Since young, I have been to this restaurant and I grew up and gets old with this restaurant. The restaurant was the favourite place for my late Father in Law to host his lunches and dinners with his family members. In fact, for a certain period when the restaurant was at their Burmah road location, it was a weekly lunch avenue for my in-laws. His favourite dish was the fish steamboat and with certain side dishes like the fried intestines, the spring rolls,etc. The food was delicious and we grew to love it and when there is a chance for lunch or dinner, we will also favour to host the occasion there.
We grew to know the Captains and later on, the Captains became the bosses and they split up to into several restaurants around town. The restaurant in Maple Gold belongs to one of the former Captain or boss of Starview Restaurant. It had a long, long story in Penang and it was on the lips of almost very locals ranking it as one of the best restaurant in Penang and we also recommend it to the foreigners especially the Japanese and they also grew to love it.
This afternoon lunch at the restaurant was by the invitation of my wife and she has been mentioning to me to have a lunch there some time ago. It was postponed a few times and the occasion was to invite my third sister in law, G and my two brother in law for lunch. We have not met for some time now since the death of my brother in law ( husband of G)since November last year. G, appears to age a lot and look confused and lost after the death of her husband. There seems to be a lot of things going through her mind and she said that she cannot sleep for certain nights in the week. I told her it was a period of depression as the death of James was a dramatic incident which shows the fragility of life. It can be very frightening and scary.
I told her that yesterday, I watch the Iron Lady with my wife and it was so painful when we gets old especially the past memories coming back to haunt us and our partner which have gone before us will constantly come back to live with us and talk to us in an illusion. We cannot let go of the fond memories as well and it will live in our memory until we choose to toss them out and live a fresh live and move on. It is a difficult thing to do as it was very comfortable to live in fond memories which we feel happy. We lost touch with the real world and indulge in an illusionary living. It is a choice we have to make and either it is wrong to stay in this mood.
It is very difficult to understand G or try to understand her as all of us have so many secrets which we keep close to our heart. We can guess what is troubling her or why she became withdrawn but I think she is struggling within herself to touch base with reality and how to move on to secure and firm environment. Perhaps, religion is one way which she can sort but knowing her life style and belief, it would be futile suggestion to her. She has to find the contentment and happiness herself.
It is easy to give advise but ourself is unsure at certain times and we have our moment of doubts and insecurity. We doubt the existence of GOD or our Creator and without knowing the beginning, it is impossible to know the end. Everything is speculative and make belief. What we really have is the present moment and that is one thing we are sure. We cannot even be sure of the next moment. Nothing is guaranteed and I think G is having this insecure feeling right now and that is what is bothering her.
What we can do is to wish her happiness and also find a way to bring back the security of life in her.
Namaste.
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