The lady beside me is my beloved “Samku” or third aunt, Madam Yip, 86. She is my dad’s youngest sister.
In her younger days, she had a dream but she could not pursue it.
A trip back to Ipoh will never be completed without a visit to Samku. We still keep in touch with each other.
On a recent visit, she shared this dream with my family.
By the way, we will drop by to see her again this coming school holidays when we go back to Ipoh.
Watch the you-tube below to find out what was her dream and why it remained unfulfilled. You will be amazed by her spirit and passion……..
Dear ipohgal: Your Samku’s singing brought tears in my eyes as I remembered those songs she sang were also the ones my mother knew. She would be 92 if she was alive today. I would like to know the names of the last two songs she sang. I wish Samku a long, healthy and prosperous life, You have not only master the art of blog writing but also effectively use the electronic video to reach the hearts and minds of your readers/viewers. Keep it up. Many Thanks.
Hi IpohBornKid,
Me too, I was also sad as my own mom used to sing these songs frequently and dad would hummed along whenever he was in a cheery mood.
The names of the two last songs she sang were “The crazy world” and “Shanghai at night.”
Thank you for your wishes, on behalf of my aunt. She was a very healthy and spirited person, a delight to be with.
I am glad my writings, photos and videos could reach the hearts and minds of my readers. Thank you all, for your support. 🙂
Amazing. For her age she still can remember all the lyrics of all the songs. Besides she has the energy to sing so many songs all at once.
I have a grand auntie too. She is now 99 going to 100. She could remember not only the past but the present too. Weak and fragile in the body but strong in the brain. She is the lucky few that her children love and take care of her in her own house.
It always touches my heart when I am aware that the young respects and remember the elders. It is a rare feelings nowadays. There are so many people that discard their old ones when they had over lived their usefulness this present time. When I visited the old folks homes, it always grieves me to see so many old folks that languish in the homes. They were sadness and despair in their eyes looking for their loved ones to drop by or to take them home.
Sometimes I ponder why our parents can take so good care of a brood of us, when we grew, not one of us can return the same to our parents. There were so many sad incidents that the grown children throwing their parents to one another. Some were put in the old folks homes of different types according to their affordability. Some are thrown out into the street like discarded worn out machines.
When you visit them and talk to them, they are so happy. They have many tales of old to entertain you. One thing I observe, they never complain about their children putting them in the homes. Parents are always for their children no matter what and how they treated them.
Whenever I talk with them, I could sense one thing, how they wish they were at home for the remainder time of their lives. They will depart happily with their children and grand children around them. Unfortunately, there are so many excuses. The children have no time, have to earn living, busy with their own children and the lists go on………….
Just one question in my mind, are our parents such a baggage that we cannot keep them in our own house and let them feel wanted until they depart peacefully to glory land. What we need is more effort and sacrifices on our part to take care of their frail bodies. Are we a shame of our aged parents in front of our friends? Do we really love them as they had loved us when we were young? They did not complain, lost patience with us when we dirtied ourselves, make a nuisance of ourselves.
One redeeming grace, I have come to know, some loving people take it upon themselves to pick up the discarded elderly in the streets. They give them a home. They clean them, feed them and take good care of them. I could see the smile in their faces. In their expressions they let me know, they have a big loving families and a place call home.
Let’s hope and pray that many more people will take care of their aged parents with tender loving care.
Hi Katherine,
Thank you so much for your profound thoughts and comments.
Yes, just like my dad, third aunt also has amazing memories, a powerful voice and above all, youthful looks! They are so much like each other that I sees my dad in her 🙂
You’re right. Some people sees the old as “fook” for the family while others sees them as burdens. It all boils down to conscience or rather the lack of it.
It is like throwing a boomerang. What goes out comes back. Just remember this – how we treat our parents now will be how our children treat us later on when we grow old some day. 🙂
I commend you for doing the right thing. We sometimes forget what it means to be a family. Much has been written about the changing lifestyle in conjunction with a higher standard of living.
I am grasping this issue of growing old in the US. Of our 3 adult children, my daughter has continually stated that Sue and I will live with her and family when independent living is no longer possible.
She is expecting our first grandchild, and Sue and I will alternate out time to help her as she lives 800 miles away.
So is there a change of values fast approaching with the present generation and also with the late baby boomers? I suspect most of us that are blogging on this site are about my age.
I gather there were four million of us who left Malaysia since 69. I personally adhered to working very hard for ensuring the survival of my immediate family for many years. I still am working at 61, but have learnt to adjust and be flexible to any family issue. Money is necessary but family matters cannot be brushed off with lame excuses.
Hi Alan,
Thank you, I am just doing something I like to do. I think good values like being close to our family members and taking care of our elders could still be practiced no matter where we live – east or west- it is how we cherish our loved ones that really matters. 🙂
I remember these songs. Your sam ku has a beautiful voice. Do you still have many relatives in Ipoh? I am going back this weekend and so looking forward to it.
Hi Barb,
Yes, my third aunt has a sharp and powerful voice despite her age. And yes, I still have many relatives in Ipoh – my own siblings and their children as well as those from dad’s and mom’s sides. This is the reason why I have to go back to Ipoh occasionally for visits 🙂 Have a happy Mid-Autumn Festival this weekend with your loved ones!
She have a beautiful voice. Your blog carry a lot of love and family values in it. Happy mid autumn Ipoh gal!
Hi Andrew,
Agreed. I think she was the greatest Chinese female singer of all time.
And a Happy Belated Mid Autumn Festival to you and your loved ones too! 🙂
Googled this, 夜上海
The Crazy World
Lastly, Google 周璇
to locate more songs by this famous singer in the 40s
http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%91%A8%E7%92%87
Hi 16Leech Street,
Thank you for your links. I have the impression that Zhou Xuan’s songs are still alive and well, thanks to the electronic media. 🙂
There is a oral history archive In National University of Singapore (NUS).
They keep all the interviews with those old timer successful businessmen, who do not write and only speak in their own dialect. Their experience are worth keeping and passing down to future generations.
In the same way, you should have more interviews with your Samku and record all of them as family archives.
Hi 16LeechStreet,
Yes, I am going to do that soon on my next visit. Samku has been through the Japanese Occupation and she has much to share about those horrifying days of almost getting raped by the Japanese soldiers.