Save You

How unappreciative we are of life...going through it without a care of how precious it is and why it should be cherished. For most, getting through the day is like any other day...preoccupied with the basics such as 'what should I wear and what am I too eat today? For the less concerned and the more 'kia- su', daily issues such as 'should I use my ultra expensive mobile phone, Ipod or shoes to show off today?' seems to be the agenda of the day.

Most don't give a damn about the more important things in life until they come face to face with their mortality. All of a sudden, things are put into perspective and the little joys in 'life' that were once taken for granted becomes highly appreciated.

This post is in dedication to those who have been stricken by cancer, for most of whom would mean an agonising, painful and slow death. It strikes irrespective of age, colour, status or creed. No one can say that they truly understand what it must be like for those with cancer unless they themselves have gone through the agony. I will not pretend that I too understand but can only try to imagine. They say, 'dying of cancer robs one of a dignified death'.

Theirs is a struggle both emotional and physical. How does it feel to be told that your life will be cut short by a premature death? To undergo countless medical procedures and chemo therapy? To wake up screaming in pain and agony? To watch your hair fall off and become bald while your body literally become skin and bones? To know that your loved ones are witnessing all this and unable to do a thing to help save you?

That's the very reason for title of this post...'Save You'...a song by the group Simple Plan..a song accompanied by a very powerful video with regard to those suffering from cancer. I recommended that it be given listen and viewing.

So, spare a thought and offer a prayer of thanksgiving once in a while for the life that some of us have and remember the millions who face a daily struggle to just stay alive.

To None I Wish Ill But To All I Wish Peace and Love.

Just A Thought.

Just thought of putting up this sunset photos before blogging coz me kiddo is bored and bugging the crap out of me...to play with her of course....lol.

Well, a day has passed since I posted the photos of the sunset and its the end of Father's Day today. Had quite a full day...with work, with my Pops Andrew, Kyra and later condo management meeting and all.

Was rather jaded when arrived home 6pm but decided to take Kyra for a swim. It'll be one of my last swim with her and the end of our weekend bonding session at the pool for at least three months. (till August or October).

This is because Kyra has to undergo minor surgery to her ear. The doctor wants to place a small tiny tube in her ear it to allow it to heal following a bad infection that has left her hearing impaired by at least 35%.

The procedure will be in about two weeks time and she will have to lay off swimming for an extended duration of at least three months. As a father and Kyra being my only child...I am worried and extremely concerned as she has to be under general Anestassia (GA) for about 45 minutes. The very thought of her being under GA scares the crap out of me. I suppose its for her good and long term benefit of getting her hearing back to normal.

As I have always surrendered my life to Jesus and believed in Him, so shall I surrender Kyra into His loving hands. I will wait in continued assurance that Kyra and me will continue our swimming session once she has fully recovered. Amen.

To None I Wish Ill But To All I Wish Peace and Love.

To Those Who Moan and Bitch About Life.

To me, music well written or composed in which ever era, remains a work of art that endures the passage of time. Its similar to any form of art that is able to move my soul, be it in the form of a painting, thoughts worded out in book or a tastefully taken photograph. Yup call me an old fart for all I care but a good song remains a classic.

Well, that brings me to the song 'Streets of London'...a piece composed in 1969 but released as a single in 1973 where it became a hit. Its a song about the plight of the aged homeless and lonely that is forgotten by society. At the same time, its a message to listeners to count their blessing and be grateful for what they have rather than moan and bitch about how sad their lives are.

This is exactly what struck me most when I was doing a special report recently and had to come face to face with the reality of the aged who are abandoned by their families. No matter how hard I tried to sugar coat the situation they were in, there was no way of masking the reality of their loneliness, pain, hopelessness and anguish. It did not matter whether they were blameless or not for the predicament they were in. It was still sad.

So for those who moan and bitch about their lives and how sad it is...'why can't I have this or why am I not like that'...please listen to the 'Streets of London'. I have met those who have been abandoned by their own family, forced to fend for themselves, put in a home with strangers with no visits from loves ones...and saddest of all...to die alone with no one to mourn their passing. So if you think you had it bad...think again my friend.

So, that is why I am grateful for the little that I have and make it a point to count the blessing in my life. I am thankful for what God has given and not given me.

To None I Wish Ill But To All I Wish Peace and Love.

Time Of Reckoning

From the initially handful of less than 10 H1N1 cases first reported in Mexico in late April, it is now almost 26,000 in less than 60 days. The World Health Organization (WHO) is set to declare H1N1 at Level 6 or that it has reached global pandemic stage.The last time world faced such a viral threat was 41 years ago.

As mentioned in earlier postings, there is no way to contain the virus and it will infected the entire global. What WHO is concern is the 'second wave' of infections. In past global pandemic, the first wave is usually marked by mild symptoms while the second wave turned deadly. Spanish Flu of 1918, 1958 and Hong Kong Flu all behaved in that manner.

Question is what is to happen at Level 6? How bad will the infection be and how deadly will it become? (Spanish Flu...deaths estimated at between 20million to 100million). However, just as in the days of Noah...mankind will go on merry making and getting drunk with greed and materialism....until it was too late. So it shall be with our present generation.

So live life to the fullest and love as best as you can. The end for some may come sooner than they think if H1N1 turns deadly in the months to come. If you have not lived life to the fullest...there is still a little time left to:

~ to smell the roses and awe at beauty of a sunset.

~ give a hug to a loved one.

~ to say sorry for the wrongs.

~ to give forgiveness where it is sought.

~ make peace with oneself.

As for me...I will face whatever comes with the firm conviction that I have lived my life as best as I could and loved as much as I can.

To None I Wish Ill But To All I Wish Peace and Love.

Is the Glass Half Empty Or Half Full?

Though they may be often quoted cliché or adages, some aptly reveal how some tick and give away their disposition towards life in general. Like the saying goes...'is the glass half empty or half full?'.

I say it because I recently came across an FB posting by a one time colleague that tickled me silly for several days. It was a short saying but it described how he felt about life I suppose. It went like this...'different day, same shit'. Hilarious, because life does seem routine for most of us whose life revolves round work and earning enough money to pay the bills. (most of us will actually work our entire lives for the bank to settle housing, car and cards loans...lol)

Well, I try not to view life in absolute black or white but to accept it as it comes...good or bad. Though bogged down by work and the every day nitty gritty, I try to look beyond and cherish whatever comfort, joy and beauty that comes my way while going through the day.

So for me, I'd rather look at the glass as being half full for me and that there life has still much to offer to quench my soul.

Two incidents this week deserves a mention. One is the effort by 40-year-old Frankie Tan of Ujong Pasir who has embarked on a trishaw journey from Malacca to Penang in memory of of his grandmother while raising money for charities (http://www.thetrishawman.com/).

Another is the Malacca Air Carnival where there was a display of micro-light aircraft. The state is offering a loan of RM6,000 to those interested to learn how to fly and get a micro-light license. Hmmm...sounds very interesting....I wonder whether the plane would be able to lift off with my 76kg and all? Would love how to learn how to fly.

To None I Wish Ill But To All I Wish Peace and Love.

Phew....Sizzling Hot.

Is it me but the heat over the past month has been stiffling warm and humid. And experts says that it'll get hotter over the next couple of decades...phew. You can actually feel the heat of the blazing afternoon Sun...similar to when you feel the heat on your arms and face as you get to close a well lit camp fire. The heat literally sap the energy and makes you feel lethargic. Only consolation is the pool that Kyra and me have been enjoying over the last two weekend.

Besides the heat...another hot thingy is my discovery of the wonders of YouTube. (a little late but better late than never for an old fart like me ya). Now I can learn some new swanky guitar pieces (like the acoustic intro for Hotel California). I even created an account under a very apt name MrMartz09 and uploaded three recordings. Looove it...although I must say, much to the dismay of my ego, I could have done better at the recordings.

Well, shall post a few shots I took while out at 17th Century Cheng Hoon Temple along Malacca's Temple Street. Like St.Peters's Church is to Catholics here, Cheng Hoon Teng is the oldest serving Chinese temple dedicated to the Goddess Kwan Yin.

To None I Wish Ill But To All I Wish Peace and Love.