Yay.....My Birthday......But Not Quite My Birthday.

In about 13 hours, it would be my birthday, but just not quite yet. Hmm......why is that so? Well, 13 hours from now, back at home, it really would be my birthday, but at New York City, where I am currently at, it is just not the day yet.

This is kinda strange cos unlike being in a place where the time is ahead relative to home, I could celebrate my birthday twice - that is if I reach home on the actual day. But here, I can't quite celebrate yet cos it's just not the day yet in New York and it would be over by the time I reach home. But still, I can celebrate once.

Actually, if we were to go technical on this, my date-of-birth, in New York, should be 19 Nov, instead of 20 Nov cos at the very instance I was born, it was as such.

Just lame. Why such a bother? I never really celebrated my birthday anyway. Even my 21st birthday was a low profile family affair.

But just as well, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, to myself, in 13 hours.

在大約13個小時之後，將會是我的生日，但卻又不太是。怎講呢？從現在算起13個小時之後，在我的出生地，確實是我的生日，但是現在在美國紐約的我，在13個小時之後，還未見到這日期的到來。

還真有點感覺怪怪的。我現在若位于與家相對時間較先前的地方，我將有可能慶祝二次生日。當然，我必須在我的生日那天回到家。在美國紐約可還不能慶祝啊。而回到家後，生日也已過了。雖然如此，我還是能有一次的慶生。

其實，若從時差方面作計算，我在美國紐約的出生日期應該是11月19日而非11月20日，因爲我出生的時候，美國紐約這裡正是11月19日。

無聊之至。干啥爲此長篇大論？我從沒真正慶祝過多少個生日。就連我21歲生日也只不過是一個簡簡單單的家庭聚會。

也罷。在此，為我在13個小時之後的生日獻給自己一個生日的祝福。生日快樂。

It Has Been A Long While......

Really, time and tide waits for no one, it has been over a year since I last posted. There have been times that I wanted to write and times I have things I wanted so much to write, but just did not manage to get it done.

So much has happened, so much has changed. So unconsciously letting time and life ticked-by that one does not realise that one is getting lesser time to fulfill one's destiny.

Ah well, it will be some re-collection of past happenings coming up.

真的， 時間不留人； 已經超過一年沒下筆了。曾經有過要下筆的時候，也曾有過我非要刊載的事項，但最終沒做到。

這期間，發生的事很多，改變的事很多。不知不覺中，讓時間和性命悄悄地流逝，殊不知已沒剩下多少時間來履行我們生命中的責任和義務。

罷了。接著將會是一些過去的回顧。

The Loss of A Loving Father

It has been slightly more than 11 years - 11 years, 3 months and 1 day (according to the lunar calendar), that I have been with him and it has been 9 years or so that I have been close to him.

Strict he may be, he was no less loving, something many of us till today do not realise; many still do not see the LOVE he has on us in his many teachings and reminders, seeing those as lectures and scoldings.

He had taught us many things, but much more yet to be imparted. His demise is certainly a GREAT LOSS to us.

I know not now whether the emo's in me but I certainly would miss him in the days to come.

QR, I love you, and I pray that your efforts for the past 30 over years shall not end in our hands.

R.I.P

Witnessing Life Draining Away is VERY PAINFUL

The pulse rate was normal, only because the heart was under the effect of medicine. The blood pressure told us no lie - it was way too low.

We just couldn't pull our eyes away from the machine even though we were calling out for him to open his eyes and crying/sobing at the same time. Every time we saw an increase in blood pressure, even the slightest bit after every dip, we bore hope that he will pull through and everything will just be fine.

Alas, the graph went flat, there was no pulse reading and the blood pressure was exceptionally high. Out of denial I suppose, we thought it could be some machine problem or the contacts were loose. We called for the nurse but the reply was our worst nightmare - he is going, really going......

Death certified, tears poured by many, but for me, I was grieved to no tears, we call it 慾哭無淚 in Chinese. Containing our own grief, some of us had to help the fainted and rationalise thoughts of the lost ones.

That short two hours or so seemed to have lasted forever. The pain, I know not when it will go off. I think I now know roughly how it feels for those I've "got to know (of)" who have lost their love ones rather recently.

Death leaves an heartache no one can heal.

Change of Date of Deepavali for 2008

In a press statement on public holidays for 2008 released on 29 March 2007, the Ministry of Manpower announced that Deepavali would fall on 28 October 2008 (Tuesday). However, the date needed to be checked against the Indian Almanacs when they became available.

The actual Deepavali date for 2008 is now known; it falls on 27 October 2008 (Monday) instead of 28 October 2008 (Tuesday). You may want to note the change of date of Deepavali on your calendars.

PASSING IT ON 2008

Make a difference in the lives of needy families by passing on your children's clothes, toys, books and stationeries that are in good condition and suitable for children below 12 years old. The collection period is from 1 Jul to 15 Aug 08, 9am to 5pm (Monday - Friday). Donors are to provide your own transport to transfer your items to TRANS Centre at Blk 411 Bedok North Ave 2 #01-106 S(460411).

For more information or clarification, please call Wa Ying (email: waying@transcentre.org.sg) or Kwee Huay at 64490762.

Nope, you've got it wrong.

Quite some time back, an aunt asked me why my "sudden interest" in Reuben('s stuff). It took me quite some time to explain.

Just a few days ago, another aunt, her sister, told me she thinks I must be up to something with this "interest", even to the extent of thinking I started this blog because of Reuben. Oh come on......she is not entirely wrong though.

Many years back, I had wanted to create my own homepage which was the in-thing then. I did start building one in geocities but eventually gave up. Then with blogging, it did occur to me to have one but had brushed the thought aside due to commitment and language concerns. It was because of the 5 fine young men that inspired me to pen down the thoughts I had and will have, especially during that same year when I lost quite a few young acquaintances.

Be my guest auntie, read my blog; there isn't anything funny for you to find - nothing up in my sleeves. :P

As mentioned in my earlier post, I shall share on my thoughts about them, and/or rather, the chronological events before and after that fateful incident.

A few days before 12 Nov 2007
EG: Hey, a new colleague will be joining us next week.
group: Another pretty gal?
EG: Nah, it's a guy, does DB-ing, his name is Poh Boon San.
Me to WM: ooohh......you've got yet another hunk to work with....
WM: (laughed it off - I think)
someone: erm......XXX will always top her list lah, followed by XXX then XXX...
group: (laughed)

Week of 11 Nov 2007

Saw Boon San around in the office, even sat beside him while working in the lab, but just didn't speak with him, not even a simple "Hi", probably because no one introduced him (to me) - something out of our norm. Missed the recreational event that Friday as I had to clear my work before going for my ICT the following week so yet another opportunity lost to know him.

Week of 18 Nov 2007
My first week of ICT and the week Boon San and his team flew over to Cambodia. Received a message, on Thursday (22 Nov 07) or Friday (23 Nov 07), from a colleague that the father of another colleague has passed on. Booked out on Friday (23 Nov 07) evening and attended to something till late at night so didn't know of the accident in Cambodia.

Made a call to my supervisor the next morning (24 Nov 07) to inform that I wouldn't be able to attend to the funeral wake of our colleague's father and to ask him to pay for me first the bereavement money. He told me we might have lost one colleague in a DB-ing accident. The first person to appear in my mind was Boon San cos he was the only one I know in our Programme Centre to do DB-ing. I questioned my supervisor whether this was certain cos it just didn't register in me and at the same time, switched on to Channel News Asia and that very piece of news was being reported; I was dumb-founded.

Week of 25 Nov 2007
The loss of 5 fine young gentlemen was confirmed and with the little amount of news we caught before booking in, we talked quite a bit while having our exercise the whole week. By then, the news had already reported that Reuben was a talented chap, so on and so forth, and we thought it was almost always the case that upon someone's death will he/she be recognised for his/her talent/contribution, regardless the magnitude. This was my initial thoughts of Reuben. Nothing so much on our/my thoughts of the other 4 cos I guess Reuben's profile outshone the rest.

Following the end of my ICT, I was so tied up with work that it was not until the second week of December before I could settle down to start catch up with all that is related to the accident. And after reading all that I have access to, the following is my thoughts of the 5 individuals.

Stephen Loh Soon Ann
A filial son and a brotherly brother. A caring and inspirational educator. A reliable and dependable comrade. One year my junior, I have learnt from him that age is never the reason for not pursuing our dreams and aspirations. I think, we don't stop pursuing our dreams and aspirations because we have grown older, but rather, we grow older when we stop pursuing our dreams and aspirations. Keep our hearts and minds young, always.

Stephen's family, apparently, is somehow acquainted with these 2 cute aunties of mine but there wasn't much more that I can find out from them cos they said Stephen was still a little boy when they were still in contact with one another.

Poh Boon San
A fighter against odds and adversities. A bearer of faith, belief and trust. A filial son. A misunderstood person, at times, but eventually appreciated by his friends and buddies. I am learning from his legacy, to stop whining that I am disadvantaged cos I started off late - earned my first degree at the age of 30, and thus falling behind most of my peers. I am hoping to be alike Boon San, that I will be less misunderstood if not appreciated, but I think I need to work on my stern-bold-and-quick-tempered character to achieve that. Hey, I always have the best of intention, ok? *sigh*

Jeremy Goh Tze Xiong
A filial son, a loyal friend, a respectful and humble person. A person who always bring smiles and laughters to others - not a single anger. One kind soul. One particular story shared by one of his friends moved me the most: On one particular rainy day, while Jeremy and this friend were walking, he went around removing snails from the pathway to prevent anyone from stepping on them. I, personally, would merely make sure I don't step on those poor snails but never ever thought of helping them to not be stepped on by others. This really put me to shame but at the same time, makes me want to befriend this kind soul.

A friend who would try his best to attend gatherings even to the extent of attending a few events on the same night. I reminded myself that being tired and not having the time is seldom, if not never, justifiable for not catching up with (long-lost) friends; the little extra effort means a zillion.

Reuben Kee En Rui
A filial son and loving brother. A multi talented guy. One kind and friendly soul who never fails to give others encouraging smiles and words. A gentle and soft-spoken person - I think. A person whom I find so matured in his thoughts that could bring shame to many of us older than him. A strong believer in pursuing ones dreams. A great composer whose music almost never fail to awe me.

Auntie Kim, it is not the person that is the reason for me liking his music, okay. So what if the singer is a Heavenly King/Queen? What matters to me is the music/song. And I did not start listening to ABBA because Reuben did an ABBA medley; I have known and heard ABBA songs when I was in my teens, just as for Carpenters and the likes. For all you know, I was very much into music in my younger days as well, listening to Richard Clayderman, Kitaro, Kenny G, Chinese orchestra, etc.

Chee Wei Cheng
A filial son and a caring brother. A fine gentlemen whose behaviour puts many of us to shame. Read more from here. A capable young man.

It was definitely a great pity to have lost these 5 fine men. I pray for their family to tide through the pain and sadness.