Tuesday, September 20, 2011

mickey mouse bush, Dillenia/Wormia suffruticosa



Fellow blogger in the Philippines mentioned a plant they call Mickey Mouse. It is interesting that different regions call different plants by different names. In two much older posts, I posted with passion this Mickey Mouse plant.

Last week, I found my cousins on Facebook. The thing is I have never met them before. I left Borneo before they were born.

Here is a post I wrote when I thought of their Dad, the uncle I loved the most, and he stayed with us for many years before he was married.

Francis, my 6th Uncle used to buy motor bikes like my Grandpa saying, changing bikes like changing shoes.

I was seventeen. One day, out of the blue, Francis asked if I wanted to ride his bike. Boy! did I want to ride his bike. He showed me the ropes and I was off. Our road was a private cul-de-sac. On both sides were long lalang grass, and Mickey Mouse shrub.

I got on the bike with wind blowing in my face and zoomed. I wasn't very steady and before I knew it, I had crashed the bike to a Mickey Mouse bush. I fell and the bike landed on top of me.

Francis asked, if I was hurt.

I replied, No, just a few scratches from the sharp lalang grass. It was my ego which was bruised. I never rode a bike again.

Francis died prematurely at 55. I was in Singapore when the family rang me. When I see the mickey mouse shrubs, I cry a tear for him.

http://www.naturia.per.sg/buloh/plants/simpoh_air.htm



http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com/



http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com

13 comments:

Light and Voices said...

Your words are so touching ...full of memories. Thanks for posting.
Joyce M

Anonymous said...

What a moving story.

eileeninmd said...

What a touching story, Ann! I like the name Mickey Mouse bush, it is a happy name.

Indrani said...

Too young!
Memories get associated with such unexpected things. Touching post.

Gattina said...

It's sad that you have such bad memories when you see this beautiful flower !

Marja said...

How sad. So sorry to hear that. The flower is very nice.

Carver said...

It is sad to have triggers like that for the loss of a loved one. I'm the same way about certain things.

Kim, USA said...

Oh this made me cry. A very lovely post Ann. ^_^

Magia da Inês said...

°º✿
º° ✿Olá, amiga!
✿♥ ° ·.Infelizmente as lembranças tristes também fazem parte da vida. Gostei muito da flor, não a conhecia.
°º✿
º° ✿✿♥ ° ·.Bom domingo!
Beijinhos.
Brasil

SandyCarlson said...

That's great you found your cousins. Your post touched my heart.

Anonymous said...

lovely story ann

Cheryl said...

What an extraordinary plant the Mickey Mouse is! Your loving memory of your dear uncle touched me.

Dave said...

That's sad Ann. Good that you have a plant to remind you of him - Dave