25-6-26

Depending on our dispositions, a durian evokes extreme reactions of dislike or delight.

My dad used to pick wild durians from the jungle to sell or bring home.

We kids would huddle around him on the kitchen floor as he admired the fruit of his labour before splitting it open for us.

A durian tastes best when shared.

And as far as I know, when in season, the durian is the only fruit that commands its own set of tables & chairs for its consumers.

Last night after nearly 20 years, I had my first alfresco durian in Singapore with two important men of my childhood, my brother & my uncle.

My brother was my first sibling and first childhood companion. He was my first chinese chess opponent and my first pupil when we played classroom.

My uncle was the first person who got me to copy out the full lyrics of “Massachusetts” by Bee Gees when I was in primary 3. That exposure to English words may have sparked my interest in writing & developed spelling accuracy almost unconsciously.

As uncle, nephew & niece chatted over the sweet delight under the moon, the trusted durian seller discreetly served another fruit to bring the celebratory evening to a sweet ending. 🙏

5-4-26

Today on Easter Sunday & Qing Ming morning, a single desert rose bloomed in my home.

Easter Sunday celebrates the resurrection of Christ. Qing Ming Day marks the period of ancestor veneration.

10 days ago, my first younger brother sent me pictures of the desert roses he’s been cultivating.

“This new flower I grafted on papa old tree,” he texted.

Like my dad, he’s also a man of few words. The joy of his flowers thriving on our late dad’s tree must have given him the impetus to say something.

Growing up we spoke little. We learnt that words can be repeated, misinterpreted & even weaponised. Better to speak less, and do more.

Over the years we’ve learnt that the windows to communication can come in the form of sharing food, looking at flowers & admiring religious artefacts.

My brother brings me food now & then when he comes across tasty fares, gets me jasmine garlands for full/ new moon & shows me details in religious figurines.

And eventhough our dad is not with us now, and we have hardly any memory of conversations with him, we’ve come to associate the Desert Rose with him.

Perhaps for some of us, due to circumstances or our personality, words fail us. And in that void of silence, benevolent actions bloom. 🙏

9 March 2026

We were in our 20s when we met. But we’ve always lived on opposite ends of the island. We meet at most twice a year. Some years we don’t meet at all.

But when we do meet, we relax into the comforting presence of people who have known us and accepted us for a long time.

And today after so many years, we discovered our shared delight in coconut candy squares!

In that moment we were children again – pure simplicity & delight in a square of compressed coconut flakes held together by condensed milk.

And for a few minutes, we dropped our adulting amour as we held Sweetness close to our heart. 🙏