The year was 1973. This is a photo of my mum, Mary Wah Kiew Chan Nee Kong.
On this day, I remember her and how she was taken away from us twenty one years ago at the age of sixty. Gone but not forgotten in her children's heart.
The second World War came and altered her life. She lived as a teenager during the war, and became a war bride.
For fear of forcedly made into a Japanese Sex Worker, my grand parents married her to an unknown man at fifteen. Loved blossomed and together, they had nine children.
This photo of Mum was taken as a group photo of some of my siblings as we were at the airport to farewell Elizabeth, the day of her engagement to Kalang.
Mum was dressed in a Kebaya, the national dress of Malaysia. People asked if she was a Malaysian Airlines stewardess. She smiled and said she was too old. We teased that she should have told them she was the director of the stewardess. At this time, she was the DEO's wife.
I wish my children got to know her, except for D, the others have not seen their wonderful grandma.
4 comments:
Happy Mother's day to you too Ann and remember, things are not as they appear to be ... ;)
Happy Mother's Day. Very nice writing about your mom. We went to put flowers on my mother's grave last night. We will go to my mother-in-law's house and cook (my husband will) breakfast for us.
My grandmother died at about 80 in 1950. Shgortly before she died, she wrote a little pamphlet of her memories. Don't you wish your mother had done that? Shouldn't you do the same?
You mum's story is so exceptional. And your dad was indeed a lucky man...
I will always remember your mum as a dainty and gracious lady.
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