Christmas Eve 1994 - Jan 21, 2010
So, Dad and Mom went for morning mass
at 8:30 am.
We arrived 15 minutes before time,
parked the car, and found a seat where
we normally sit at mass.
Mass started ... and proceeded ...
Mom listened ... and kinda stopped
listening ... just looking at the Priest
on the altar ... she doesn't really know
what she was expecting today ...
it is after all, your 21st ...
Your mother was very very certain
that she would be receiving her ZAPS
as usual ... all the more reason today ...
but so far ... nothing's happening.
None of the hymns today were her
favourites. They were totally unfamiliar.
You know how Mom likes to exercise
her lungs by singing loudly.
LOL.
It was COMMUNION time ...
we were all on our knees ...
just then, as Mom got up, she
happened to turn to her right and
would you believe it, but
immediately at the same time,
a boy who was sitting on the same
row as your parents on the next
row, turned his back to show Mom
a large number 8.
8
Decode : 44
ZAP ZAP ZAP!!!
OMG.
What???
Mom whispered urgently to Dad.
"Right side. #8. OMG! Camera quick."
The #8 guy stood up to follow the line
to receive holy communion.
Can you imagine how difficult it was
for Mom to snap a photo in secret,
so that other parishioners do not see
what she's up to?
OMGosh.
So anyway, the #8 guy is the one
standing right at the beginning of
the glass window on the left ...
See him?
See the black speaker?
The guy with blue shirt?
The guy after that?
And the guy after that guy ...
the 3rd guy from the black speaker.
That's the #8 guy!
Mom wanted to get a better photo.
Dad was like, "Don't ... Stop it ..."
Oh boy, he was sitting right on the same row as
your mother. Mom was on the edge of her pew,
and the #8 guy was at the edge of his.
"I still can't get the number 8 shot ..." Mom
complained to Dad.
Just then the #8 guy stood up and walked out.
What??
"He's leaving ... I need to go run after him ..."
Mom said to Dad.
Dad replied with a curt NO.
Announcement time.
There were some announcements
today.
Mom was not listening.
She was busy with her camera.
See the empty spot?
He left.
The number 8 guy left.
Sigh.
Then, just as the announcement
was over and the Final Blessings
began, the #8 guy walked back in
and sat on his spot.
The same spot.
Pause.
Did you call him back in?
Hmm, you must have.
Mom quickly angled her handphone
the best she could and snapped a
few photos, afraid that the guy might
leave again.
Come on ...
turn over here a bit ...
Can't see the #8 ...
Her important eviDANS ...
Closing Hymn started.
Let's go.
Mom got up, to get holy water.
That's Dad in the pink on the left.
Ahh.
Better angle here.
Snap.
See that?
Mission accomplished.
Mom was beaming with satisfaction
as she made her way to the grotto.
After a few minutes at MAMA MARY's
grotto, we walked to the car.
As we were driving out of the church,
Dad said, "Look at that car ..."
Mom turned to look.
You don't say ...
but of course ...
"Son always sends me 2 zaps to tell
me it's not a coinciDANS."
The #8 and now this :
Why, that's a clear
2121.
It is after all your 21st today..
2121
ZAP ZAP ZAP!!!
You must have whispered to Dad
to alert Dad about the car.
Mom would have missed it for sure
if Dad had not seen it.
Thanks Son, for letting us know you are
here with us. Happy 14th anniversary
in Heaven. Wonder what exactly are
you doing today? 14 years with JESUS
and MAMA MARY.
We drove to Megah Rise Mall after mass.
We were there a few weeks ago,
for breakfast. The noodle soup was quite nice.
Dad had mentioned he wanted to try
out this other coffee shop that was opposite
the eatery we were at that day.
So we went there today.
Forgot the name.
So anyway ...
there was only one small table for
2, that was beside a plant.
It looked cozy.
Dad pointed to the table, and we walked in.
It wasn't until we sat down, that Dad
pointed to the table number.
Your father said, "I didn't know ... hahaha ...
it's the only table anyway ..."
Table number 4.
Mom ordered a bowl of Ipoh hor fun.
Delicious.
Dad had curry noddles ... which was
not that great.
It was so-so only.
We were done about an hour or so.
Dad went to the cashier.
Mom followed, and saw the bill amount.
5640
Secret code :
15
4
Mom had to smile.
Awesome.
ZAP ZAP ZAP!!!
Okay ... so yesterday,
one of our aunties sent Mom a text asking
for our mandarin names.
As in written in mandarin characters.
Aunty was preparing our Family's Family Tree -
3 or 4 generations.
So Mom contacted her mandarin teacher
(from kindergarten) and asked her for help.
Mom gave Dad's chinese name,
Phua Kia Wui ... and the mandarin teacher
sent the mandarin characters for the name.
Justine knows the mandarin characters to her
chinese name.
Phua Shih Huei.
So no problem.
Then came yours.
Phua Yun Shih.
Justine has no clue.
Dad has no clue.
Mom has no clue...
how to write the mandarin characters.
The one who gave you that chinese name
was Dad's mother, your grandmother, who
has since passed away in July last year.
Mandarin teacher asked Mom how to
pronounce your name in mandarin. Mandarin
teacher said, if Mom can pronounce it,
the teacher would be able to tell mandarin
character of the name.
Pause.
No idea.
Not the faintest idea.
PHUA should be the same as Justine,
as well as the SHIH. We only have to
find out how to write the YUN.
So how do we go about it?
We went to a hardware outlet and got
some stuff for school, like a mop and
some garbage bin bags.
Dad wanted to put those things in the car, before
we go to Village Grocers to get our groceries.
Dad said, "You stay here ... I'll put the things
in the car ... Don't go anywhere ..."
So Mom stayed put.
Mom was looking at some chinese new year
items that were in front of her eyes at the time.
Your mother walked over to the mobile shop.
About 3 walking steps away.
Somehow she was fascinated with this paper
bag. She reached for it and saw herself pulling
down the bottom flap.
Time stood still.
Her jaw dropped.
O
M
G.
No way.
Seriously???
Lo and behold.
Would you believe it ...
Mom saw your name YUN staring
back at her. Your YUN name was
directly under the mandarin character.
OMG.
What???
Is this how we write YUN in mandarin?
And the meaning is LUCKY???
How nice!
Mom checked the paper bags that were behind
the first LUCKY YUN one. Apparently, that
YUN paper bag was the only one left. The rest
were WEALTHY and HEALTHY bags.
Dad appeared.
Mom excitedly told Dad her discovery.
OMG.
What are the chances???
"I was just wondering who we can ask
to help us with his name, and suddenly,
it's there, in front of my eyes ..."
Mom blurted the words out.
Awesome.
Amazing.
Unbelievable.
ZAP ZAP ZAP!!!
Wait a minute.
Your 21st today.
What's so unbelievable about that?
You just literally helped Mom to
find the mandarin character to your
YUN name ... when nobody could.
That's the kind of thing that you
would do.
So so you.
OMG.
Seriously.
How is this even possible???
This mall is not one that we go
frequently.
This is only the 2nd time that we have
been there.
You must have whispered to Mom to
suggest this mall after mass.
OMG.
ZAP ZAP ZAP !!!
Mom sent a text to the mandarin teacher
with a snapshot of the paper bag, and told
the teacher that this is your YUN name.
LOL.
LUCKY.
We do feel LUCKY somehow ...
Is that weird to you?
Needless to say, Mom bought the
paper bag.
It was RM5.80.
Decode :
13
4
Smile.
We drove back.
Arriving at our condo lobby, Mom caught
sight of the car in front of us, just about
pulling away.
9390
Decode :
21
Mom was grinning from ear to ear.
What a day of ZAPS.
Thank you, Son. Today was just
spectacular.
Your 21st.
All ZAPs received safely.
Over to you, Son.
Lucky Yun.
xoxo
Mom
ps Dad and Mom had no idea your
mandarin name holds such a nice
and wonderful meaning. 14 years
after you leave us, you find a way
to communicate that to us.
That was super amazing,
Daniel Jason Phua Yun Shih!
