Chopstix by A.T. Raydan

Author:A.T. Raydan [Raydan, A.T.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Superhero
ISBN: 9781907525292
Publisher: Unique Inspiration Ltd
Published: 2015-04-14T23:00:00+00:00

The Funeral

I remember my father telling me about funerals and as always, he had a Confucian principle to quote, typically around devotion to your parents. I knew that it was my duty to help coordinate and prepare for the funerals.

Aunt Daiyu and I had consulted the Chinese Almanac to determine the best date for the funeral ceremony. Aunt Daiyu also explained what my parents final wishes were. It wasn’t something that my parents and I ever discussed; after all, they were still in their prime. Who could ever envisage that they would be taken away from me so early in life?

Apart from Aunt Daiyu, we never really had any family here. Yet, we had sent out white paper invitations to their close friends and acquaintances. Aunt Daiyu had their details. I never did ask why.

Aunt Daiyu started to receive replies from the invites that were sent out requesting information about the wake. We decided to keep it short and just for one day and night, as per my parents’ wishes.

The day before the funeral, Aunt Daiyu and I headed to the local temple, where the coffins containing my parents’ bodies had been sent.

On arrival, we placed white candles around the coffins, lit them and just sat quietly in wait, taking a personal moment to reflect on their lives. A few close friends stopped by for a short while too, each one bringing some white flowers and a white envelope.

The envelopes contained money that was meant to help Aunt Daiyu and I pay for the funeral.

Aunt Daiyu and I had decided that we would keep an overnight vigil. Emotionally and spiritually we both felt we needed to do it.

Throughout the night, I could hear my fathers words of wisdom, echoing the thoughts of Confucius ‘Death and life have their determined appointments; riches and honours depend upon heaven’.

He always said that if you lead a good life, and make good of yourself to other people in your lifetime, you don't need riches in your life. When you get to heaven that’s when you're rewarded for your work, and your honour is being in heaven, living from the riches you created for yourself in this life.

It felt as though this was a farewell message from my father, his way of communicating with me and telling me that they are both resting peacefully in heaven looking down on me.

As morning approached, we headed home to prepare for the funeral. We were both braced for a rollercoaster of emotions.

My parents had wanted a simple send off and that meant two simple white wreaths, mother and father, and nothing else. Simplicity, remember. I found that very difficult to adhere to, but I just had to respect their wishes.

It was a warm and sunny day. In fact, it was the warmest day in weeks. The turnout for the funeral was amazing. There were over a hundred mourners present, whereas I guess I was expecting maybe a handful.

Aunt Daiyu and I were both dressed in black. We too kept things simple, whilst acting as a pillar of strength for each other.

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