Passing of A Legend

Just got word that the eldest son of the Chee clan, Joe Chee, my uncle has passed on.

The first generation of the Chee to be born and bred in Malaysia, he was a reporter in the little town of Kulim, Kedah. Being a reporter in a little town accords you with a celebrity status of sorts as he would look to the Kulimnians for information on the latest scoop and they would look to him for the latest, not in print yet news.

With me being unable to speak Hakka/Hokkien/Cantonese, he was the one of the uncle's i could converse with whenever I balik kampung. Younger, I had rarely interacted with this big uncle as there was obviously nothing in common for us to chat about.

Having said that, I remember looking through some black and white pics of the roaring 50s and 60s (every Chinese family has stacks of these old photographs...some framed in grey photo frames, some tucked away in a polished wooden cupboard or antique drawers..its always the case.

FUIYO....you should see these old, overweight aunties and uncles 50 years ago!

There they were...looking svelte, young and HOT! My mother has 8 brothers and sisters in total and in "those" days...meaning in "their" days, they were happening! Mini skirts, drain pipe pants, sideburns and of course...the side way posing that was popular those days.hehe.

Uncle Joe has one photo that sticks out in my mind that defines the young man in his prime in the 60s....Black sunglasses, Elvis styles hairdo, cigarette in one hand and riding his Vespa..the "it" bike amongst the youth in small towns those days.

Epitome of a cool , confident and cocky Chinese cat on the prowl.

My English speaking cousin and I called him Legend to commemorate his drinking skills. Here was one Chinaman who would drink everyone and i mean everyone at any Chinese wedding dinner or functions.As we grew old enough to drink, this ole school warrior inducted us into the world of drinks and merry making whenever the chance arose. A quiet, gruff man usually, when the party and drinking started, the devillish and ultra cool cat would emerge and everyone fell under his charm.

But, as with every legendary figures througout time immemorial, Death is the ultimate victor and it is to this inevitable force that he succumbed to on the 28th May 2009. Would like to think that he is at this very moment challenging Death itself to a sobriety contest.

So here's to you Joseph Chee. Will miss your presence dearly. Next drink will be a toast to your life amongst us.RIP.