Next Year, You Will Play the Flute

My 74 year old uncle likes to tell people that he is "47" backwards. He has a wonderful sense of humor, and he loves to play music. Every year when my father's side of the family gathers, you can always find him plunking out tunes on the piano.

This year, he brought a Chinese flute to our Chinese New Year Eve dinner. He sat next to me on the piano bench and asked in Chinglish if I knew any Malaysian national songs. I hummed one out and he played along. Amused, I clapped loudly and with gusto, even though his playing had been a bit labored. Smiling, he went on to play me about every song he knew.

Taking a break, he started to tell me how the past year had been a difficult one health-wise, both for his wife and himself. "You never know long God needs you here. Once you've done what He's needed you to do, you go back." Gesturing towards the sky. I quickly replied that it was definitely not his time yet, and that he still had much to do.

The next day, we gathered for Chinese New Year. He was wearing a little Yankees baseball cap and had is flute tucked in his belt. Approaching me, he brought out a second flute. Written in green permanent marker was, "from Uncle 7" along with the date. He said, "practice often. Next year, it will be you playing the flute..."

It was a moment of mixed emotions, but the beauty of the moment far outweighs the sadness. We played together, slowly blowing one note at a time, as the relatives looked on with smiles.