I will remember you

My dearest 爺爺 (yeah yeah/grandpa),

You are my role model.

When I think of you, I always think of how you used to carry me up the stairs to your old apartment on your back, like "mai ju zai", a little piggy on sale. I used to laugh all the way from the moment you had me on your back. Another memory was how you used to lead a group of people hiking all over the hills of Hong Kong in the winter and go swimming in the islands near Sai Kung in the summer. I still remembered how you pretended that you accidently bumped me off the boat, just for laughs.

But there is so much than just your sense of adventure, sense of humor, and knack for fun. You also have so much humanity. You have devoted your life as a father of four, grandfather of eight, and a wonderful husband to a beautiful, capable woman. You are kind and generous to your friends and you continued to have many friends to now, at age 93, almost 94. You were a dedicated volunteer to a Kowloon homeless shelter and served as the chairman for many years, by which you have given and raised much money to allow the shelter to grow and became an important place to those in need in Hong Kong. Yet all of this, you served humbly, never bragging how much you have put in but only appreciated what you were given and received.

These days, you know you are not the same anymore. You know that you have trouble with your memories, and I know how much it upsets you that you can't walk and go to places you used to go or wherever you want. When I asked you if you thought you would live this long, you said you never thought of it. Though I am sure you have but I think it's not something you question everyday because you live the moment. Now that your horizon has narrowed, you told me you are accepting that the life will bring you to a stage where you acknowledge what it is and you let it go to live the best of your ability and most of all, at its presence. Then each day, you live simplier and happier, and you look forward to those small things that make a difference and you move to things are that near and most important to you.

I wish you were closer to me, grandpa. I miss you lots.

Love,
柏琪 (Pak Kay)