Grandma, thank you

Grandma2024.05.26"I won't be able to eat Grandma's bitter tea oil noodles anymore."That was the first thought that popped into my head when I received the news.I stared at my overtime meal, which I'd only had a few bites of, and zoned out for a moment.On the way back, the red lights and traffic jams that usually made me agitated seemed to disappear, as if I had entered a flow state.By the time I arrived at the hospital to see Grandma, she was already in a critical condition.But the elders still chose to continue treatment, believing there was still a chance.The surgery seemed to be another two or three hours away.It was already past 10, and since it was a Monday and we had to work the next day, everyone went home to await good news.Unfortunately, I received the news of Grandma's passing in the middle of the night.It wasn't until I went downstairs and saw Grandma's body that I started to break down in tears.It was still a bit unbelievable how she could just be gone like that.It was different from the "long goodbye" with my dad.When I saw my dad's body, I had already accepted that it wasn't him.He had already left an image in my heart and mind.But Grandma was still there.It's just... I don't feel like this is the last image of Grandma.I still remember her sleeping on the living room sofa.She was still full of life at the Mother's Day dinner with everyone.It's still hard to accept that this is the last time I'll see Grandma.In my memory,Grandma was a very devout person and maintained various traditions.She never missed the拜拜 (bai bai - worship) on the first and fifteenth of the lunar month and various festivals, and she tirelessly prepared offerings.So, the family often had to communicate with Grandma for a long time about the拜拜.That scene was very interesting, a bit like when a child is being unreasonable, and the adults have to appease them, talk about other things to distract them, and make them concede a little on some trivial matters so that the worship can subtly conclude.But it was precisely Grandma's stubbornness and conservatism in this regard that made the flavour of many festivals much richer and fuller.We could always eat Grandma's various發粿 (fa guo - prosperity cake),甜粿 (tian guo - sweet cake),紅龜粿 (hong gui guo - red turtle cake), and蘿蔔糕 (luo bo gao - turnip cake) on various festivals.Sweet and savoury tangyuan (glutinous rice balls) were indispensable for Lantern Festival and Winter Solstice.When we were little, everyone would gather in the living room to roll tangyuan together.Grandma's zongzi (sticky rice dumplings) for Dragon Boat Festival were always so many that the family couldn't finish them, and we had to give them to neighbours and friends to digest Grandma's enthusiastic craftsmanship.Perhaps by our generation, we won't be making these foods ourselves, but we will not forget the core of "reunion" behind Grandma's craftsmanship.Thank you, Grandma and Grandpa, for building this big family.Although people of different generations occasionally have friction, I think everyone is still happy and content when they gather together.Although Grandma was such a devout person, her departure was so sudden.I don't think anyone could accept it at the time.We all thought that after treatment, we would probably see Grandma full of life again, visiting various places.Perhaps... leaving this way was a blessing for Grandma, sparing her a lot of physical and mental pain, and also freeing us from constantly worrying about you.Our big family might have lost a centre, but Grandma and Grandpa, the roots you laid are stable and strong enough.We won't lose our way because of this.As long as we have your image in our minds and remember you in our hearts, you will still be with us.We are all very lucky to be your daughters and sons, members of this family.Grandma, you can rest assured and go.We will take care of each other.Goodbye, Grandma.We will all meet again at the end of life's journey.Then I'll tell you the words I couldn't say at the time.I love you. We all love you and miss you very much. Goodbye, Grandma.Grandma, please bear with me for the parts where my Taiwanese is terrible.