Outdoor Wed: Remembering my late Uncle Francis

My Uncle died prematurely. He was just 55 and barely retired.  Two things remind me of him, motor bikes and the Mickey Mouse plant aka Ochna serrulata flowers.

Below is a post I did to his memory in 2008.

Francis, my 6th Uncle used to buy motor bikes, my Grandpa complained, changing bikes like changing shoes. He was  staying with us in Sibu and worked as a technician with the power company. My parents were living in Sarikei.

I was seventeen. One day, out of the blue, Francis asked if I wanted to ride his bike. Boy! did I want to ride his bike. He showed me the ropes and I was off. Our road was a private cul-de-sac. On both sides were long lalang grass, and Mickey Mouse shrub.

I got on the bike with wind blowing in my face and zoomed. I wasn't very steady and before I knew it, I had crashed the bike to a Mickey Mouse bush. I fell and the bike landed on top of me.

Francis asked, if I was hurt.

I replied, No, just a few scratches from the sharp lalang grass. It was my ego which was bruised. I never rode a bike again, and I am weary to be a pillion rider.

Francis died prematurely, a job hazard when you work with giant machines. I was in Singapore when the family rang me. When I see the mickey mouse shrubs aka  Ochna serrulata flowers,  I cry a tear for him.



Fellow blogger in the Philippines mentioned a plant they call Mickey Mouse. It is interesting that different regions call different plants by different names. In two much older posts, I posted with passion this Mickey Mouse plant.

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