Believe it or not

September 2001

When your father pleads with you to bring him to meet his long-missed brother in an overseas land, it takes a lot to say no. So some 10 years ago, my sister and I agreed to chaperon my father and mother to Canada to attend the wedding of the eldest son of my uncle; to be exact in Toronto. This uncle, known to us as ' sam suk' (third uncle) was an emigrant from China and landed in Canada on the ticket of my auntie's family ties there. An educationist in his homeland, he brought along his three children in their early teens who knew not a word of English to start a new life there. While sam suk's 2 other brothers sailed to the South Seas as apprentices in the gold business, he decided to go to Canada.
In a foreign land, he strove hard to survive. His good children did him proud though. They turned out to be professionals in accounting, computing and medicine. This humble uncle of mine toiled day and night; first in the dobby business in the daytime and later as a flea market operator in the evenings. He had many jobs except as an educationist. His qualifications were null and void in Canada. That did not deter him from finding his resources elsewhere. He is a good man and is still in Toronto today.
So at his invitation, the family of four including me flew; not to Toronto but to Orlando first to see my youngest brother who had already set up a home there. Florida, the sunshine state is a land of sun and fun. Name it; everything is there from Disney World to Universal World and Chinese gardens and all sorts. So, fun we had there until that ill-fated day.

11 September 2001

My sister in law shouted from upstairs : Is this for real ?

Yes we actually witnessed this life over the box. Was this for real? We stared at one another in disbelief? How could it happen in this era of civilization ? Next it was the Pentagon and the rest is history. "America Under Attack" with Larry King at the helm was the hottest ever topic discussed world wide. Very immediately, tourists were evacuated from popular spots and the malls were depleted of customers. It was a gloomy feeling and fear gripped America and us. How were we going to accomplish our mission? Will we be able to attend the wedding? What an untimely appointment.

The next few days saw us going in and out of Orlando Airport for seats to Canada. Passengers were all over the place and the queues were long. You wondered if you would ever get your turn. Everyone wanted to get out of America. By a stroke of good fortune, my sister's KRIS card from SIA did the trick. We were the last four passengers allowed for the flight to Canada! So it is indeed a privilege to be associated with privilege flying cards.

Though the flight was easy, we took it with much unease. It was difficult to stay cool after the havoc in the airline industry. But we were torn between the devil and the deep blue sea; we either ride the plane or we missed the wedding appointment and of course going back to school on my part. When Air Canada finally landed with her first cohort out of the land under attack, the captain and his crew received a standing ovation from us. We were safe and out of America!

What a day.

The Canadian airport security however did not receive us with wide, open arms. We went under strict scrutiny and when the scanner detected an unusual metal material in my father's arm, he was cordially called aside for further interrogation. Question after question until the authorities were finally convinced that it was a metal rod inserted for a broken arm. Phew!

When we did finally arrive at the wedding banquet , half an hour after leaving the airport, we were greeted with a standing ovation too. Oh the guests from the South Seas had escaped the ordeal and were with them now! Hurray. What an appointment.

Brother was happy to meet brother after being apart for the last 40 years. It was moving to see my father conversing with his brother for days as they recalled their childhood days and family matters and how they lost their parents in their homeland. That much my sister and I could do for them.

May the memory of September 11 be etched deeply in the hearts of many and prayers be many that this will never ever happen again. What a sad day; not meant to happen.