Under the table

"King one still there on the whole bar! And I'm in a soundproof room...!"

That was the line that we kids would call out at each meal when we were younger. It was the statement that granted us the deed to the forked legs at each end of the table, so we could prop our feet on them for the meal.

First you had to get your feet on the bar, and then you had to say the whole statement without the other siblings speaking simultaneously. You could throw out one word at a time, but if they caught you right when you were talking, you had to start the whole line over again. When you got the entire line out, then and only then could you claim the table leg rest for the duration of the meal.

Don't ask me how that titular statement came to be the way it is. You just can't account for some of the things kids come up with.

In Loving Memory

Excitable and Humorous
Everyone who has met my mother undoubtedly knows her for her playful energy and zest for life. Indeed, Mom was more excited about my first date, about my prom, and convocation than even I was. And she loved to hear about any new activities I was trying – hiking, swimming, rock-climbing. I could always count on her to start deliberating about what I would be wearing to a special occasion months in advance. Sometimes I would find an outfit already laid out for me. Thankfully she was a smart shopper, with impeccable taste.

My brothers and I would often kid around with her at the dinner table. Mom would raise a hand threateningly, but graciously accept the high-fives we offered instead. Occasionally she would retaliate successfully with a well-placed pinch on the thigh... but it was always delivered with a smile. (Though, not necessarily always received with a smile.)


我喜歡妳以前煮的菜
我母親都為家人著想。 這幾年我爸爸很注意健康，也對煮法的要求提高：不能太鹹，不能太油，各個方面的營養要足夠，等等。 我前幾個月跟媽媽講電話，談搬回溫哥華的事。 我說我想念媽媽煮的菜．．．。 隔了幾秒鐘，我又補充了一下："我想念妳以前做的菜。 New cooking 一點都不想念。" 媽媽就笑著說："好啦好啦，趕快回來啦，媽媽煮好吃的給妳吃。"


Favourite Child
Her love for the family was apparent in all she did. We each had a part in her heart: Dad, her partner in life; Ben is the oldest child in the family, Kev the youngest, I the only daughter. We were all special to her. She treated each of us children like her favourite. Mom would slip me earrings that she found to match my dress, she would pay for a jacket that my brother had his eye on, other little tokens of motherly love. She loved us equally, each in our own special way, each her favourite child.

But deep down inside, we all know who her reeeeal favourite was....


最後一聲 "我愛妳"
這三年多，孩子們都在遙遠的台灣工作，生活。 因為工作時間長，活動充實，我就比較少打電話。 媽媽都會哀怨女兒怎麼沒打電話，怎麼都不想媽媽呢；她一直羨幕別人家的孩子常常跟父母聯絡。 去年，得知同事的父親過世後，我就養成了一個習慣：每次講完電話都會跟媽媽說一聲 "我愛妳"。 無論那通電話聊到什麼，氣憤如何，我最後會喊一句："媽，我愛妳"．．． 免得哪一天後悔沒跟她多說了幾次。

媽媽往生的那一天，我在上班接到爸爸的電話。 我父親把電話放在媽媽的耳邊，讓我們跟她告別。 我那時震驚中，只知道跟她說："媽，我們一定會讓妳驕傲。 媽，我愛妳。"

所以，在今天的最後．．． 我也要跟媽說一聲："媽，我愛妳。"


Mom, I love you.