The real happily ever after.

Bee hives in Thailand

This year is a special year, I considered myself blessed and loved to be born in this family.
I'm hesitant to say this if it was a year ago, or even later in the first quarter of this year .

Selfie of my parents on plane.

My father bought two air tickets to Thailand in August, just for him and his wife. My mom really anticipated for Bali island, too bad she has to wait for the next trip. The three of us were truly happy for them. Truly. I'm glad that he has come to know how important my mom is to him in his older days. He learned to be patience with her, he learned to pamper her, he learned to be romantic, most importantly, he learned how to LOVE her.

Love barely exist in our family few years ago,back when I was 13. Little did you know, my mom has thought of divorce countless time. "I felt tired wiping his ass," her voice was hollow,"I felt weak, if it wasn't because of y'all, I would have leave him." It's hard for me to convince her not to, because I myself, has endless grudges and anger towards my father.

"Don't you love him?" I asked.

"Love? That's when you're young and impulsive," my mom answered, "after years of marriage, you just get used to be stuck with the same person."  We both just sat in silence later.

After a long time of coming home not feeling at home, our family eventually falls apart. We come back late, eat ,sleep, not talking to each other to avoid conflict, then leaves home early the next morning so that we don't have to endure yelling. I occasionally raised voice with my dad, he threaten to hit me but  his hand would stop in the mid air. Shit never gets better the next year, the next year, and the next year. It gets worst. We continuously treat each other like some infectious bacteria. I too, from the girl who sniffles and sobs loudly in the corner, turned into a young adult that doesn't give a shit. Eventually, I became handy of taking care of our parents bad EQ. I came to a point that they're just normal people with flaws, as a mature human being, I will not argue with them. I will find my own light myself, and leave this shitty household.

Then, in another day of avoiding each other, my mom went into coma. I will never forget that night. I was only 16+. Panic. Fear. Despair. Helpless. My mom just yawned and stare into us blankly whenever we try to talk to her. I cried like a baby, I realized I have so much to tell her. I owed her so much. (I thought she got Alzheimer's luckily she's not.) We informed our dad who's out station, I'm sure he was in a pretty big emotional shock, he sent us back a text message: "The Guan Yin will protect her, for she has been a great mother and great wife for more than 30 years. Don't worry kids, (I forgot most of the text)

tell her I love her."

Collection of my dad's valentine card, birthday card to my mom decades ago.

Me and my sisters looked into each other when we saw the messages. Then we laughed dryly because of the awkwardness. How long has it been since he said he loved her?

My mom wear sunglasses all the time because her eyes is uncomfortable to sunlight.

My mom wasn't in a stable condition, the second time she felt ill, my dad carried her in his arms and rushed to the car.(My mom was embarrassed that time hahaha) Then he make sure she eats the nutritions that he prepared for her, he sleeps in the living room so that his snores will not bother her, he remembers all her medical appointment and fetch her to hospitals. He will side her no matter what unlike his past years, which makes us daughters very uneasy because sometimes it was obviously his wife's fault. He hold her hands when they walk on streets, he would look out the road for her, and block all the sharp ends of low roof top for her.

"If this is not love, then what else?" 

the happily ever after, never came without a price. The happily ever after is possible, but we need to overcome walls to find them. The happily ever after, was simply, appreciate someone's presence in your life. Turn around and look back, and start to feel grateful.

My dad asked my mom to hop up the scooter for a ride in Thailand, just like old times

My dad is still arrogant, loud and sometimes obnoxious. He boasted that my mom go after him first (Mom:" Yeah, whatever."), and he's never stingy to praise his wife now. Through the silly giggles of my mom, I see a man that love and tolerate, and recognize the significance of  his wife.

So proud to be the witness of true love! 
By the way, happy birthday dad! Treasure your present that you've hold dear for decades!

 

My dad gave this birthday card to my mom the year when my eldest sister Emily was born.
Yes, it's a card with moving pictures. :)

I'm trying to dig their love story when they are still in courtship, there's a lot to be told!
(Mom:" We're just friends!" Me:"..... don't shy shy la.")