Dear Uncle Alan

Dear Uncle Alan,

I really can’t believe it’s been 10 years since we lost your shining presence on this earth. It’s been 10 years since I haven’t felt the warmest bear hug from you, seen your huge smile, heard your laughter or voice echo throughout the school every Friday afternoon for assembly. You were the last person I’d think we’d lose at that time... But that’s what life does. It throws the most unexpected at you, takes what you thought couldn’t be taken and makes you treasure, learn and grow from what it did give you. 

I remember this day so clearly, the confusion, sadness, guilt I felt swallowing up my heart when we got to the hospital too late and stood in the hallways trying to comprehend what happened. I remember the top I was wearing and have kept it since because it just so happened to be pink, your favourite color. I remember crying in front of the whole school while giving a dedication speech at your memorial service. Time does heal wounds and I don’t think about this pain much anymore. However, when I sat down to write this to you and think back to what life was like when you were in it, tears immediately came rushing back out.

Despite how sad I felt on that day, the positive memories will always outweigh the grief. The high standard you held for people to treat each other with kindness and respect, the enthusiasm and joy you exuded every single day, the dedication of standing by the entrance waving good bye everyday rain or shine, the thoughtfulness of remembering everyone’s name (literally everyone), the strong passion for educating the next generation, and the love for life, are the traits that I’m so grateful to have witnessed living in someone. You managed to make every single person you talked to feel special. Without a doubt, you’re the person I strive to be like one day. Just a 1/4 of you would be an accomplishment. 

There are so many things I wish I could talk to you about, things I couldn’t have said or thought of when I was 13. I’ve grown up so much since then, but I do still smile and laugh just as much! I wish I could tell you about the path I’ve chosen to take with my life and we could talk so much about how to improve children’s education. I wish I could tell you about everything I’ve learned and seen since leaving the Hong Kong bubble. I wish you could see how much the CDNIS has changed (hopefully for the better), and how they still do a memorial walk in your name every year. 

The world has gotten a lot worse since you’ve left, but I hold onto the positive light, hope and love you had for it to lead me in the right direction. I hope things are as bright as they say up there and you still love dancing to the Hokey Pokey!

Love, Alison

The last picture we took together at my 6th grade graduation