Splendor in the Grass

February 19 2007 is a day to remember for us.

That is the day when my beloved father went up to heaven,
five minutes to midnight,
on the second day of Chinese New Year,
at 57 years old.

He drew his last breathe, peacefully, in his sleep. On his own bed, by his beloved wife's side, witnessed by his wife and his only son. Painless, as best as it could be.

He is bright, brilliant, kind, funny, humorous, loving, hardworking, and all the superlative words you can attach to a father figure.

I am happy for him, though. At last, he will again meet his beloved mother whom he had lost at a very young age. I know he missed her all his life. I dreamt about her once, long time ago, a dream so vivid that I can't forget.

I flew half the globe to pay him my last respect. I took another long flight in the same week to catch up with my studies. I know he does not like me to take a time off from school. I had HEAPS to catch up so I ignored my blog =)

I attach here a passage from the movie "Splendor in the Grass" (1961). A passage I so love for years, but whose meaning becomes so clear just recently...

What though the radiance
Which was once so bright
Is now forever taken from my sight
Though nothing can bring back the hour,
Of splendour in the grass, of glory in the flower;
We will grieve not, rather find,
Strength in what remains behind...

If this can be considered as a small tribute, click this, but with ammendments =) :

1. change the February to January (find from the text)

2. I have no chance at all to watch American Idol now...

On a lighter note, I am now officially the shortest member of the family...

Final picture: when we had a sauna in our front yard... Haha =D Be prosperous in heaven, Pa.. I think we have burnt enough money for you to build few companies... one for each child, OK? Deal!