Though you have left us and joined Him, it felt as if it was only yesterday that I’ve last seen and spoken to you.

Dear Babuk:

1. You were the closest to me. It is still fresh in my memory that we used to go fishing.
2. Then, when the bananas in front of the house at the edge of our border with Peros’ land ripened, we’d gather some sticks spun with meran sap and we’d latch them around the bunch. We’d then sit in front of the house watching the small birds glued to our sappy trap.
3. I was always fascinated with your folklores especially your adventure stories.
4. I remembered you made me bamboo gun and then I played around the house with rounded wet newspapers as the bullet.
5. When I’m allergic to food and my body swell and itched, you’d gather some weird black roots from the nearby woods. You turned it into a magic portion and rub it on my body. An hour later, the itch and the swelling subsided.
6. You’d take me to Ah Kok’s groceries and we had our favourite red bean bun and red bean ice cream. Nowadays, I’d buy Wall’s red bean aiskrim potong for old time sake but it can’t beat Ah Kok’s authentic aiskrim kacang.
7. During school recess, you’d sit by your bedroom window waiting for Hennie and I to come over for lunch. After lunch, you’d give RM1 or 50 sens for me to buy candies at Gina’s shop.
8. I remembered taking bus from Kuching to Serian at every end of the month carrying installment money for the fridge and tv. After seeing the Chinese towkay, I’d take no. 3 bus to kampung to wait for dad to pick me up in the evening. You and Tayang would sit outside the house waiting for me. I was 11 then but dad already trained me to be independant.

Dear Tayang:

1. I missed your tempoyak (fermented durian) sardin very much!
2. When my nose bled, you’d pick some piper betel leaves, scorch it and poked it into my nose to stop the bleeding.
3. Your nightly routine was to heat a claypot of traditional oil, mixed with jungle herbs. The aroma filled the house and it was so therapeutic. Modern medicines boast about aroma therapy treatment when you’d been doing it for ages. Your magical claypot works wonders on sore muscles, aching bones, pregnant mothers, confinement mothers etc. Western doctors have yet to discover your magic portion!

Dear Babai:

1. I reminisced spending nights of nyetu dien (durian watch) with you.
2. Every time I’m back for holidays, you’d ask me to take duck from your backyard back to BDC because you know that’s my favourite meat.
3. I will never forget how you gathered your strength to be present at the reception of my engagement with Carol although you were already seriously ill.
4. I felt it was only yesterday I saw you. Occasionally I still forget that you’re no longer with us.

Dear Simuk:

1. Whenever I came to visit you’re always delighted and excited. I still can’t find any kopitiam here in KL that can match your hot kopi O and warm milo.
2. Your favourite movie was P. Ramlee’s Masam-masam Manis.
3. You fought strongly and persistently through your illness.
4. You don’t like to see the house in a mess. I guess now I know that I must have inherited this habit from you.
5. You liked to tease Atern when he’s naughty. Your trademark crab-pinch with your toes always did the trick.

Dear Uncle David:

1. As a little boy, I was always excited when you came to visit us in your kapchai (mopad) because I knew that you’d bring me new pencil box or new colour pencil or new magic pen.
2. I guess I was too little then to understand that you’re encouraging me to study hard.
3. I’m sorry you passed at a very young age. I didn’t have a chance to buy you beer now that I’m having a good job and making 5-figures to pay you back for the pencil box.
4. Whenever you to come visit me, you’d give me advise to live a good life and to enjoy it. Your words are still clear even until today.

Dear Auntie Dena:

1. You’re the undisputed best cook in the family. If you’re still around today, I’d love to learn some great recipes from you.
2. Remember when I was 10 and we just moved to BDC? I went missing and mom was panicked? I walked from BDC to your house at 7^th mile and I still remember how your faced was glowing with relief when you found me at your doorstep. You immediately called mom to tell her that I was safe in my little adventure. I was not running from home. We just moved to Kuching, and as a kampung boy who used to wander the village, I became bored and wrestless so I thought, why not pay you a visit.

Dear Amang Sana:

1. You were a very kind hearted man. Dad looked up very highly at you.
2. I remembered whenever we are back in the kampung, you’d popped by in your Yamaha 100 sports to catch up with us especially dad. While you two were busy chatting, I’d learn to ride your motorcycle around the house compound.
3. Dad gave me a lost tape of you guys performing live. I’ve done some mixing and restoration. It’s now burnt in a CD. Dad plays it once in a while when he misses the good old days of De Lugas band.

Dear Amang Charles:

1. Whenever I popped by your house, you’d make sure that I must eat something before I leave. Such was your hospitality.
2. You never forget to leave me a word of wisdom whenever I paid you a visit even during the time you’re already bed-ridden.
3. You’re the boldest and the most outspoken in dad’s family. You were a natural born leader.

Dear Amang Dustin:

1. Dad always tell me that you were the genius in the family and he had always use you as an example so that we’d study hard.
2. I googled your name the other day. Guess what? Your research papers and writings can be found on the net. Some of the famous ones were:

Gadug, Saet. 1988. Omens, the Rayang Bidayuh version. Sarawak Gazette,114:1504, pp27-28.
Gadug, Wilfred S. 1980. Example of Bidayuh animism. Sarawak Gazette, 106:1467, pp88-89.

However today, all of you are no longer with us. You had accepted God’s calling. Nevertheless, all of you are forever remembered in our hearts and our memories. May your souls rest in peace. Happy All Souls Day! Amen.