敬献给亲爱的妈妈的感恩致辞 My Tribute to My Dearest Mum

2023年8月6日发(作者：饶漱石)

顺德万家乐-

“ Ma” that was how My brother and I called our Mum, “Shimo” that was what my Ma called by her most favourite person apart from her own two children, her number one Son-in-Law Philip, “Mrs Chu” that was many people called my Ma here in the UK, but my Ma was simply called “Mama” “Xi Mama” “Chu Mama” “Mummy” “Mum” by people who loved her universally and remembered her fondly.

When my Ma was born almost 77 years ago in a beautiful costal city Qingdao in China, she was given away for adoption to her only Uncle who was childless, but her dad my granddad returned just a few hours later as he could not bear to let anyone even his own brother to bring up his child, and it turned out to be one of the best decisions he had ever made.

Because, not only he gave my Ma a happy childhood by growing up with her own loving parents, enabled her to build a lifelong incredibly close bond with her three siblings - her older sister, her younger brother and her late younger sister, but most importantly he also gifted my Dad a devoted and loyal wife, he gifted my brother and I a wonderful and extraordinary Ma, he gifted Philip and Eda an amazing and marvellous Mother-in-Law, he gifted countless people a selfless and lovable friend, most of all, he gifted this unique and remarkable lady to the world.

My Ma and Dad loved each other dearly and deeply, but they argued and fought over their two children’s upbringing throughout their marriage as my Dad could never understood why and why Ma was not part of a double act with him. Because my Dad was very strict, so Ma sacrificed her own relationship with Dad as she did her unpaid full-time job of being our Ma with a pure heart, unwavering support, complete devotion, and endless love. To be perfectly frank, we did not make her job any easier by rebelling against Dad. It did not matter what we threw at Ma, she showed all of us what it means to never give up, even in the face of the impossible. 

I remember when I was growing up, I used to stand next to Ma to measure my height against hers everyday it did not take too long and too much of effort for me to reach my target which was to be taller than her. But it has taken a lifetime for me to look up Ma’s giant figure as my superhero and my guiding light. I always thought that I was a Daddy’s girl and take after him, not until I started living with Ma about 16 years ago, I began to realise that Ma and I were very much alike, to name just a few: clever, stubborn, and resolute.

When my Ma fulfilled her duty to Dad by caring for and looking after him during his 20 long years illness in June 2006, we decided to take her together with us back to the UK as we all felt that was the best and the only right thing to do at that particular moment. A moment of when my Ma gained her third child, a second son Philip, a moment of when she afforded Philip a luxury to have two beautiful Mums, and a moment of when three of us became a very tight knit family unit.

We did everything together as three, from watch Strictly Coming Dance, support our beloved Chelsea, to go out for meals in posh restaurants, travel all over the UK and go on holidays at some stunning places around the world. My Ma used to wait at door when we came home from work, Philip would say your Mum is not a good jeeves whenever she missed opening door. How we rather have bad chives than no jeeves right now. Ma cooked two different meals every day, English for Philip and Chinese for me, Philip often put a fiver bet on what food my Ma cook for us on our way home. We were so blessed to have the gift of the past 16 unforgettable years with my Ma - not everyone has that. 

My Ma and Philip was like this