The author reminisces about growing up in a family that staunchly upheld Chinese traditions, values and customs which shaped the family practices and belief system. She tells of how she was her parents’ “son” for over five years because there was a cultural preference for wanting sons. She tells of the serendipitous discovery of her maternal grandmother’s heritage that is linked to the Chinese Imperial family. There are mystical experiences and plenty of “strange but true” moments observed through the family journey. She shares heart-warming family stories to celebrate the lives of her parents who sadly did not have longevity on their side.
In part, the author also provides insight into what it was like growing up in the latter part of the twentieth-century post-World War II where the environment was largely unspoilt by automation and digital disruptions in an old town called Malacca in Malaysia. There are no washing machines, dishwashers, computers or conveniences that are common-place in the twenty-first century. Post baby-boomer generations may be enlightened and gain insight into her family anthropology through stories she recounts that reflect her family’s values, traditions and practices.