I woke up that morning with hubby’s phone call (he went out
early to get water basins cos of water rationing) frantically telling me she was indeed on that
flight. We heaved a sigh of relief when
we heard about the emergency landing in Nanjing. But that was untrue and it
turned out to be the beginning of hours, then days, then weeks of the whole
saga – and feelings of pain, hope, despair, anger, bewilderment, hope against
hope, disbelief, over and over again. We followed the event very closely, glued
to our tablets to get the latest information.
Not only was she the wife of hubby’s friend, she was also
the mummy of Elyssa’s best friend. Both
girls hit it off since they started kindy at 4yo and have remained best of
friends till now. The girls also meet outside school cos in the past year, our
families (together with others), have
celebrated housewarming, Christmas, birthday and bbq parties at each other’s
homes. Plus the neighbourhood and school
events that we attend together.
I cried and cried thinking of the little girl and her elder
brother. Far too young to be deprived of
their mummy’s love L
I cried when Elyssa came home with nicely tied hair few
weeks after that incident. Why? Cos
there was no mummy to tie her best friend’s hair. (their teacher tied for the little girl. Then tied hair for some of the others so that
she didn’t feel singled out)
I can’t help looking at the playground near my house without
thinking that not too long ago, Elyssa and Erin played happily with Elyssa’s
best friend and her brother, while hubby and I chatted with their mummy. We
talked about badminton rackets, bicycles and don’t know what
else. It was just an ordinary event on an ordinary day.
Or so we thought. I never imagined that it would be our last
conversation together. And that it would be the last time I see the 2 kids at the
playground with their mummy.
5 months on, I still think about MH370 often. Sometimes a little guilty that my life goes on as normal but for families of those on board, their lives will never ever be the same again.
The one thing that I keep telling myself these days is
“don’t sweat the small stuff”. Cos
often, the things I complain and rant and get myself worked up are really
nothing at all, when considered in the bigger scheme of things.
May those who perished in MH370 and MH17 rest in peace. And may their families have the strength and faith to carry on with their lives.
