Reached the wake at almost 11am today, had my breakfast there and then just waited around for 12pm, for the procession to start. 师兄弟们都在等待, for they were to be the pall bearers. I think at least 1/2 the number of pple there to send B off are from 武术.
After the pall bearers lifted the coffin into the hearse, all of us followed behind for a short distance, before boarding the chartered bus. Then we were on our way to the Mandai crematorium. We entered one of the service hall where a short prayer ceremony took place. It was surprisingly short, from what I remembered of late uncle's prayer session. Perhaps it was the difference in religion or some such, as I heard that B was of Buddhist faith.
Shortly after paying our last respects, we adjourned to the viewing hall, where the coffin was first wheeled in, then placed on an automatic cart. Then it was wheeled into the roaring furnace, then the doors closed and we were barred from further view.
That was really the last journey for B in this life, in his physical form. 教练 instructed us not to cry, so the viewing hall was silent. But I could hear a sniffle here and there...including myself. As I stood there waiting and watching, the tears just flowed. Sigh, but I really felt pity for B...gone just like that, by his own hand, in the prime of his life. Until now the thought that he's gone, and in this fashion, just did not ring true; to many of us, so it would seemed.
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