The Grand Old Man

Kong Kong

Each time I go home to visit them, I love to have a heart to heart talk with Kong. Somehow as he ages in his twilight years, he seems to grow warmer, kinder and more cheerful. Kong is an easy man to get along with ; he being generous and always relating the latest in the papers may it be politics, finance or even day to day gossip, the latest being the MCA mess.
He used to be the loud Hakka man who will not compromise on his decisions and he hit his children when he deems fit...I am not joking when I say he even employed a pole to wallop us...when school results are bad or some misconduct construed. He wasn't someone you could relate easily to then.
But now he has changed. He tells me stories of his past and is concerned about his grandchildren and children's affairs. He has not grown senile a single bit...really as I have said before don't challenge him with figures.
He pines for his grandchildren especially but they are hardly to be found around them...they say who wants to be in their place when there is no internet service? Children can be quite heartless at times...fun first.
Por Por : Poh, how do I go about to fix a line in the condo?
Me : Why Por Por?
Por Por : Oh , so that the girls will come see me.
Me : To pay for the internet line when they hardly want to be here? No Por. Let their good sense grow into them ( if they have...)

So, when I go home, I sometimes chose to sleep with mum to the chagrin of the girls...mama sleeping with por por ...hahhahaha. Kong Kong would be babbling about his sons and daughters and I just listened. At times I watched the box with them...but I really can't swallow in the Hakka series in CCTV4 where most Chinese stories are told. I just can't take in the morbid scenes ... dark and gaudy and so very unhappy feeling ! But Kong loves them cos they remind him of his homeland...which he left behind for Malaysia.

Kong says he is grateful to Malaysia. When he arrived in the early 30s, he came with 10 cents in his pocket. But today he told me that he has a beautiful roof over his head, sons and daughters, grandchildren and he is never hungry. If not for Malaysia, he would have died of hunger and misery. So he says he is very fortunate to be in this land.

As had been related before, when he was young, he was a strong man physically fit to run any race and his boyish indulgences included wild boar hunting, dog hunting and bat shooting.

Of course he learnt the art and trade of this game - mahjong. He became a champion in this mind boggling past time and a game which could be the reason why he is still so alert till this day. This game also keeps his memory good and quick at figures.

But at 90 today, he has changed in his past times. Today, his favourite activity is scouring through the papers and tells me about the Afghanistan conflicts, Edward Kennedy's demise and Andy Lau's affairs here.

Every morning he keeps himself in tune with world affairs and makes busy comments.

His eyes will automatically rove around the obituary column.

Kong Kong : Look, people are dying younger by the day. Hahahaha...( terrible old man)
Me : Hmm...what is your secret, Kong?
Kong Kong : Be happy, live for the day and don't worry too much.

He is indeed happy as he buys tickets to hit numbers...

" Sometimes I hit a few numbers... hei do you know 2 from Muar have hit the jackpot!" he cheerfully exclaimed!



Yea , he wants to hit it one day....hahaha...happy trying Kong.

Every evening after he has done some business transactions, he will make his way to the Hakka Association and indulge in his all time favourite... hardly a day goes by without that game. All is forgiven in the name of fun and keeping the senility away.

But really, at night and at dawn , he will be facing the box in all quietness ...again to be in tune with the world... and perhaps thinking about the welfares of all his children. Kong is frugal, good at keeping money and careful in all he does. Independent and still able to earn for a living , I cannot help but admire the good traits in him and he gives us no reason to rest on our laurels.

In true Merdeka spirit, in spite of and despite everything, Kong again reafffirms that this land has given him hope, peace and a place to call home. He is thankful ; he told me.