𝗠𝘆 𝗔𝘂𝗻𝘁, 𝗛𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝘂𝗿𝗿𝘆 & 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗟𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗿

My aunt, who just turned 90 earlier this year.

My aunt (dad’s youngest sister) was in town over the weekend, and I never miss a chance to see her.

Growing up, I would always tag along with my parents whenever they travelled to Melaka for a visit, or to KL for weddings and family gatherings. I teased my aunt, asking if she still remembered my name, and she giggled like a child. I completely understood, told her it was okay then mentioned my nickname, a Hokkien phrase used to describe the youngest in the family. Like my aunt, I am the youngest too.

It didn’t matter that she couldn’t remember, as long as I remember her.

Aunt turned 90 earlier this year, all that matters now is that she stays healthy.

On Sunday, we had fish head curry, and I told her that her home-cooked curry is still the best I have ever tasted (it’s so rich with Malay and Baba Nyonya flavours). I used to suffer from car sickness traveling from Johor to Melaka, but her chicken curry had a way of waking me up from it.

I also remember how much I looked forward to our little “adventures” and sleepovers in the attic room at aunt’s house. As kids, we were thrilled just climbing up the steep ladder to get there, having to bend our bodies to move around under the slanted ceiling.

Nowadays, whenever we visit her house in Melaka, I still climb up to the attic room as a way to relive those childhood memories. But I have come to realise that the ladder feels much steeper now than it ever did when I was a child.

I gave her a tight hug when we said our good byes, and told her to take good care before our next meeting.

My late mother adored her, and I want to carry that same love forward.

#cherishlove #爱要珍惜 (this is the meaning of my name in Chinese😉)

Originally published at https://www.linkedin.com.