aunty peggy and uncle govind were my parents best friends. i called them mummy and daddy. were - because uncle govind passed away not too long ago. i watched this beautiful memorial cd their daughter, yvette did of them for the funeral today and it was so touching.
the cd was actually aired on tv as yvette works in tv.
they met in singapore when uncle govind as a young indian boy studied there. auntie peggy's parents, being traditional singaporean chinese, didn't approve of the relationship because of the racial barrier.
they were so different, auntie peggie was sensible and shy, uncle govind was a race car driver, outspoken and a bit of a playboy. and yet inspite of everything she was willing to leave everything behind and elope.
so how does a modern singaporean girl, a staunch christian - give everything up, everything she had ever known and elope in a indian temple in penang?
early on in their marriage things were difficult because, well, if you knew uncle govind, you'd know that he's definite not the easiest person principally because auntie peggy didn't know how to cook an indian meal and be a subservient indian wife. he used to call her curry chinese poison.
but auntie peggy was no pushover.
"when i set my mind on this relationship, i knew it was for keeps and i was prepared to work at it. i have spent my entire life working on this relationship, i've given up everything for it."
ironically, things got much better after uncle govind's mother passed away. because suddenly aunty peggy cooked indian meals perfectly. and it was only during the birth of yvette that auntie peggy's parents asked her to come home.
i was crying by the end of the dvd because i was so touched. so this is how they do it. we see our parents, our parents friends versus relationships in this day and age - how nothing seems to stick.
i never stick to things. i give up, i rationalize and make pros and cons lists. i don't think i've ever fought for anything. and i'm not sure i'd be brave enough to give up everything.
maybe it's time to evaluate my values. time to stop giving up too fast. time to hang in and stick through thick and thin.
i spoke to auntie peggy the day of uncle govind's funeral and she was joking and laughing. she said she was standing right next to his body and did i want to say anything to him.
i said to give him a kiss and say how much i'll miss my daddy.
"diana, we are women. we have to be strong."
i'm headstrong, that's a flaw. maybe sometimes too modern but at heart, i'm still a small town girl.
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