Monday, August 21, 2006
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(125) predestined...
We say that the hour of death cannot be forecast, but when we say this
we imagine that hour as placed in an obscure and distant future.
It never occurs to us that it has any connection with the day already begun
or that death could arrive this same afternoon, this afternoon which is
so certain and which has every hour filled in advance.
~Marcel Proust~
Paternal 6th Uncle passed away peacefully in his sleep this morning. But he had no known health problems except for a heart attack 17 years ago. Though he would have been 71 this October, he was youthful-looking and very active. As he could still drive, he always took time to visit my dad. Whenever I saw him at my parents' place, he always had nice words for my children. He was the grand-uncle my kids met most often.
When I was a little kid, 6th Uncle took my siblings and I on spins in his sports car. We were thrilled to feel the wind in our hair. He often treated us to ice-cream too. He was a good brother to my dad, a nice uncle and grand-uncle to my family. His sudden death was a great blow to everyone especially when we just saw and spoke to him last night at 2nd Uncle's wake.Death does not send you any letter
He comes sneaking just like a thief
the pig oinked at
6:28 AM
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Saturday, August 19, 2006
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(124) carpe diem...
I attended my 2nd Uncle's funeral wake last night. This is the second funeral I have attended this year. The first was 1st Aunt's. Both lived to a ripe old age but their lives were totally different.
Paternal Aunt's life wasn't so great. She and her late husband had two adopted children. She was sickly and was looked after by her unmarried daughter. Her married son was overseas most of the time and her grandson was studying abroad. When she passed away, there was only her daughter, daughter-in-law and grand-daughter. Her son had to rush home for her funeral.
Paternal Uncle had his wife, their 13 children and many grandchildren. Even when he was suddenly diagnosed with cancer and told that he had only 7 months to live, he remained a very strong (as in brave) man. He was prepared for his Lord to take him home. After the diagnosis, he continued to live a happy life. Just recently, he and his family celebrated his 60th wedding annniversary. When I visited him in January, he told me that he had lived a good life and told us not to fret for him.
Carpe diem! Rejoice while you are alive;
enjoy the day; live life to the fullest;
make the most of what you have.
It is later than you think.
Horace (poet, 65 BC-8 BC)
'Carpe diem' is a Latin phrase which literally means 'pluck the day' but it is usually translated as 'seize the day'. The simplest (and almost everyone's favourite) interpretation of this phrase would be 'Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die.'
I prefer 'Memento mori', another Latin phrase which is translated as 'Remember that you are mortal' or 'Remember you will die' or 'Remember your death'. Whatever it is, all three translations share the same purpose in reminding people of their own mortality.
the pig oinked at
7:18 AM
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Sunday, August 13, 2006
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(123) wth...
When Judith and her housemates were at class yesterday, their house was broken into between 11am and 3pm. Only the bedrooms upstairs were hit - thoroughly ransacked and turned upside down. The %#/~$&*()^@!+ burglar(s) got away with 3 Acer laptops. Lysha's Nikon camera and some money which Alvin (Lysha's brother) had at home were also taken.
Judith had some empty red packets in her drawers and these were totally ripped! Asian burglar(s)?? Luckily her passport and camera were intact, covered by the clothes the burglar(s) threw onto the bedroom floor. I hope the burglar(s) get electrocuted when he (they) turns on the stolen laptops!
the pig oinked at
6:38 AM
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Saturday, August 12, 2006
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(122) me, myself & i....
This is yours
truly... moi!
OMG! My uniform
was that short?
1970s - young & carefree!
the pig oinked at
5:18 AM
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Thursday, August 10, 2006
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(121) who's who?
This is EMME!
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More cute pics of EMME?.
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EM-ME
the pig oinked at
5:38 AM
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Wednesday, August 09, 2006
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(120) middle-age...
Laogong celebrated his 47th birthday last month. Arghhhhh... mine's in 2.5 month's time. Sigh... I'm growing old too! And the signs that I'm getting on?
* There are three signs of old age. The first is loss of memory. I forget the other two.
* I'm getting old when I'm sitting in a rocking-chair and I can't get it started.
* When I lean over to pick something up off the floor, I ask myself if there is anything else I need to do while I am down there.
* I find myself in the middle of the stairway and I can't remember if I were downstairs going up or upstairs going down.
the pig oinked at
5:08 AM
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OMG! My uniform
