QING MING DAY

"Mummy, I want to go picnic today."I am sorry My dear, Today is QIng Ming Festival."

I look at Abi and tyding up the food for prayer on the table."What is Qing Ming?" She ask.

"A Chinese Traditional Festival, darling. Just like Chinese New Year, we celebrate with our family together, Lantern Festivel, we eat moon cake, Dragon Boat Festival, we eat Rice Dumpling... Qing Ming..."

I paused for few sec. Looking at her big round eye, my little 5 year-old is drooling."Well, Qing Ming, is when we pray to Lao-Kong, Lao-Ma, Lao-Ji-Peck (GG-Fathre,GG-Monther and GG-2nd Uncle) who had pass awayand our family ancestor." I said.

"But I want to go picnic. Pa Pa Promised" She is unhappy.

"Yes, But we will have BBQ duck later. See!" Trying to convince her about the importance of this Qing Ming Festival.
 "Father is quite today." I settle Abi and I saw my Father-In-Law sitting there, starring outside."Yes, he is always like that during this day." My Mother-In-Law said. She never look up but continue to prepare more food for prayers.
 "Mummy, is this suppose to be a family day?" Little Abi ask. She must be thinking about theBig-fat-BBQ Duck.
 "Yes, My dear." But, I think no one will turn up.
 Ric had called earlier to tell mum that he is not coming back.Sounded alittle moody over the phone.
 Indeed, since I married Steve, I can felt that he is rather reluctant to return home to see his own parent and family.
 Later he told me, he just too ashame to let me know how he was being brought up.
 I thought, this is just an ordinary average family in Singapore. Nothing to be asshamed of.Indeed, is an avarage family.
 I had stayed with father and mother-in-Law for almost 3 years.I am not disappoinment with the background, but disappointed with the treatment theyused againts their siblings.
 One fine day, Steve show me a SMS when he was having some arguement with the sister. Ridiculousely yet childish enough, by SMS.Well, the content is not much of shocking, or can I say as expected."You can ask your Pseodo-Wellbreed wife to explain to you what is call speak within context"
 Thanks to her word. Everyone knows if this a good breed.Steve got really workout after the incident.
 But I hardly hear kind words exchange between them.I told Steve,"no matter what happen, she is your sister, we are a family. You may fight and argue and thrown bad words on each other including personal attach". But,"Enough is enough." I said to him.
 As a Mother of 2, I felt how my M-I-L felt. If this were to happen between my children,I would be rather upset too.
 The only time when our family stick really closed together during the period she was diagnosewith very serious illinesses which required organ transplant from the closest kin.
 I see Kinship among the sibling during that time. But seems that this does not last.
 I just miss those days when whole family went out for gathering.Is not about good food or bad food, is about family.
 Kinship, is not money can buy. HOld it when is still within reach.