R.I.P. Ba Ba

My great aunt passed away last night.
She took her last breath where no familiar face could smile goodbye and now I pray those who looked after her overseas will respectfully bury her in the soil of our homeland.

Ba ba was a pure-hearted woman. I met her when I was still in elementary school and she stayed with us for a brief while. Ba ba had dementia of an unknown type, long black and silver hair which she always wore in a neat bun, and a pocket full of combs which she treasured dearly. I remember sharing a tub of vanilla ice cream with my great aunt, I remember how happily she enjoyed the refreshing dessert; those were the rare moments you'd find her smiling. Other times, she was quiet, sad, and afraid. Memory is such a valuable thing, and we failed to compensate for the things she couldn't recall or grasp for even a short while.

In just that short time she was in my life, Ba ba touched me deeply with her humble kindness. Never married and instead caring for her sister's ten children, my great aunt sacrificed her whole life only to be casted off to Vietnam to be taken care of by people the family barely knew because no one would recompense even a bit of what Ba ba has given to us.

Ba ba was an angel. I'm sorry that we failed to do much for you, great auntie.

God bless Ba ba's soul; may she dwell in eternal joy and happiness as she so deserves.

One love,