CALL 671 : MOTHER'S DAY

Hello Son,

 

It's a public holiday today. 

 

Wesak.

 

Yesterday, was Mother's Day over here.

 

 

 

May 12.

 

Justine will be coming back in the evening

after 3 weeks in Ipoh.

 

We will be going for dinner at BBQ Town.

 

Belated mother's day dinner. 

 

 

Looks like this would be the only suitable 

restaurant for the time being since Mom and

Dad turned carnivores.

 

Haha.

 

Since adopting the carnivore diet, Mom's

joint pains have disappeared completely.

 

Never knew her arthritic problem could

be solved so quickly by a change of diet.

 

No more flatulence too.

 

Her digestive system has never felt so -

healthy.

 

Lost about 5 kg and so feel lighter now as well.

 

All is well and good.

 

Dad too has never looked back since we started 

on the carnivore lifestyle.

 

So we decided to just have (mother's day) 

lunch at home yesterday. 

Aunty D and kids were here.

 

Grandma was here.

 

Dad and Mom.

 

Dad made the most yummiest chicken rice.

 

The rice was for our guests.

 

We carnivores only eat meat.

 

Chuckle.

 

The ginger and spring onion oil was just excellent

to go with the rice.  

We had sausages and bacon too.

Here's Dylan enjoying his hotdog.

 

After our lunch, we went to see the highly

publisiced AutoShow in town.

 

We were there for like 5 hours or so.

 

Mom didn't bother to take photos of the

cars on display.

 

Until she saw this one :

 

 

 

Tiggo Cross is the name.

 

How cool is this car, huh?

 

Below RM100k, apparently.

 

Dad mentioned, RM85k. 

See Dad in blue checks?

 

The white car on the right is the same exact car

as the colourful-funky one.

 

Guess nothing makes a statement quite like

that rainbow-coloured one.

 

At one point, Dad pointed to the front and said, 

 

24.

 

"Not just one, 2."

 

Mom looked, and saw 2 t-shirts with a bold and

large number 24 on the back. Too many people and

Mom couldn't take a photo.

 

But your mother knows.

 

Her son is with her.

 

He always sends his sign in twos.

 

 

 

 

By the time we got home, it was about 9 pm or so.

 

It was late.

 

We shouldn't eat so much before sleeping.

 

So we had the left overs or oven-baked chicken 

wings and drummets (left overs because we had

the steamed chicken and sausages for lunch) ...

 

and 2 pieces of lamp chops.

 

 

 

Finger lickin' good delicious.

 

 

 

Mom and Dad went swimming this morning.

 

So we have decided to take a trip to Lourdes

in September.

 

We are gifting ourselves a nice gift for Mother

and Father's Day (later). 

 

Haha

Lourdes.

 

So many memories.

 

We were there in September 2009 for almost a month.

 

About 4 months before Jesus called you home 

on the 21st January, 2010.

 

Mom has yet to complete your Orange Dot blog 

of your time in Lourdes even though it has 

been like 15 years since we visited in Sept 2009.

Just know your story ended beautifully.

 

Mother Mary kept her promise.

 

 

 

 

She was with us throughout your journey and was 

certainly there with us at the hour of your dea ..

 

departure.

 

God only took you right after we completed

saying the rosary in full.

 

 

 

This time we are going to Lourdes for thanksgiving.

 

For Justine, your sister.

 

The wedding is on Saturday, June 21.

 

Less then 2 months. 

 

 

 

Continue to watch over Justine and Kayden, 

and help them with their wedding preparations. 

Let everything run smoothly.

 

It's gonna be - just perfect.

 

 

 

 

 

So anyway ... 

 

last Wednesday in school, during music & movement, 

after going through a few songs with the children, 

Mom suddenly remembered Let Me Be There 

(Olivia Newton John).

 

The last few Mother's Day celebrations, we had

sang this song, complete with simple dance steps.

 

We put on Let Me Be There and we began to sing

and dance.

 

The children enjoyed the song.

 

The next day, on Thursday, after our usual song, 

a 6 year old girl asked, "Can we have that ...

(and she wriggled her shoulders - part of the song

movement for Let Me be There)?

 

Let Me be There? Mom asked.

 

Teacher Lynn, to the children in school. 

All chanted YES in chorus.

 

We put it on.

 

So, to cut a long story short,

Let Me Be There 

by Olivia Newton John

was played in school for the 

rest of the week on Wednesday, 

Thursday and Friday.

 

A song to sing and dance along to 

by the children for their mothers.

 

 

 

Pause.

 

Wait. 

 

Wait.

 

Getting there.

 

Be patient.

 

So that Friday evening, Mom was on the

sofa in the living room. She was watching 

a Hallmark romance movie.

 

Picked at random. 

Shortly after, Grandma called.

 

Mom paused the movie and proceeded 

to put Grandma on the speaker.

 

 

 

Talk.

 

Talk.

 

Talk.

 

Mom's eyes suddenly caught sight of the name

Olivia Newton John on the screen. 

 

Pause.

 

What?

 

Olivia Newton John?

 

In a Hallmark movie?

 

Like -- since when???

 

Mom frequently watches Hallmark shows

but have never come across Olivia Newton John

in any of them.

 

 

 

After the call, Mom couldn't wait to click 

on the ONJ's video.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mom starred at the cover.

 

 

 

Her mouth fell open.

 

 

 

O

 

 

M

 

 

G

 

 

 

She gasped to herself.

 

 

 

Dad happened to be there.

 

 

 

He had joined your mother in the TV room

 

when Mom was on the call with grandma.

 

 

 

Mom's voice was filled with excitement when 

 

she turned to Dad to say,  

"The last 2 days, we have been playing

 

Let Me Be There in school ... including today ....

 

and now look ...  see here!" Mom pointed to 

 

the screen. 

 

 

 

"Olivia Newton John ... "

 

 

 

Moving her finger to the left, 

 

Mom continued,

 

"and Son ... can you see SON ... 

 

in HarriSON ... "

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"And look here! Christmas Romance.

 

Christmas???" 

 

 

 

 

That word is on your tomb stone!

 

 

 

 

"And not only that, but see here. OMG!

Seriously, 1994???"

 

 

 

Your birth year.

 

 

ZAP ZAP ZAP !!!

 

 

You always know.

 

 

You always know how to make your presence felt.

 

 

Every - single - day.

 

Daily, you drop a sign here and you leave a sign there,

to let your mother know that you are near.

 

Mom is very so grateful that Jesus allows you to

communicate with her in this very special way.

 

It has been 15 years ... and the signs continue.

 

Daily.

 

And that is why we have so much to be thankful for.

 

To be grateful for.

 

Lourdes it is.

 

This September. 

 

Make it happen, Son. 

 

 

 

Here is your memorial slab.

 

Christmas and 1994 are two words on your headstone.

 

What are the chances of this ONJ video popping 

up in our home TV? Mom has not played this ONJ

video at home.

 

Only in school.

 

What a coinciDANS.

Let me Be There.

 

Message received, Son.

 

 

 

 

 

Wherever you go

Wherever you may wander 

in your life

Surely you know

I always wanna be there

Holding your hand

and standing by to catch you 

when you fall

Seeing you through

In everything you do

 

Let me be there in your morning

Let me be there in your night

Let me change whatever's wrong

And make it right, make it right

 

Let me take you through that wonderland

that only two can share

All I ask you - uuuu

(this is where we wriggle our shoulder)

Is let me be there

 

 

 

Thank you Son, for reminding Mom that

you will always be there by her side,

morning and night ...

 

and that you will always help her change

whatever that is wrong to right ...

 

Everywhere Mom goes and wander in life,

You will be there.

 

Holding her hand, and standing by

to catch her should she fall.

 

What a wonderful assurance.

 

Until our next call.

 

 

 

 

 

Be good.

 

And stay close. 

 

As always, Daniel.

 

xoxo

Mom

 

p/s By the way Son, Mom forgot to mention ...

Yesterday, at the AutoShow, there was a bus shuttle

that took us from car park to the exhibition venue.

 

We were in the bus.

 

I'll Be Watching You was playing in the bus.

 

Mom checked her time.

 

1648

 

She quickly keyed that time into her text to Dad

for record.

 

1648

 

4 48

 

4 21

 

All You.

 

I am Number 4.

 

21

 

I'll be watching you, Ma ...

 

Pause. 

 

Smile.

 

Always remind Mom of that, Daniel.

 

 

 

CALL 670 : DANIEL PEARL

Hello Son,

 

So a few days ago, Mom was on the sofa

in our living room.

 

Netflix was on.

 

Mom happened to see this newly added

movie called : 

 

IC814.

 

THE KANDAHAR HIJACK.

 

Another plane movie?

 

  

Mom had watched another plane movie 

just the day before, starring, Gerard Butler.

 

PLANE.

 

 

In that PLANE show, your mother did not 

finish the movie and had stopped the TV halfway 

as it got too violent for her liking.

 

The part where Gerard Butler was first attacked.

 

Never mind why and how and who.

 

She had turned off the TV.

 

So when Mom saw the IC814, another PLANE

movie, she decided to check on the synopsis

first before wasting her time to view.

 

 

 

Mom googled the words :

 

Kandahar Flight

 

and came to this page.

 

 

Mom's eyes scanned through the Wiki

information and suddenly rested on

the name : 

 

DANIEL PEARL

 

 

 

Hmmm. 

 

Daniel?

 

Of course Mom had to click on the link 

and when she did, she came to this page :

 

 

 

Silence.

 

OMG.

 

Cause of death : Decapitation?

 

Nooooooooooo!

 

Mom looked at the date of death :

 

February 1, 2002

 

That's a clear ...

 

very clear ...

 

very, very clear ...

 

Angel date.

 

2   1  2002

 

21  4

 

OMG. Seriously.

 

Mom's first thoughts were :

 

Why do the Daniels in the world

have so much challenges? 

 

 

Your own departure date was :

 

21st January, 2010

 

21  1  2010

 

21  4

 

Daniel Pearl was such a good looking 

man too.

 

Heaven must truly be filled with 

dashing-looking people.

 

This horrific incident happened some 

23 years ago.

 

Still, that did not stop Mom from feeling 

fresh goose bumps and cold chills 

creeping up and down her spine. 

When Dad came through the door,

he had taken the car out for a wash,

Mom couldn't wait to tell Dad about

Daniel Pearl.

 

 

Dad knew of this Daniel Pearl.

 

He apparently remembers this 

horrendous news in that year.

 

So anyway, Mom said a silent prayer

and made a knowing wish that both

good looking Daniels are now watcing

from Heaven and smiling down

on their respective families.

So that night,

 

that same night,

 

it was bed time.

 

Mom would normally turn on a simple 

sit-com or comedy, more often than

not, TWO and a HALF MEN, and watch

for a bit before dozing off.

 

For some unexplained reason, 

that night, 

Mom decided she wanted to 

watch a Hallmark romance movie.

 

She tuned in to the first one, 

at random,

saw the characters who were not too

appealing to her, and  decided to change 

after a minute or so.

The second Hallmark movie was also

not great.

 

The third? 

 

Nahhh.  

Oh well.

 

Let's look for another one.

 

Where are all the good - looking 

people when you want them?

 

Before she knew it, your mother found 

herself keying in the words :

 

The Magic of Ordinary Days

 

Skeet is so so cute and his

character in the movie is

so endearing.

 

You just have to love this guy.

 

Mom had first watched this movie

several years ago and had always

remembered Skeet in it.

 

The last time your mother saw 

this movie was perhaps during the 

COVID lockdown some 5 years ago.

 

So anyway, the movie started.

 

Mom was enjoying the show and

sipping her warm water when

suddenly, she found herself sitting 

up right on the bed.

 

Dad was outside.

 

Mom was in the bedroom, watching

the movie all her own.

 

O

 

M

 

G

 

No way.

 

Seriously???

 

 

Mom quickly re-winded the show back a bit 

and snapped a photo to show Dad.

 

Do you see the subtitles?

 

Daniel got killed at Pearl Harbour.

 

O

 

M

 

G. 

 

You can't be serious.

 

You must be whispering to Mom.

 

No way she would have decided 

to choose this movie had you 

not whispered :

 

The Magic of Ordinary Days, Ma.

 

Daniel 

 

got 

 

killed 

 

at 

 

Pearl 

 

Harbour???

 

PEARL Harbour???

 

Why, only a few hours ago, your mother

was reading about DANIEL PEARL.

 

And now she sees the words across her

TV screen and hears the words spoken

out loud to her ears :

 

Daniel got killed at Pearl Harbour.

 

OMG.

 

Daniel Pearl.

 

You are just so right beside Mom 

all the time, Daniel.

 

ZAP ZAP ZAP!!!

 

As Mom checked the photo taken 

from her camera gallery,  she noticed

the date :  

 

Feb 4.

 

 

FEB 4.

 

2  4

 

4  2

 

21

 

 

Significant?

 

So so is. 

Clearly you had whispered into your

mother's ears that evening.

 

 

 

 

When Dad came into the bedroom, Mom 

couldn't wait to tell him.

 

All her words just rushed out from her mouth.

 

Hahaha.

 

"I told you about Daniel Pearl just now

right?  And now look. Suddenly I'm watching

this movie and hearing these words

Daniel got killed at Pearl Harbour.

What are the chances??? Son is definitely

whispering to me. OMG. Seriously. What are

the chances of me putting on this show 

tonight and hearing those words? 

OMG. It's so random ...."

 

More words spoken.

 

Chuckle.

 

Thanks Son, 

for always making your presence felt.

 

Mom

xoxo

 

p/s going to the mall now to order

Mom's new glasses.

4:41 pm

 

Dad and Mom just returned home from the mall.

 

Mom came straight to the computer to make another call.

 

We were at the mall at 1 pm to make new specs for Mom.

 

When we were done, your parents went to Oriental Kopi for a drink.

Dad had his iced coffee with no sugar ...

 

And Mom had her usual hot milk tea without sugar.

 

After that, we were ready to go back home.

 

As we were leaving the mall, just before going down the escalator, to the parking machine, a guy was playing a flute in a corner, entertaining the mall people. Nobody was around him ... but it was nice to have some music in the environment.

As we were going down the escalator, the flute started playing ...

 

My Heart Will Go On.

 

Omgosh.

 

Mom took out her handphone to check the time, and saw 15:59 turning to 16:00 before her eyes.

 

A smile escaped her lips.

 

You must have seen your mother grin from cheek to cheek.

 

Mom told Dad : My Heart Will Go On ... and the time is 4 pm. My son has definitely received my call (Call 670). 

 

That's for sure.

 

Hugs and kisses, Daniel Phua.

 

xoxo

Mom

 

Near, far ... wherever you are ...

 

You are safe in my heart ...

 

and my heart will go on and on ...