tiffenye
Dear Ju,
It’s been over a month since we heard the tremendously sad news of your passing and it still hasn’t quite sunken in that you are no longer here with us. It makes us sad that we were unable to attend your funeral and that we did not get a chance to say goodbye to you properly.
Ju, you are very much ingrained in all of our memories, from the time we were little children to the times we progressed to college as well as in our growing up adulting pains. There are too many to mention but we do have our fondest few.
When we were in school, do you remember how we used to use the excuse to go over to each other’s houses to work on “projects” when we actually used those times to play instead? Tiff definitely remembers plenty of those moments when you used to go over to her place during the weekends to work on such “projects”. She can also still recall the delicious food that your family used to cook for us such as pizzas and kacangma. We also recall how you used to bring a steady supply of your Dad’s yummy yogurt drink to school for us. During the last year of high school, Tiff also really enjoyed the fun days when we would get ready for the Joseph musical at her place, and how you both helped Jo to stick those contact lenses in before each performance night. Fast forward to not too long ago, Tiff is extremely grateful and glad that you were able to be at her hen’s night and wedding day last December despite how you are not normally back during that time of the year. Like the rest of us, she is also very glad that we got to spend that week together in Perth.
Jo funnily remembers how you both picked up mild swearing in primary 3, but also the more reflective and repentant moments when you realised that the both of you were starting to get really potty mouth for kids that young, and the determination to change. She also especially remembers the many after school hours she spent with you and other kids from the after school club just hanging around the school as both of you were very often picked up late by your parents. She clearly remembers sticking bubble gum tattoos in the girls’ toilet with you on the ground floor of the school during one of those after school sessions. She will also cherish the late night pillow talks on life and grown up problems that we were able to have on our road trip to Margaret River.
When most of our friends left Malaysia to study overseas, Briel moved to Miri to study at Curtin while you stayed behind in Kuching. He recalls all the phone calls with you and how you guys would talk about life’s dramas and everything else under the sun. We wonder how you guys sustained such frequent and long calls but it could have been due to your job at Maxis in Tun Jugah where Briel would visit you almost every day when he was back in Kuching during his uni breaks. When we used to go swimming at Tiff’s condo, Briel also remembers you pulling him out of the deep end of the pool because he couldn’t swim back then. You would have been amused to know that Briel has now built a mini dipping pool in the front yard of his Perth home - it’s too bad he didn’t build it in time for us to enjoy during our Perth trip.
One of Kel’s fondest memories of you is always sneaking out for lunch during our Lodge days once he got his driving licence and you sitting at the very back of his Pajero during those lunch escapades. He also remembers how you would take forever to finish your food during lunch (citing your Popo’s commands to always finish your food), and how we all had to wait for you before going back to class. Kel will also miss being your designated chauffeur every time you are back in Kuching on holiday, are he really wishes he can drive you around one last time.
Recalling all our times with you makes us sad, but we are also happy to have known you during this lifetime, and to have shared all these happy moments with you. We are especially really grateful that despite our busyness and having our own lives each, we made the effort to plan the Perth trip in 2017 and were able to spend a solid week together on holiday there. While we wish that you could have remained with us for much longer, we take solace and comfort in the fact that you are no longer in any physical pain, and that you have reunited with our Father in Heaven and are now at complete peace.
We love you Ju, and will miss your laughter, free-spirited nature and warm friendship.
With much love,
Tiff, Jo, Briel & Kel
