Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.

-William Shakespeare/Macbeth 1606

My uncle Andrew passed away unexpectedly yesterday morning. The previous day, he was enjoying a quiet evening with his wife and another aunt of mine. All he complained about was feeling a little uneasy.

The next morning, he went out for his morning walk and when he got home, he told my aunt that he wanted to have a little nap. Suddenly he called out for her from his bed and when she reached him, he was gone.

I can't even begin to imagine the shock and anguish she must have felt at that moment when she realised he had passed on. She was all alone in the house staring at the body of her husband.

He loved life but never really got to enjoy most of it. Horses were such a passion of his, never missing the Ipoh races. And I was really looking forward to introducing Prince Charming to him as they would have had lots to talk about. But it was not meant to be.

He wasn't blessed to walk his daughters down the aisle nor see any of his beloved nieces & nephews start their own lives.

Life handed him a lot of challenges that for most times left him a very misunderstood person but despite everything, there is one defining characteristic of him that all of us cousins can never deny, he was very loving towards us and often wanted to pamper us in some way or another.

It is sad that it takes such grief for the family to come together again. Hopefully that by his death, we are reminded of the love we have for each other and learn to put past hurt and grievances where they belong; in the past.

Nearly 17 years ago, it was expected that my mom would have been the first widow amongst her sisters. But thankfully, my father cheated death and is still with us today. At times like this, I look at him and my heart swells with happiness that we have the relationship that we do now.

I have no regrets and that's the way life should be for its too short for what could have beens & what should have beens.

Rest in peace Uncle Andrew. You are finally free from the shackles of this life and can now soar into a new existence with lightness in your soul.