The only Constant is Change

It sounds paradoxical but the only constant is change. Change that comes out of nowhere and hits you when you least expect it.

The horror of the happenings in North Africa, death and destruction amid chaos....
and another world away a beautiful city lies in ruins, the aftermath of a 6.3 earthquake.
Who would have thought it would happen just a few months after the previous quake of 7.0?
Lives were lost in a matter of seconds, with some entombed alive who were later rescued through the valiant efforts of international search-and-rescue teams.

The tenuous hold on life is driven home by these events.

Mother Nature is a force that man cannot hope to control and through his wilful abuse of natural resources, he is now reaping the consequences of his actions. Floods,
droughts,
extinction of many species of flora and fauna, climatic changes, volcanic eruptions
and earthquakes make life untenable for many inhabitants of the earth.

Popular uprisings, the result of oppression by autocratic governments, are like the swell of the incoming tide.
Many lives have been lost and nationals of countries working in these war-torn regions are being evacuated by their respective governments. The mass exodus is reported on news channels daily as is the carnage.

Are these the end-times? Should we not be doing something to prevent this happening in our own country? What can we as individuals do? Prayers? Tread softly? One feels so helpless, so vulnerable and uncertain of what lies ahead.

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The Joy and the Sorrow

Today is my younger sister’s 5th anniversary, five years since she left us to return to the Lord.

Yesterday was my nephew’s wedding and all family members were present at the tea ceremony. The young children, including my sister’s grandchildren whom she didn’t have the good fortune of being able to see them grow into charming little tots and to pamper.

The little girl has her lovely eyes and the little boy is a cute bundle of energy, so joyful to look at. My sister would have loved spoiling them to bits, being the loving, generous person who found joy in indulging little children and caring for them. I recall her flying all the way to Cardiff with a rocking cradle ( the bouncing sarong ) for my grandson who wouldn’t stop crying nor settle down to sleep. Her cradle resolved the problem as he lay snugly in the sarong and bounced gently to sleep.

When my granddaughter was born, she couldn’t pamper her enough, buying the prettiest dresses and headbands even though the baby had hardly any hair and having her portraits taken at a professional photographer’s. As they grew into toddlers, she would fetch them in her car to show them the monkeys and let them feed the animals. Knowing that the kids enjoyed going over road humps, she would drive on roads that have the most humps, just to hear their voices going “whoa” each time the car bumped over one.

How much more would she have loved her own grandchildren! As we watched the antics of the young children at the gathering, I could see my brother-in-law’s eyes, still missing his beloved wife very deeply and feeling the sadness that his grandchildren would never know their grandmother and what they are missing.

My younger sister whose departure has left a big hole in our hearts,is still sorely missed, especially at family gatherings. We used to be seven sisters and now there are only five of us left. Both my younger sisters were struck down in their prime by the vicious predator, Cancer.

I still feel their presence in family events, as we siblings are very close. These days we all try to be present as we are growing older and how much time there is left for us is unknown so family gatherings are to cherish and celebrate these bonds. Maureen and Girlie, I miss you both very much. In the midst of joy there is also sorrow. They say time heals but the passing of time will never diminish the sense of loss, especially in close relationships.

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Countdown

We are programmed to die and the process begins even as we are born, whether through the birth canal or taken out surgically from the womb. It is a bell-shaped curve, the line moving upward as the baby grows and develops and the top of the curve represents its maturity while the downward line is the slowing-down as age creeps up.

It is interesting to note that youth and young adults take their well-being for granted even as they pursue their careers and build their families. It is only when something happens to them, such as an unexpected illness, that they stop to take stock. They may or may not re-assess the situation and take measures to address health issues and prepare for the future.

Those on the downward curve of the bell are usually retirees who now realize the countdown is very real as obituaries of acquaintances and contemporaries appear in the newspapers. How much time is there left? Is there enough to do all that I still have not done?

What can I leave behind me that will be meaningful to those whom I shall be leaving? Should I begin with paper work spelling out my last wishes? Or is that a taboo, inviting the inevitable to come sooner than later? Some people do not even want to make a will because of this.

Would it not be better to put everything down in black and while before dementia robs us of our wits?

How and what should be done with our remains is one issue which should be communicated to the living so that they will know what to do when the time comes. Putting aside a sum of money for this purpose has been the practice of the older generation in Chinese culture so as not to burden the off-spring. Then again in Chinese culture, those who attend one’s wake usually donate a sum of money known as “white gold” to help the family with funeral expenses.

Should dementia take hold, then what is to become of us? Will it matter since we won’t know what is happening?

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Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is coming up. This is the day celebrated by lovers all over the world and some romantics propose or tie the knot on this day.

Most young people will be buying roses for their sweethearts, no matter that a simple bouquet will set them back a hundred ringgit or more! Some will make do with a single rose, which is just as romantic and meaningful, I think, and more practical too, as splashing out on roses which wither within the next couple of days does seem to be an unnecessary waste.

A night out is definitely on the cards and depending on the depth of one's pocket, the venue can be an expensive restaurant or just a walk along the beach, feeling the soft caress of the sea breeze on your face and listening to the rush of the waves as they break onto the shore.

Some will just have memories to fall back on.

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Pets are more than a Fad.

In the period leading up to the Year of the Rabbit, there was much information in the papers about the different species of rabbits available for sale.

However, some readers voiced their concerns about the usual trend of buying things, animate or inanimate that are in current vogue. This time it is rabbits since the Chinese are heralding in the Year of the Rabbit.

Sales of pet rabbits soared as many people decided that they would have a rabbit to usher in the new year together. Among them, were youngsters who asked their parents for pet rabbits.
The main concern was that once the fad wore off, what would happen to these rabbits?
Rabbits are very productive and they multiply easily. What happens to these offspring?

Do people really know how to care for these creatures? Will they invest the time to learn how to take care of them and play with them? Or will they just be left in cages as another piece of décor in the house?

When the owners realize that there is a lot of work involved in the rearing and care of these rabbits, will they simply abandon their pets somewhere?

This is what happened to unwanted pet dogs
and cats,leading to an increase in strays and the necessity of putting them down, more often than not, in cruel and inhumane ways. Pets are usually abandoned when they fall ill or when it becomes too time-consuming to look after them.

If only people would think about what is involved before pulling out their wallets and purchasing these hapless creatures who are really at the tender mercy of their owners. All creatures are entitled to shelter, care and love.

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