Dying is a taboo word.

Ah gu (Uncle Sia Ki Seng) is dying.

Never realised how taboo 'dying' can be to most people until very recently. When I told friends who asked why am I taking such a long leave at such a 'critical' time when jobs are scares. They all freak out; even the most witty person was dumb-founded.

An account of incident with TBL on MSN:

TBL: Eh.. why take leave? So long, what happened?
SL: Yeah. I asked for it.
TBL: R U OK?
SL: Yes.
TBL: What happened?
SL: My uncle is dying.
(silent) .........................................

(line went dead)

Another account with TST on the phone:

TST: What happened to yr uncle?
SL: Lung or Liver cancer, I am also not very sure.
TST: Oh... last stage
SL: Yeah, but it has spreaded to other organs and the prognosis is 3-6months.
TST: OH....yeah, (tone dramatically went more than 1 pitch high up) a lot of my church mates' parents also died of cancer.
SL: Oh...
TST: Really, so many...
SL: hmm....Are you silly, why do you still go to that church. You better stop going to this church.
TST: hahaha, yeah hor, so silly....
SL: hahahha
TST: (voice came back to normal or maybe not, a bit too soft and careful ) You take care, OK
SL: Yeah, thanks.

I dealt with 'death' many times in the past, paternal granddad, maternal grand mother, my childhood best friend, Meng, during my younger days, some movie idols, pets that my family kept......

However, no enough 'experiences' have equipped me to face it better the next time. It's always another painful and scary encounter.

However, this time, i have learn something from Ah Gu. That is to face it and not avoid it. Live and death is part and parcel of a person's life.

We are going to make sure we are having a good time together one last time. Without regrets or at least with little to regret.