I don't know how many people have experienced extreme poverty in Singapore... but there are SOME who eke out a living by collecting cardboard and selling them, or drink cans. I'm not going to talk about them today, but more of my father. Also a Father's Day tribute to my daddy for being the best.
My dad grew up in a poor family, with 3 older brothers and 4 older sisters. Being the youngest, he was doted on. But his family lived in poverty, and they lived off scraps of food. He told me that there was this supermarket that he lived by, and that the supermarket threw out fruits that were rotten (even a little bit rotten on the side) into baskets behind, and that he and his siblings would go there and pick up the fruits, bring them home and wash them clean before cutting off the rotten parts and eating them.
But they were happy. And honestly, that surprises me a lot because nowadays people get really unhappy when they don't have money. I'm no exception, I'm really sad when I run out of $$$ in my wallet/ bank. My dad also grew up being a hippie. Hippie, not hipster. He had long hair and tattoos but never did drugs. His friends did though, and I remember when he told me he got caught alongside his friend 'cause his long hair made him look suspicious. I couldn't stop laughing afterwards.
My grandma doted on him a LOT and always gave him money even though they were poor. He told me that before he went off to the army, my grandma gave him some money to get his hair cut. He still had long hair then, but he returned the money to my grandma without using it 'cause he didn't want to get his hair snipped off. Eventually he went to the army and *snip snip* it was gone. He lamented to me about how he should've spent the money anyway, but he was a good son.
He told me about how swims at Tanjong Pagar's old swimming pool costed only 10 cents, and renting the swimming trunks cost only 5 cents. Right now he's telling me it's not the Speedo undies (the triangle ones) but the shorts. So cute right? He also told me about how he ate in primary school; he would buy a bowl of noodles, then finish it and go back to the auntie for an entire bowl of soup for only 5 cents. If with char siew, 10 cents.
But times are different now, and he saw it all. He saw the inflation, the independence of Singapore... me, the 1997 haze, then y2k and the 2008 financial crisis... and then here we are. And that's made him into a man that's weathered the worst. His skin is dark from working for forty over years in the sun and the lorry, and his hair is thinning a little now. But when he smiles there's that sparkle in his eyes and I love seeing him flash his smile at me, because he's the best man in the world to me. My #1 man for the rest of my life.
He's my provider and somewhat my best friend. I always confide in him and I like calling him and listening to his voice. He nags but I take his nagging without any complaints because it's not the sort that scolds you, but more of a loving chide. He also always disturbs me when I call him/ when he calls me. It's our father-daughter thing. I've always been closer to my dad than my mum - I'm a true daddy's girl.
And I'd like to take this chance to say thank you to my dad for taking such good care of me and teaching me so many life lessons that I won't forget for the days to come. You've told me a lot of stories and passed on the lessons YOU'VE learnt as a teenager to me, so I wouldn't end up doing the same thing.
You're the best, daddy. I love you.
