RIP: Mrs. Lim ("Lan Shen" or "Lan Lau She")

Besides losing my father, to those who are unaware, we have also lost a beloved Khoon Aik school female teacher that I used to call "Ah Bird Auntie" (during my pre-school years) or "Lan Shen" (when I started schooling). Most of you should be calling her "Lan Lau She".

In case you can't recall her, she was a cheerful teacher. She is a bit chubby but I don't consider her overweight (just my personal opinion). She wore spectacles. Her husband was a Khoon Aik school teacher too - he's Mr. Lim. He passed way in the 80s I believe. She lived in Lorong 3 corner house in Taman Perlis. I have no idea what subjects she specialised in but she taught me science in Standard 3 I think. I still remember enjoying her class because she had never scolded/punished anyone and always loved to tell us stories including some ghost stories.

Here's my personal relationship with her:

When I was a little boy, I loved to go over her house which was next to my house in Kampung Bakau (near SMP). I remember she and her husband pampered me so much. Whenever, I was crying, she would sometimes brought me over to her house and gave me jelly, kuih or ice cream to calm me down. When the area was flooded, his son that I called "Ah Bird Ko Ko" (mispronunciation of Albert) would often catch fishes for me. Even after moving to Taman Perlis, I remember staying a few times with Mr. & Mrs. Lim when my parents were in Penang. I still remember that she took me for a movie at Capitol cinema during one of my stays. I would say that I was very close to her when I was a kid.

The last time I talked to her was when my mom passed away. She apologised for unable to drop by for the funeral because she was not feeling well. I didn't realised that the phone call was our final conversation too (just like my phone call to my mom the day before she passed away). I was shocked to hear that "Lan Shen" passed away when I tried to reach her when my dad passed away. During our last conversation, she still offered me to drop by at her house to stay overnight like when I was a little boy.

I still remember very well that she used to nicknamed my dad as "Lau Hero". I can't believe that they're all gone now and I still feel like a little boy.

I hope she rests in peace just like my parents.