Lee Kuan Yew: The last farewell to my wife
I teared reading his words written from the depths of his aching heart. These are excerpts from his eulogy:
"As a young man with an interrupted education at Raffles College, and no steady job or profession, her parents did not look upon me as a desirable son-in-law. But she had faith in me"
( Money doesn't buy you a good husband or father; nor does a good faithful , supportive husband or father is determined by a man's wealth )
"We have kept each other company ever since. We married privately in December 1947 at Stratford-upon-Avon. At Cambridge, we both put in our best efforts. She took a first in two years in Law Tripos II. I took a double first, and a starred first for the finals, but in three years."
( It's amazing that these two great minds married, can't imagine the meaningful , intelligent and life changing conversations they had! )
"We knew that we could not stay starry-eyed lovers all our lives; that life was an on-going challenge with new problems to resolve and manage."
( The old fashion commitment that is getting extinct in our current age. )
"We never argued over the upbringing of our children, nor over financial matters. Our earnings and assets were jointly held. We were each other’s confidant."
"She had simple pleasures. We would walk around the Istana gardens in the evening, and I would hit golf balls to relax. Later, when we had grandchildren, she would take them to feed the fish and the swans in the Istana ponds. Then we would swim."
( He then proceed to share her activities during her leisure time. He became the story teller of her life.)
"She listened to her collection of CDs, mostly classical, plus some golden oldies. She jocularly divided her life into “before stroke” and “after stroke”, like BC and AD."
( Amazing lady who embraces the fact that life has to go on, no matter how hard you fall. )
" Her last wish she shared with me was to enjoin our children to have our ashes placed together, as we were in life." ( At the end of your days, family is what matters most )
"I have precious memories of our 63 years together. Without her, I would be a different man, with a different life. " ( When we're sitting on our rocking chairs, memories will be our best companion )
"She has lived a life full of warmth and meaning." ( Warmth: The love she graciously shared with people around her, through kind words and gestures; Meaning: Living a life that leaves a positive imprint in another person's life. May i add, kind hearts are quietly kind :)
I should find solace in her 89 years of a life well lived. But at this moment of the final parting, my heart is heavy with sorrow and grief. ( Such simple words to string this emotional sentence that carries with it, the weight of his heart.)
.JPG)
