When Elizabeth was young, we lived in a small town. Living standard was low and a group of mothers who were homemakers gathered often so that children could play with each other. When she was nine years old, Aunty Eileen offered to take Elizabeth and her girl to voice lessons. Elizabeth refused and that was that. A year later, Aunty Marion offered to take Elizabeth and her daughter to drama lessons. Again Elizabeth refused. Two years later, the Sunday School Superintendent chose Elizabeth for a duet in a concert. I didn't think too much of it even though a few people did take the trouble to encourage me to look into some form of voice development.
Then fast forward five years. When Elizabeth became active in her present youth group, she took out her savings to attend ten voice training lessons. Initially I don't hear much difference, a year to two later, her voice did change for the better. When we visited Switzeland, our hostess who was a soprano prophesied that soon Elizabeth would be able to play the piano and harmonise with the music. At that point, she could either play the piano or sing. Now, four years later, being able to sing and play either the piano or guitar simultaneously is something she is comfortable with. In the interim, she managed to get involved in just about every drama staged. Just a few weeks back, I waited for her during band practice. As I walked up the stairs, I heard a female vocalist singing and leading in an interesting and attractive manner. I was most surprised when I realised it was my daughter singing. She has improved a lot since that duet seven years ago.
Then I understand why she could not see herself becoming an accountant or economist. Unless she chooses to put music to a second place as a hobby, sitting in an office eight to twelve hours a day dealing with figures may not be her first choice. Even though she is good in accounting and economics, there is no passion in her heart for those two fields. At this point I must be honest that the fact I don't have half a million set aside for her tertiary education makes things simple. If it is God's perfect will, then she will be successful in winning a scholarship to go to an institution to pursue her passion. If it is not, then she will have to fall back on whatever offer the Government universities gives her. It is strange that my choice in major was heavily influenced by job opportunities. Now it seems that my daughter is following her heart. It is wonderful that I can pray and commit her to God, He knows what her future will be.
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jer 29:11
Monday, November 29, 2010
Saturday, November 27, 2010
(298) Summer home / Interesting bldg 33
It is such a pretty house that it looks unreal. Nonetheless it is the perfect place for romantic vacations.
We love because God first love us. 1 Jn 4:19
nantucket-decor-cottage-style.jpg from completely-coastal.com
Friday, November 19, 2010
(292) Working vs full time mom/ upbringing 32
A good friend was relating how a baby in church was entertaining her one Sunday. It is a very good looking baby girl. She has big eyes and readily smiles at strangers and friends. What is special about her is at one glance, those of us who have grown children can tell that she is alert, highly intelligent and is thinking meaningful thoughts. Actually she is Elizabeth's hot favourite, being extremely responsive to a teenager's playful interaction.
The mother of this baby said that she has to work at an admin job just to keep the accounts in the blue. And I believe her. Father and mother are young, just bought their first home and just changed an old car for a small new one.
My friend said that she hopes this young mother will stop work as soon as she can. It would be a waste that she does not have time to build on a good foundation. I agree. The first seven years of a child's life is formative. By the time that a child celebrates her seventh birthday, 95% of her brain has been developed already.
In my own family, I compare Elizabeth and Kenneth. Kenneth had my undivided attention for nine months. I almost did not survive from the experience, was almost suicidal with post-natal depression. When I next quit my part-time job, Elizabeth was 2 1/2 and Kenneth was seven. Today I see Elizabeth as much better adjusted socially and I have been privileged to be given ample opportunity to develop her potential to a high degree. To a different set of circumstances and timing, I had honestly tried my best with each child, and gotten different results. Of course God is still working at both of them. Each faces different circumstances and challenges. The more is given from on high, the more is expected of the person.
As my children leave the nest one by one, I am released to answer my own call. I wonder if indeed God will open a door for Kenneth to teach English in a foreign country. If Elizabeth applies to one college in America, will God sees it fit to give her sufficient financial aid to go? What started out as a hobby like fun time is becoming time consuming. It actually takes me a minimum of two solid hours daily to keep three or four of my blogs going.
Between 23 to 26 Nov I will be in a small town to help out in a Chinese Youth Mission Camp. I have never been to that part of the country before. According to my son, there is no cyber cafe or coffee bean there. So sorry, I am telling you my readers that I will be off line during those few days. For those of you who are new, please go back to the earlier posts. For readers in USA, please tune in to estateenthusiast.wordpress.com for a complete set of posts. For some reason, Americans are responding more to my Interesting buildings posts more than readers from any other country so far. Thank you, my American readers.
The mother of this baby said that she has to work at an admin job just to keep the accounts in the blue. And I believe her. Father and mother are young, just bought their first home and just changed an old car for a small new one.
My friend said that she hopes this young mother will stop work as soon as she can. It would be a waste that she does not have time to build on a good foundation. I agree. The first seven years of a child's life is formative. By the time that a child celebrates her seventh birthday, 95% of her brain has been developed already.
In my own family, I compare Elizabeth and Kenneth. Kenneth had my undivided attention for nine months. I almost did not survive from the experience, was almost suicidal with post-natal depression. When I next quit my part-time job, Elizabeth was 2 1/2 and Kenneth was seven. Today I see Elizabeth as much better adjusted socially and I have been privileged to be given ample opportunity to develop her potential to a high degree. To a different set of circumstances and timing, I had honestly tried my best with each child, and gotten different results. Of course God is still working at both of them. Each faces different circumstances and challenges. The more is given from on high, the more is expected of the person.
As my children leave the nest one by one, I am released to answer my own call. I wonder if indeed God will open a door for Kenneth to teach English in a foreign country. If Elizabeth applies to one college in America, will God sees it fit to give her sufficient financial aid to go? What started out as a hobby like fun time is becoming time consuming. It actually takes me a minimum of two solid hours daily to keep three or four of my blogs going.
Between 23 to 26 Nov I will be in a small town to help out in a Chinese Youth Mission Camp. I have never been to that part of the country before. According to my son, there is no cyber cafe or coffee bean there. So sorry, I am telling you my readers that I will be off line during those few days. For those of you who are new, please go back to the earlier posts. For readers in USA, please tune in to estateenthusiast.wordpress.com for a complete set of posts. For some reason, Americans are responding more to my Interesting buildings posts more than readers from any other country so far. Thank you, my American readers.
(291) Tranquility / Interesting bldg 30
This is a property that exudes old world English charm. If I should need to summarise it, it is one word: tranquility.For God is not a God of disorder but of peace. 1 Co 14:33
38 04 4---Thatched-Cottage-Micheld freefoto.com
Thursday, November 18, 2010
(288)Stop using Kleenex/ Recycling 2
The following article was forwarded to me by my recycling partner who is a member of a Buddhist organisation from Taiwan. I will summarise the main point. The author was used to carrying handkerchief before he arrived in America. He could not recall when he stopped using cloth and started to use Kleenex.
A few years back he heard about the paper making and bleaching process would create a highly toxic side product: dioxane. Apparently dioxane harms our central nervous system, causes liver, kidney failure. It hurts our skin, lungs and creates health problems. From that point on, he stopped buying and using paper napkins.
As China develops from an agricultural country to become an industrial giant, land usage would unavoidably be progressively converted to industrial purposes. As consumers demand high end products like beer, much grain would be channeled to the brewery away from the poor masses. As the per capita demand for meat, milk and eggs increases, the base prices of the main grain would shoot up. As the rich consumes more high end products, the poor would have less and less basic food to buy from as prices spiral upwards. The end result would be a small portion of the world would overeat and have to combat obesity, while the rest of the world face under nourishment and thousands would starve to death should there be any seasonal shortfall of grain harvest. There was a book written entitled:《Who Will Feed China》 by Lester Brown from World Watch Institute（W. W. Norton & CO: U. S. $8.95; TEL: 202-452-1999; Fax: 202-296-7365).
Reading this article, I felt terrible as I have been using paper napkins because of convenience for years. I must go and buy a few handkerchieves and stop using paper products for this purpose.
After all, nobody knows when our world would come to an end. Until then, we only have one world and we all have no choice but to live in the same world. No one can change the entire world. But I can change the consumption choices of my household.
雷久南
小時候，每天上學口袋裡一定帶著一條手帕來擦汗、擦手等；
幾年前我聽一位澳大利亞的醫生說，
被她點醒後，我也開始隨身攜帶手帕，所用的是爬山用的大手帕，
說到我們可能面臨的災難，糧食不足是其中之一。
早在一九八八年，「世界觀察所」(Worldwatch Institute)的Lester Brown先生就注意到所有人口密度高的國家，
世界糧食的生產受水源農地的縮小限制，很難增產。
除此之外，啤酒的消費也在增加，
選擇在我們，從一條手帕做起，從一口飯吃起，從一杯水喝起。
A few years back he heard about the paper making and bleaching process would create a highly toxic side product: dioxane. Apparently dioxane harms our central nervous system, causes liver, kidney failure. It hurts our skin, lungs and creates health problems. From that point on, he stopped buying and using paper napkins.
As China develops from an agricultural country to become an industrial giant, land usage would unavoidably be progressively converted to industrial purposes. As consumers demand high end products like beer, much grain would be channeled to the brewery away from the poor masses. As the per capita demand for meat, milk and eggs increases, the base prices of the main grain would shoot up. As the rich consumes more high end products, the poor would have less and less basic food to buy from as prices spiral upwards. The end result would be a small portion of the world would overeat and have to combat obesity, while the rest of the world face under nourishment and thousands would starve to death should there be any seasonal shortfall of grain harvest. There was a book written entitled:《Who Will Feed China》 by Lester Brown from World Watch Institute（W. W. Norton & CO: U. S. $8.95; TEL: 202-452-1999; Fax: 202-296-7365).
Reading this article, I felt terrible as I have been using paper napkins because of convenience for years. I must go and buy a few handkerchieves and stop using paper products for this purpose.
After all, nobody knows when our world would come to an end. Until then, we only have one world and we all have no choice but to live in the same world. No one can change the entire world. But I can change the consumption choices of my household.
雷久南
小時候，每天上學口袋裡一定帶著一條手帕來擦汗、擦手等；
幾年前我聽一位澳大利亞的醫生說，
被她點醒後，我也開始隨身攜帶手帕，所用的是爬山用的大手帕，
說到我們可能面臨的災難，糧食不足是其中之一。
早在一九八八年，「世界觀察所」(Worldwatch Institute)的Lester Brown先生就注意到所有人口密度高的國家，
世界糧食的生產受水源農地的縮小限制，很難增產。
除此之外，啤酒的消費也在增加，
選擇在我們，從一條手帕做起，從一口飯吃起，從一杯水喝起。
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
(284)Reliving foreign student days/ Upbringing 31
Further Studies
When Elizabeth was 16, we were privileged to have a sponsored trip to Switzeland (Prayers 15 Wish come true). She was indeed a very blessed young lady. Our hostess actually invited her to stay in her house in Zurich and pursue her pre-university. For what ever reason, Elizabeth was not ready to leave home.
After she turned 17, she was talked into applying for a scholarship to study International Baccalaureate in Finland. She cleared her first interview. During the second interview, she was more of an observer than taking an active part in impressing the moderators. And she told her interviewing panel that it did not matter if she did not get the scholarship, for she did not mind going to pre-u in a government school. Therefore, I was not surprised that she was not chosen.
Now she is within days of sitting for her exams. I was indeed taken aback when she said she might apply to my old college for a scholarship. Oh! We will see if she still feels the same come December 15. Anyway, I had quite a journey down memory lane answering her questions. Of course I missed Asian food in America. But my mum and dad sent food parcels every three months and I often cooked up a storm in the middle of the night.
When I fried up chilli paste and dried shrimp, those true Americans all went looking for the dead rats they smelled. A few would follow their noses into the kitchen for a good feed. Those who like ethnic food usually had been living abroad as army brats or as children of ex-pats working in Asia. It was no co-incidence that those who like my cooking were the more international youth who befriend anyone from any part of the world.
Who did the cleaning up after my kitchen adventure? I would not leave behind any dirty sauce pans or dishes. The maid would wipe down the walls and the floor. God had been very kind to me. I remember the maid was most sympathetic to me as she had a daughter volunteering as a Peace Corp teacher in South America. The loving Mum would send monthly food parcel. She would imagine her darling cooking up a hurricane during the weekends in the school kitchen too. During my last year, my friend the maid told me the good news that her daughter was going to marry an engineer from a good family in the country she worked in. She met her Prince Charming when he came with the survey team to bring pipe water to her adopted village.
When Elizabeth was 16, we were privileged to have a sponsored trip to Switzeland (Prayers 15 Wish come true). She was indeed a very blessed young lady. Our hostess actually invited her to stay in her house in Zurich and pursue her pre-university. For what ever reason, Elizabeth was not ready to leave home.
After she turned 17, she was talked into applying for a scholarship to study International Baccalaureate in Finland. She cleared her first interview. During the second interview, she was more of an observer than taking an active part in impressing the moderators. And she told her interviewing panel that it did not matter if she did not get the scholarship, for she did not mind going to pre-u in a government school. Therefore, I was not surprised that she was not chosen.
Now she is within days of sitting for her exams. I was indeed taken aback when she said she might apply to my old college for a scholarship. Oh! We will see if she still feels the same come December 15. Anyway, I had quite a journey down memory lane answering her questions. Of course I missed Asian food in America. But my mum and dad sent food parcels every three months and I often cooked up a storm in the middle of the night.
When I fried up chilli paste and dried shrimp, those true Americans all went looking for the dead rats they smelled. A few would follow their noses into the kitchen for a good feed. Those who like ethnic food usually had been living abroad as army brats or as children of ex-pats working in Asia. It was no co-incidence that those who like my cooking were the more international youth who befriend anyone from any part of the world.
Who did the cleaning up after my kitchen adventure? I would not leave behind any dirty sauce pans or dishes. The maid would wipe down the walls and the floor. God had been very kind to me. I remember the maid was most sympathetic to me as she had a daughter volunteering as a Peace Corp teacher in South America. The loving Mum would send monthly food parcel. She would imagine her darling cooking up a hurricane during the weekends in the school kitchen too. During my last year, my friend the maid told me the good news that her daughter was going to marry an engineer from a good family in the country she worked in. She met her Prince Charming when he came with the survey team to bring pipe water to her adopted village.
(283) Away assignment
My friend Lee Lee was sent by her boss to a branch in a northern city. I kind of assumed that it was another book shop needing help to have a stock take at the end of the year. Well, it wasn't! It turned out to be a mini market in a shopping centre near a village.
The shop was run by a young Indian man with the help of a shop assistant. The first few days Lee Lee did was have a spring cleaning. Much accumulated rubbish was thrown out. Cockroaches and rats were killed and chased away. Next she and the assistant wiped away lots of dust. Expired foodstuff was thrown out. Things that were not sold for years were marked down in prices and sold off. Next she rearranged everything according to the classification, eg. kitchen utensils all on the same side, cleaning supplies all on the other side ...
I sat there listening to her practical steps to make the shop a nicer place to shop in. She was very effective, the regular customers commented how much the shop has improved within the month she was there. Even salesmen told her that their goods were arranged to a much better effect, everything could be seen at one glance. She was much pleased that from now on, she only needs to go there once a month for three days.
It goes to show that even though Lee Lee does not have much qualification, she is a very efficient person with lots of common sense. I won't be surprised that in a short few months, she could turn the shop around and cause it to be profitable.
The shop was run by a young Indian man with the help of a shop assistant. The first few days Lee Lee did was have a spring cleaning. Much accumulated rubbish was thrown out. Cockroaches and rats were killed and chased away. Next she and the assistant wiped away lots of dust. Expired foodstuff was thrown out. Things that were not sold for years were marked down in prices and sold off. Next she rearranged everything according to the classification, eg. kitchen utensils all on the same side, cleaning supplies all on the other side ...
I sat there listening to her practical steps to make the shop a nicer place to shop in. She was very effective, the regular customers commented how much the shop has improved within the month she was there. Even salesmen told her that their goods were arranged to a much better effect, everything could be seen at one glance. She was much pleased that from now on, she only needs to go there once a month for three days.
It goes to show that even though Lee Lee does not have much qualification, she is a very efficient person with lots of common sense. I won't be surprised that in a short few months, she could turn the shop around and cause it to be profitable.
(281) Safety / Interesting bldg 23
What we have here is an ordinary country house. Yet from the present angle, it is indeed a welcoming sight after the dark wood. The house is reassuring me that safety is just a little distance away. Life is like that sometimes, one may value an ordinary choice that may be mundane but safe.Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me Ps 23:4
country-house-hotel.jpg ballinderrypark.com
(280) Rock solid / Interesting bldg 22
I see a rock solid house. It is of a very simple design without any decorations. Yet it is warm. If I were on a hike and see this building, I would not hesitate to walk up to it to ask for a drink.Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Mt 11:28
Rankin House.jpg ohiohistorycentral.org
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
(279) Cats Locked out / Cat tales 12
Lately there are many cats on my street. My children said that it was my blog that attracted them. Since cats do not read blogs, it obviously cannot be.
One day I happened to drive up and saw the cats trailing behind my new neighbour and went into her house. Then I realize that these are outside cats when the owner is at work. There after I make doubly sure that my dustbin is properly closed and standing upright on a flat area.
Among the cats, one of them came to look me up. While I was unloading things from my car, it sneaked into my house. The minute it noticed that I saw it, it ran away like a tornado and knocked down a few of my purchases that I hadn't had time to move to my kitchen. That was a predominantly black cat with a patch of white on its back and tail. It was sleek and looked handsome.
There was another one that was somewhat smaller. It was also black and white, but more of white background with big patches of black. This cat looked sweet and and was very people oriented. It did not run when I walked closer to talk to it.. There are two more, one with orangy stripes and the other gray. Those two are shy, I did not get a good look at them yet.
Fear not, for I have redeem you; I have called you by name; you are mine.
six cats.jpg from clowder.net
(278) Rescue / Cat tales 11
In a moment of silence, both of us were looking at a kitten climbing up a tree across the road from us. We were fascinated by its repeated attempts which more often ended in failures. Probably after attempt number twenty three, it managed to climb up the trunk and was hanging on to the first branch precariously. Then we heard the mother cat meowing to locate the naughty kitty. When the kitten heard the call, it wanted to come down but it dared not. And so they called each other, back and forth. Then the mother cat was directly below the kitten. After futile encouragements asking kitty to jump down, mum had no choice but to carry out a rescue operation.
The nimble mother cat climbed up expertly and brought the kitty down by the scuff of its neck.
Are we not sometimes like this adventurous kitty, we wander out of the straight and narrow pathway and need to ask God to rescue us?
- Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honour me.-
Cat picture2.jpg from dellone2one.com
(273) Airy / Interesting bldg 19
How many hours do we work per day so that we can afford the property we desire? How much money do we spend to decorate our abode the way we like? And yet how many years can we enjoy it all?There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God. Ecc 2:24
Home-Decor-Tips-from-Mark womansday.com
(272) Community development
Evelyn started a cottage industry sewing small items for sale. The latest batch includes cotton purses that come in four colours: purple, blue, green, and yellow. There were flowers embroidered in matching colours on the upper panel that is beige in shade. Many friends and relatives who visit Raymond and Evelyn would bring these light weight items back. A local mission organization would sell such handicraft alongside the books and audio bibles in churches..
Over the years, I have seen note pads with magnets, book marks, tiny shoes to be tied to hand phones, four different ethnic shoes in a wooden frame with magnet, ethnic shirts with magnet ... all lovely to behold. It is a non profit community project to benefit the marginalised minorities living in the hills. Each woman was given a micro loan and was given training to enable her to produce marketable items. With the small profit of items produced, they are able then to repay the micro loan in installments. Usually the first beneficiary of such a project are the children, they are then able to go to school as their mothers could pay whatever fee that they previously could not.
Behind each handicraft, there is a small piece of paper showing a tiny photo of the minority woman with her name and story. It could be she was a widow having a tough time raising six young children. Or she could be handicapped with a withered leg, that means she could not farm or rear pigs in a mountainous area.
The producers are living in an Asian country. The finished products are sold in a small scale in a South East Asian country. What I am wondering is: would a blog like mine be able to play a role in helping to widen the scope of this already successful project? Would you, my readers, be interested to see photos of the products with histories of the makers? Would you write to an e-mail address to order such gifts for your friends? At the last count, readers come from twenty-six countries: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Columbia, Denmark, France, Germany, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Macedonia, Malaysia, Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, United Kingdom and U.S. of America. Thank you for following this blog.
If your answers to these questions are yes, please make a comment below this post or e-mail to ramblingsofadyslexic@gmail.com.
FlagsOfTheWorld.gif from journeywithjesus.net
Monday, November 15, 2010
(269) Dream / Interesting bldg 17
There is something dream like about this building. The moody blue sea? The grandeur of the structure? The isolation of the location?What I want to be when I grow up... Where I will live when I become rich... Don't we all dream at some point of our lives?
Yet all these are temporary... What we are here and now... What we own in this world... These are all transient.
Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. Lk 21:33
hotel1.jpg millionface.com
Saturday, November 13, 2010
(263) Recycling
When I told friends and acquaintances that I recycle, sometimes I end up with a car load of all kinds of everything. There was this old lady who gave us more than fifty brown bottles which she kept from her husband's consumption of bee propolis.
It is a good thing that I live near a recycling station. On the way back to where I live, I would unload all the glass bottles. The next time she gave us two electrical gadgets. My son who at one glance could tell what the items were, said that there were one VCD player and one DVD player. And so that was that. I was surprised as I remember the old lady said she had an old VCD player that still worked and that she would pack all the clothes that her daughters and grand children left in her house. So I thought, maybe her daughter bought a new DVD player a few days back. Then it is natural that she would want to get rid of the old one. We unloaded the two electrical items as usual. I took the clothes home to sort. Our recycling centre was run by a family who collects items to convert to cash for disaster relief.
Two weeks down the line, I had a frantic call from the old lady saying that her daughter could not find the latter's projector. The former was calm enough to tell me that she believed that projector was probably overseas. Only her daughter had forgotten where it was. Just in case we recycled an expensive projector, I paid a special visit to our recycling partner. After listening to what happens to our items after it left the home centre, I went back to find out more details of the missing item.
To facilitate communication, I sms the recycling centre's hand phone number to the recycling party and vice versa. Then I put the matter out of my mind. Three days later, a happy call came telling us that the old lady was right, the missing projector was located in a South East Asian country. Her daughter had forgotten that she left it in a business associate's house the last visit three months ago. I immediately informed my recycling partner the good news. We both learned a lesson from the incident. Should there be an expensive item given, we would keep it for a period and confirm that it was meant to be given away.
It is a good thing that I live near a recycling station. On the way back to where I live, I would unload all the glass bottles. The next time she gave us two electrical gadgets. My son who at one glance could tell what the items were, said that there were one VCD player and one DVD player. And so that was that. I was surprised as I remember the old lady said she had an old VCD player that still worked and that she would pack all the clothes that her daughters and grand children left in her house. So I thought, maybe her daughter bought a new DVD player a few days back. Then it is natural that she would want to get rid of the old one. We unloaded the two electrical items as usual. I took the clothes home to sort. Our recycling centre was run by a family who collects items to convert to cash for disaster relief.
Two weeks down the line, I had a frantic call from the old lady saying that her daughter could not find the latter's projector. The former was calm enough to tell me that she believed that projector was probably overseas. Only her daughter had forgotten where it was. Just in case we recycled an expensive projector, I paid a special visit to our recycling partner. After listening to what happens to our items after it left the home centre, I went back to find out more details of the missing item.
To facilitate communication, I sms the recycling centre's hand phone number to the recycling party and vice versa. Then I put the matter out of my mind. Three days later, a happy call came telling us that the old lady was right, the missing projector was located in a South East Asian country. Her daughter had forgotten that she left it in a business associate's house the last visit three months ago. I immediately informed my recycling partner the good news. We both learned a lesson from the incident. Should there be an expensive item given, we would keep it for a period and confirm that it was meant to be given away.
(262) Sun n water / Interesting Bldg 12
Somehow, this is my ideal of a visit to the sun and the water. No miles of white sandy beach. Strange, isn't it? Well, think of the days of lazing around, reading under the trees. Then when the sun is really hot, one can jump in to cool down, heavenly!He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. Rev 21:4
cottage5.JPG breezybaycottage.com
(260) Winter wonderland / Intere. Bldg10
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas! This picture reminded me of a snow storm I experienced in Maryland in 1982 winter. Look at the snow laden branches, what a beautiful picture of winter wonderland. Of course it went without saying there were hundreds of homes with power outage after a storm. Such pristine beauty co-exist with hardship and suffering! Just like life, isn't it?He had made everything beautiful in its time. Ecc 3:11
cottage big.jpg cybermall.co.nz
Friday, November 12, 2010
(259) Phobia / Cat tales 9
There is an old lady who was eighty years old last year. Let us call her Auntie Yong. She was almost a teenager when the Japanese overrun her country. Her dad passed away before World War Two. Her mum was an iliterate rubber tapper who struggled to bring up five children. The entire family had to hide in the jungle and was forced to plant vegetables and roots to keep themselves alive.
Auntie Yong was sick most of those difficult months. She had slow fever, often had chills even at high noon, her feet swelled ... In modern terms, she probably had anemia and was malnourished. Her kidneys were probably overworked and as a result weakened. Her mum loved her and went to ask old ladies for folk medicine to heal her. Things often worked for a little while, but then the symptoms would return, with a vengeance.
That was until the loving mum started trading her valuables for meat. Once a hunter traded part of a monkey carcass with a tea set from China. Another time Mum traded a golden hair pin for two bats. And so Auntie was fed periodically on wild cat, rat, squirrel, wild boar, even dogs and cats that were unlucky enough to be caught.
Years later, Auntie Yong was afraid of cats. As children, they used to play with the cats they kept to catch mice. They particularly loved one that had yellow fur. They called it the Yellow Emperor. She suspected that cat was slaughtered to keep her alive. Perhaps it was guilt, maybe the childish way of fear took root in her heart. She avoided cats from then on.
And my god will supply all your needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus. Phi 4:19
cat.jpg from internetvideomag.com
(258) Adopted / Cat tales 8
Miss Rini brought a stray kitten back from her school. The poor little thing was pathetically thin and cold. As soon as the kitten was placed next to the listless dog, the former nuzzled and started to suckle. The dog pushed her away a few times and later gave up. In the next few days, the kitten brought the dog from the brink of giving up on life. As the kitten became sleek and good looking, the dog started to live again since losing the puppies.
This story was told by my grandma. I was about nine years old and came home with the proverb: raining like cats and dogs. Being curious, I asked my grandma why Mr. Roger's dog and cat were such good friends. Far from fighting, they actually enjoyed each other's company. On rainy days, they would snuggle closely together to keep warm.
- The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. -
american-bob-tail-cat-facts.jpg from catfacts.org
(257) Rescuing the mistreated / Cat tales 7
I know a girl who loves all kinds of animals since young. She cares for the hungry, the sick, the strays and the down troddens. It is not unusual to see a sick bird with a mended wing in her bed room. Of course she had a guard dog and two kitty cats. On top of that she befriends the neibourhood cats.
One evening I was in her house having dinner. You see, my folks did not own a car. In order to attend a school event at night, I went to her home after school so that it would be easy for her dad to take us both to school without travelling to another part of town to pick me up. As I was helping with washing up, I noticed her saving some left over for a stray. She related the 'phantom' cat who was so shy that although she had been feeding it for the past month, she had not had a good look at it.
Two years later, she told me she finally won the trust of that illusive cat. Even though it was a lame cat, it was capable of hiding and disappearing within moments. The day the cat allowed her to pet it, she was jubilant. Another day, she came to school really angry. Apparently, she suspected the cat was a victim of cruelty. We were poor students, each had little allowance. A few of us actually pooled our change so our friend could buy some disinfectant and possibly some bandage so that our animal doctor could attempt to remove the foreign object inserted into the cat's front paw.
A few days later, she reported that the offending nail had been removed and the paw was on the mend. Two weeks later, a home had been found for this shy cat. We were all happy that the cat had found a loving owner. It is unthinkable that people could be that cruel to purposely hurt an innocent and helpless cat when it was too young to defend itself.
A father to the fatherless, a defender to the widows, is God in his holy dwelling. Ps 68:5
Cat2.jpg from cvcl.mit.edu
(256) Pleasing / Interesting Bldg 9
When I look at this picture, it is the scenery that captures my imagination. The buildings are just an after thought.And the Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground -- trees that are pleasing to the eye and good for food. Gen 2:9
stonetree-cottage.jpg stonetreecottage.com
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
(252) Detox / Upbringing 27
Elizabeth has been having allergies for as long as I can remember. Her triggers could be dust, cold air, food or at times unknown causes. Throughout her childhood, I used to force her drink cod liver oil. It did reduce her common colds. Then at one point when she was about eight, I bought spirulina powder imported by my cousin's good friend. I used to spend hours filling in capsules for her easy swallowing. That helped for a few years until she kept putting on weight. After taking her off spirulina for a few months, her allergies returned. You may be laughing at me by now, why not buy capsules in the first place? The reason is that pharmacy capsules don't work. I guess it has to do with the purity of the content. Shortly after we stopped spirulina, the supplier migrated to another country, ending my first workable solution.
A month back she switched food supplements. Since then she found herself going through healing crisis. Her allergies came on more frequently. She had mild rashes now and then. From past experience we know that this is a necessary stage before she will improve. After reading through more information, she decided to go through the detox. In five days, she will replace her daily three meals with liquid meal replacement. In between the liquid meals, she will take snacks of raw fruits and vegetables. In the process of this regiment, she will probably lose some weight. Looking at the BMI, she does not need to lose any weight.
On November 1, her first day of detox, she had diarrhea. Today is Nov 2, she had blocked nose in the morning, loose stool when she visits the little room, and runny nose in the evening.
- to be continued -
A month back she switched food supplements. Since then she found herself going through healing crisis. Her allergies came on more frequently. She had mild rashes now and then. From past experience we know that this is a necessary stage before she will improve. After reading through more information, she decided to go through the detox. In five days, she will replace her daily three meals with liquid meal replacement. In between the liquid meals, she will take snacks of raw fruits and vegetables. In the process of this regiment, she will probably lose some weight. Looking at the BMI, she does not need to lose any weight.
On November 1, her first day of detox, she had diarrhea. Today is Nov 2, she had blocked nose in the morning, loose stool when she visits the little room, and runny nose in the evening.
- to be continued -
(251) Detox 2 / Upbringing 28
Detox - part 2 (continue from upbringing 27)
On Nov 3 In the morning Elizabeth had slight stomach upset for a few minutes right before bowel motion. From morning to night she had intervals of light-headedness and mild headache, especially in between her liquid meals and snacks of fruit or raw vegetable. She had intermittent gas discharge.
When she stayed still for long, there was numbness in her limbs. On her neck she had patches of itchiness.
On Nov 4 there was numbness and sneezing in the morning.
On Nov 5 there were loose stools (one bowel movement) and the tendency to feel numb if her limbs stay still.
Here I repeat her goal of undergoing this detoxification program is not to lose weight. But inadvertently a person who follow all the rules would lose some weight. Elizabeth is slim and reasonably healthy. She lost 2 kilograms within the five day meal replacement program.
Now she has moved to phase two of the program: to replace two meals with liquid meal replacement. The third meal is to be made up of low glyceamic index food and lots of vege and fruits. Since phase 2 is in progess, I would record it in another post.
Please direct queries to ramblingsofadyslexic@gmail.com
On Nov 3 In the morning Elizabeth had slight stomach upset for a few minutes right before bowel motion. From morning to night she had intervals of light-headedness and mild headache, especially in between her liquid meals and snacks of fruit or raw vegetable. She had intermittent gas discharge.
When she stayed still for long, there was numbness in her limbs. On her neck she had patches of itchiness.
On Nov 4 there was numbness and sneezing in the morning.
On Nov 5 there were loose stools (one bowel movement) and the tendency to feel numb if her limbs stay still.
Here I repeat her goal of undergoing this detoxification program is not to lose weight. But inadvertently a person who follow all the rules would lose some weight. Elizabeth is slim and reasonably healthy. She lost 2 kilograms within the five day meal replacement program.
Now she has moved to phase two of the program: to replace two meals with liquid meal replacement. The third meal is to be made up of low glyceamic index food and lots of vege and fruits. Since phase 2 is in progess, I would record it in another post.
Please direct queries to ramblingsofadyslexic@gmail.com
(250) Virginia Garden / Interesting bldg 6
It is such a lush and colourful garden. The house may be a plain board house, but the garden makes it a five-star cottage.
See how the lilies of the field grow.They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. Mt 6:28
Virginia-garden-cottage-m.jpg from southernliving.com
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
(247) God our helper / Prayers 22
- God is a present help in trouble. -
My friend Ruby went to Vietnam as a missionary. She heard a direct call from God and obeyed by faith. After she took out just about all the spare cash from her bank and brought along all the love gifts given from those near and dear to her, which was just enough for about half a year's expenses, she simply trusted that somehow God will supply the rest.
Here I will record one particular incident of extra ordinary providence. Right after she collected her air-ticket to return to her home country (after one year in the field), she went to apply for a returning permit. She was very low in cash. In order to keep her bank account in Vietnam active, she could not take out everything she has. Here she was in a catch twenty two situation. Should she return to her home without the permit, she would have difficulty reentering. But how was she going to find enough money to obtain that important piece of document? Whispering a quick prayer to commit the entire situation to God, she took the crowded public transport back to the missionary base.
When she entered her base, the administrator handed her a tissue paper wrapped item to her. When she asked what it was, the latter said probably money. It is common that the giver wishes to remain anonymous. Therefore the latter merely said, "Don't ask me who gave you this. I cannot reveal the name." After thanking the 'post man', Ruby mounted the stairs to her second floor bedroom. After she closed the door and sat on her bed, she opened the tissue and counted the money. It was the exact amount she needed plus the transportation cost to go to town to get the permit. She was so overwhelmed that she knelt down and cried for quite a while.
When she related the incident to me, it was Chinese New Year. I went for many lavish celebrations that cost far more than what Ruby needed that day. Since I could not ask those generous friends and relatives to give me cash instead, I thought and thought about ideas of fund raising. By March I started a drive to collect all kinds of recyclable items: you name it, I collect it. Newspaper, glass, plastic, metal, aluminium, ... My neighbours, two care groups, church friends, personal friends ... Between March and December my children and I sold slightly above one thousand dollars worth of materials.
My friend Ruby went to Vietnam as a missionary. She heard a direct call from God and obeyed by faith. After she took out just about all the spare cash from her bank and brought along all the love gifts given from those near and dear to her, which was just enough for about half a year's expenses, she simply trusted that somehow God will supply the rest.
Here I will record one particular incident of extra ordinary providence. Right after she collected her air-ticket to return to her home country (after one year in the field), she went to apply for a returning permit. She was very low in cash. In order to keep her bank account in Vietnam active, she could not take out everything she has. Here she was in a catch twenty two situation. Should she return to her home without the permit, she would have difficulty reentering. But how was she going to find enough money to obtain that important piece of document? Whispering a quick prayer to commit the entire situation to God, she took the crowded public transport back to the missionary base.
When she entered her base, the administrator handed her a tissue paper wrapped item to her. When she asked what it was, the latter said probably money. It is common that the giver wishes to remain anonymous. Therefore the latter merely said, "Don't ask me who gave you this. I cannot reveal the name." After thanking the 'post man', Ruby mounted the stairs to her second floor bedroom. After she closed the door and sat on her bed, she opened the tissue and counted the money. It was the exact amount she needed plus the transportation cost to go to town to get the permit. She was so overwhelmed that she knelt down and cried for quite a while.
When she related the incident to me, it was Chinese New Year. I went for many lavish celebrations that cost far more than what Ruby needed that day. Since I could not ask those generous friends and relatives to give me cash instead, I thought and thought about ideas of fund raising. By March I started a drive to collect all kinds of recyclable items: you name it, I collect it. Newspaper, glass, plastic, metal, aluminium, ... My neighbours, two care groups, church friends, personal friends ... Between March and December my children and I sold slightly above one thousand dollars worth of materials.
(245)God cares for the poor/ Prayer 20
When I was living in a northern small town, I attended a small fellowship group. The leader of the group was good at caring for the needy. Members were spurred into action. I remember buying grocery with my spare cash, pooled together with contributions from others and delivering necessities to a blind person called Aunty Chan.
She was a dressmaker by profession. Her taxi driver husband died a few years back. She was childless. Her best friend's children whom she sacrificially helped to bring up refused to care for her. Sad to say, her so called best friend came back from two decades of working illegally in the United Kingdom and fought with her.
By the time we see that she was surviving on welfare payments and the kindness of neighbours and well wishers, we would expect her to die alone and uncared for. The truth turned out to be the opposite. Her next door neighbour was poor, but they cooked for her when she was ill. When she could no longer clean herself, another neighbour who is childless came to her aid. She actually was surrounded with these neighbours while she breathed her last.
* melbourne-international-flower-and- from forvogue.com
Monday, November 8, 2010
(241) Eva/ Prayers 17
Imagine a woman in her seventies, poor in eye sight and slow in movement, who still cared for the less fortunate ones among us; and you are thinking of Eva. I was privileged to know her and get to see her heart of gold. When I told her about the homeless man who came to beg, she asked enough questions to determine his one need: a pair of proper crutches. She actually went to talk to her charitable friend who promised the funds for the aluminium aide. I knew of a person who was willing to sell a redundant pair. So the two of us went to pick the crutches up. We were afraid of any untoward incident and decided to meet him in front of a shopping centre. She had the presence of mind to bring a screw driver in her hold all. So we found ourselves adjusting the height of the crutches for the poor man. He was in tears by the time the pair of us helped him up with the crutches.
That was not all. When his feet deteriorated and we found out he owed the hospital money, Eva and I went to see the hospital authorities to plead his case. We were referred to the state social welfare office. The kind officer gave us a letter which canceled his debt after the initial investigation. Can you see a more unlikely threesome? Eva with her orange coloured hair and electric pink dress. Me in my somber wall flower attire. And the homeless man in his rags. Eva drove her trusty little car to my house, I took over and drove to the nearest bus stop. We then took a bus to town and got down in front of the shopping centre. Three of us actually walked and limped quite a distance to that office. You see, we want to help him but we don't trust him to let him into our car. Subsequently he was put on probationary roll for a monthly allowance. Within six months officers visited all his known siblings to gather his case history. Before a year was up he was put on permanent roll for disability welfare stipend. When the officers learned that he had a motor cycle license, they put him on the waiting list for a state provided motor cycle with a side car for handicap folks.
The last time I met him, the homeless man had hope for a better future. He was grateful and told me so. All because Eva, a retired social worker for the blind, did not rest on her laurels. Good work is the other side of the coin of prayer.
*lily pad lotus flower from teachenglishinasia.net
(240) Faith/ Prayers 16
If we believe that God is good, that he loves us; then how can he not give us good things?
Yet, sometimes what he gives is not like what we ask for, what then?
My heart ached for a mother who asked for a child, specifically many qualities that her heart desired. Yet the miracle child turned out to be late in development. It is very hard for a not very young mum who knows nothing very much about special children to handle a seemingly difficult child.
It is very easy to say, have faith. Especially for women who have perfectly delightful children with fairly normal childhoods. When things go wrong, too many people seemed to turn experts over night. It could be a very lonely place for the parents involved. How to seek a quiet place to hide in to withstand the storms raging outside? For that matter, it may not be possible to find a quiet physical place at all. One may need to create a quiet corner inside. Yes, finding the eye of the hurricane within one's soul.
* animal 101 from media.bigoo.ws
Sunday, November 7, 2010
(235) Chocolate Dream / Interes. bldg 2
Isn't this every young child's dream? Not just a cake that looks like a house, but a real sized abode that is made up of edible chocolate and cream!
Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. Ps 34:8
gingerbread house.jpg from blogs.urbanbaby.com
(231) Dementia
Over the week end I met my husband's former colleague's parents. Mr. and Mrs. Tan are retirees. While their daughter and family went for a package tour, they came to house sit to look after the family pet dog. In fact I blogged about their remarkable grand daughter in my no 2 post many months ago.
Mr. Tan is a healthy and hardy seventy-six year old. He was a former sportsman and a retired military personnel. Mrs Tan was diagnosed with dementia at age seventy two. By the time I met her, she was in the final stage. She no longer knows her own name. Neither could she write any number or letters. It was fortunate that she has a good pension as she used to hold a high post in the government. Her husband is her sole care-giver. She is totally dependent on him day and night. A year back, her children paid and gotten a full-time foreign maid to help care for her. She was suspicious of another woman staying in her domain and was very jealous of the time and attention her husband spent in training the maid. Day and night she fought to send the maid away. In the end, they took the maid to another family just to restore peace.
It is not easy to care for a fully grown adult with the mental capacity of a three year old. Once Mrs Tan wander off in a shopping centre and was lost for more than five hours. When the police located her, she was miles away in another commercial centre trying to open the car doors of every single car parked along the street. In addition to that, she was petrified with hands involuntarily shaking and she had soiled herself. Her husband had made sure she wore a stainless steel wrist band with his hand phone number engraved on it. Despite the fact that she was scared, she did not know how to ask for help. Mrs Tan is physically fit and may have the normal life span up to the average expectation of eighty odd years. As a result of the stress of caring for her, Mr Tan had accepted that he might lose six to eight years of his own life expectancy.
Here is the lives of a happily married couple adversely affected by disease. As in the marriage vow of dwelling with each other through sickness and health, this is the flip side of the coin. Mr. Tan has passed the test with flying colours. He still takes his wife overseas twice a year because dementia did not take away her enjoyment in sight-seeing and trying new food. Mrs Tan is indeed a very blessed woman.
There is no cure once dementia sets in. One can only monitor, treat the symptoms and delay the process of worsening. Not much is proven about the cause of dementia. We are almost dealing with a black box.
Mr. Tan is a healthy and hardy seventy-six year old. He was a former sportsman and a retired military personnel. Mrs Tan was diagnosed with dementia at age seventy two. By the time I met her, she was in the final stage. She no longer knows her own name. Neither could she write any number or letters. It was fortunate that she has a good pension as she used to hold a high post in the government. Her husband is her sole care-giver. She is totally dependent on him day and night. A year back, her children paid and gotten a full-time foreign maid to help care for her. She was suspicious of another woman staying in her domain and was very jealous of the time and attention her husband spent in training the maid. Day and night she fought to send the maid away. In the end, they took the maid to another family just to restore peace.
It is not easy to care for a fully grown adult with the mental capacity of a three year old. Once Mrs Tan wander off in a shopping centre and was lost for more than five hours. When the police located her, she was miles away in another commercial centre trying to open the car doors of every single car parked along the street. In addition to that, she was petrified with hands involuntarily shaking and she had soiled herself. Her husband had made sure she wore a stainless steel wrist band with his hand phone number engraved on it. Despite the fact that she was scared, she did not know how to ask for help. Mrs Tan is physically fit and may have the normal life span up to the average expectation of eighty odd years. As a result of the stress of caring for her, Mr Tan had accepted that he might lose six to eight years of his own life expectancy.
Here is the lives of a happily married couple adversely affected by disease. As in the marriage vow of dwelling with each other through sickness and health, this is the flip side of the coin. Mr. Tan has passed the test with flying colours. He still takes his wife overseas twice a year because dementia did not take away her enjoyment in sight-seeing and trying new food. Mrs Tan is indeed a very blessed woman.
There is no cure once dementia sets in. One can only monitor, treat the symptoms and delay the process of worsening. Not much is proven about the cause of dementia. We are almost dealing with a black box.
(229) Psychotic/ Depression 6
- Depression varies from mild to severe, chronic or even psychotic disorder. -
Psychosis
While I was living in Silver city, I had a neighbour who was a psychotic case. We will call him Ding. He was in his forties when I moved in. Every afternoon, as I busy myself washing vegetables and getting ready to cook dinner, he would walk up and down the back street and talk to himself.
As I settled in the area, I went to his mother's for a cooking demonstration. There I learned that his father was in his eighties. His mum was a sprightly seventy two. The gutsy old lady would drive Ding to a mental hospital 40 miles away to get his monthly jab. Ding's elder brother holds a Ph.d. and has tenure in a famous university in UK. Ding's younger sister married her Australian classmate and resides down under.
It seemed that Ding was very bright. He had wanted to be a medical doctor since he was little. Somehow his missed his first choice by two marks. No matter how his family or friends comforted him, he insisted on repeating his pre-u. Sad to say he missed again by a wider margin on second try. From then on, he deteriorated and had not recovered despite constant monitoring and treatment.
To me, it was such a waste! Ding was still good looking when he was approaching his late forties. He was not violent. On a good day he could carry on a normal conversation with me. If he had given up his first choice, he could have studied dentistry instead all those years ago.
Anyway, God was merciful to this family. In his early fifties, Ding was diagnosed with liver cancer. He knew that his parents had prayed for years that they would live long enough to care for him until Ding breathed his last. Within a year of the diagnosis, Ding died in his childhood home with his parents and a nurse in attendance. He was wise to insist he would receive no treatment. He passed into the next world with dignity and little suffering. His dad followed him two months later. The old lady packed up and sold her house to shuttle between UK and Australia.
Psychosis
While I was living in Silver city, I had a neighbour who was a psychotic case. We will call him Ding. He was in his forties when I moved in. Every afternoon, as I busy myself washing vegetables and getting ready to cook dinner, he would walk up and down the back street and talk to himself.
As I settled in the area, I went to his mother's for a cooking demonstration. There I learned that his father was in his eighties. His mum was a sprightly seventy two. The gutsy old lady would drive Ding to a mental hospital 40 miles away to get his monthly jab. Ding's elder brother holds a Ph.d. and has tenure in a famous university in UK. Ding's younger sister married her Australian classmate and resides down under.
It seemed that Ding was very bright. He had wanted to be a medical doctor since he was little. Somehow his missed his first choice by two marks. No matter how his family or friends comforted him, he insisted on repeating his pre-u. Sad to say he missed again by a wider margin on second try. From then on, he deteriorated and had not recovered despite constant monitoring and treatment.
To me, it was such a waste! Ding was still good looking when he was approaching his late forties. He was not violent. On a good day he could carry on a normal conversation with me. If he had given up his first choice, he could have studied dentistry instead all those years ago.
Anyway, God was merciful to this family. In his early fifties, Ding was diagnosed with liver cancer. He knew that his parents had prayed for years that they would live long enough to care for him until Ding breathed his last. Within a year of the diagnosis, Ding died in his childhood home with his parents and a nurse in attendance. He was wise to insist he would receive no treatment. He passed into the next world with dignity and little suffering. His dad followed him two months later. The old lady packed up and sold her house to shuttle between UK and Australia.
(227) Mirror / L. Disabilities 15
Learning disability
-- This is a rewrite of Learning disability 1 - mirror --
A few months before my daughter started Year One, we moved into the suburb of Silver Spring. There I met a neighbour whose eldest child, Cassandra, was registered to enter the same school mine was going to join. Cassandra's mum readily agreed to fetch my daughter to and from school. In exchange for that, I offered to sit with and help the two girls do homework two nights a week.
Early on in that school year, as I walked out to chat with my neighbour as she dropped my daughter, Cassandra was weeping in the car. Later that evening I found Cassandra was distressed over having to bring some money to school the next day. She was supposed to pay her homeroom teacher something like twelve dollars and fifty cents and then use the remainder to purchase a few items from the book shop.
Instead of doing homework that night, I actually encouraged Cassandra and work out a way for her to carry out the errand with some help from my daughter. We role-played the two scenes, first with myself as the homeroom teacher and my daughter as Cassandra paying fee. Next with my son as the book shop assistant and my daughter as Cassandra buying things. After that, we wrote down what Cassandra had to say, we helped her in rehearsing the two scenes a few times. The following day Cassandra was able to carry out what we taught her with a little assistance from my daughter.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fast forward twelve years. I was listening to a new friend, Cathy, telling me how she had "freeze", and as a result either refuse the purchase of a necessity or end up buying something she had no earthly use of when faced with a fast talking salesman. I was really half listening to her. The other half of my mind was running a search and match routine... Her distress was very familiar... I have seen that before... Ah! I have seen that in Cassandra that fateful evening in the car.
Could it be that my friend was like Cassandra, but she didn't overcome her minor learning difficulty in her childhood? Therefore as a grown woman, she was having problems handling a complex procedure involving multi-step decisions and negotiation?
Let us swing back to Cassandra. That little girl was a really smart child. Yet a little learning difficulty could drive her to tears. She dreaded facing two adults, having to handle money and dealing with time limit (with recess lasting twenty minutes).
* Post one was written more than a year back. Comparing the two versions, I took Elizabeth's advice to keep both so you would see the diamond from two facets.
* coral clock 3d screensaver-45155 from brothersoft.com
-- This is a rewrite of Learning disability 1 - mirror --
Early on in that school year, as I walked out to chat with my neighbour as she dropped my daughter, Cassandra was weeping in the car. Later that evening I found Cassandra was distressed over having to bring some money to school the next day. She was supposed to pay her homeroom teacher something like twelve dollars and fifty cents and then use the remainder to purchase a few items from the book shop.
Instead of doing homework that night, I actually encouraged Cassandra and work out a way for her to carry out the errand with some help from my daughter. We role-played the two scenes, first with myself as the homeroom teacher and my daughter as Cassandra paying fee. Next with my son as the book shop assistant and my daughter as Cassandra buying things. After that, we wrote down what Cassandra had to say, we helped her in rehearsing the two scenes a few times. The following day Cassandra was able to carry out what we taught her with a little assistance from my daughter.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fast forward twelve years. I was listening to a new friend, Cathy, telling me how she had "freeze", and as a result either refuse the purchase of a necessity or end up buying something she had no earthly use of when faced with a fast talking salesman. I was really half listening to her. The other half of my mind was running a search and match routine... Her distress was very familiar... I have seen that before... Ah! I have seen that in Cassandra that fateful evening in the car.
Could it be that my friend was like Cassandra, but she didn't overcome her minor learning difficulty in her childhood? Therefore as a grown woman, she was having problems handling a complex procedure involving multi-step decisions and negotiation?
Let us swing back to Cassandra. That little girl was a really smart child. Yet a little learning difficulty could drive her to tears. She dreaded facing two adults, having to handle money and dealing with time limit (with recess lasting twenty minutes).
* Post one was written more than a year back. Comparing the two versions, I took Elizabeth's advice to keep both so you would see the diamond from two facets.
* coral clock 3d screensaver-45155 from brothersoft.com
(226) Left or right/ Learning disabilities 14
Left or right
The evangelist was pointing to his right chest and saying that God wanted to heal someone with pain there, near the heart. Intellectually I was telling myself that the heart should be on the left. Then he pointed to his lower back and once again said that someone in the audience had intermittent pain in both the spots, the anointing was there and do go out and be healed. Three and then one more young people walked out. I was still asking myself was I the one, as intermittent pain was on the opposite side.
The evangelist was pointing to his right chest and saying that God wanted to heal someone with pain there, near the heart. Intellectually I was telling myself that the heart should be on the left. Then he pointed to his lower back and once again said that someone in the audience had intermittent pain in both the spots, the anointing was there and do go out and be healed. Three and then one more young people walked out. I was still asking myself was I the one, as intermittent pain was on the opposite side.
Much later I thought, how stupid was I to match sides when all I had to do was to walk out and claim the healing. If I had made a mistake of left and right, there would have been no down side. However, that was easier said than done. A life long series of mistakes involving left and right, causing ridicule and humiliation could not be disregarded overnight. Whenever I face a decision of left versus right, I would hesitate. What comes instinctive for some folks would be slow and deliberate for me. Even with deliberate care, I would still make mistake sometimes. At this point, it does not matter. I am no longer fearful of being different. I have accepted the fact that some handicaps come with many other gifts. I win some, I lose some. But one thing for sure, when I get to heaven, I will then have no more handicap.
* coral-o1-copy from www.h2o-mag.com
* coral-o1-copy from www.h2o-mag.com
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
(223)Obedient Cat/ Cat tales 3
Not long ago I visited my husband's business friend and met her beloved cat, Prince. Throughout the afternoon of sampling delicious food, we heard story after story of his exploits.
Here I will relate one that came to my mind as I sat in front of my comp. Once Joy (the owner) went on vacation with her family. They took Prince with them. The first afternoon all of them had to attend an important function and left Prince in Joy's hotel room. As they were walking out the room, Joy said to Prince,"If anyone comes into this room, go hide behind the curtain." Just to be safe, the "Don't Disturb" sign was hung on the door handle. And the entire family went away for the entire afternoon.
After dinner, Joy came into her room expecting to see Prince welcoming her. Ah! No Prince! The room was quiet and empty. Joy panicked. She and the entire family looked in the attached bathroom, under the table, in the closet and every nook and corner. Still no Prince! They considered calling reception and ask if any chambermaid come in to the room. At that very moment it occurred to Joy to look behind the thick curtains. There Prince was! Everyone was elated! It was with relief that everyone gave her a hug. Meanwhile Prince was giving them the "U humans are funny! Tell me to hide behind the curtains and forgot all about it." look.
It was indeed interesting that Prince understood what "go hide behind the curtain" meant. He did not just obey the instruction. The amazing part was that when Joy returned and kept calling him, he was able to ignore the calls and continued to hide as told. Who says that cats cannot be trained!
- To obey is better than sacrifice.-
Adorable-Cats-Screensaver.jpg bioweb.uwlax.edu
(222)His Angel/ Cat tales 2
My uncle lives above a shoplot that is more than a hundred years old. To keep the mice at bay, he kept a good mouser called Phoebe. It is a dainty white short tail cat. To her credit, she loves to kill cockroaches and mice. But do not expect her to eat any of her victims. Each morning she places her trophies in the pathway of her human attendants. Then she walks triumphantly to the kitchen, expecting to be rewarded by a meal of steamed fresh fish and rice.
One day at dusk, my uncle walked from the well lit part of the shop front to the back portion. He was in a hurry to pick up something for a customer. His cat ran to him, hissed and ran to the side. When he ignored Phoebe, the car snarled at him and continued to impede him from moving to the back portion. My uncle stopped in his track and switched on the over head light. He was shocked when he saw a phython in an attack position not more than ten feet from where he was standing. Immediately he shouted to his daughter upstairs to call the fire and rescue services. Then he backed promptly to the shop front to wait for reinforcement.
Ever since that day, my uncle, who is normally close fisted and budget conscious, has not complained about any treats bought for Phoebe. Neither does he bat his eyes at the bills from the vet. The blessed cat is no longer a pet, but becomes a highly valued member of the household - his angel.
- For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. -
Turkish Van Cat.jpg from commons.wikimedia.org
(221)Blackie/ Cat tales 1
BlackieMany years ago I spent two weeks alone cat sitting in a picturesque cottage. It was an outside tom cat. He had stripes like tiger. Basically he was more black than white, a very fine looking adult cat.
It was summer time in Texas, the temperature bordered on hot. The owner did not name the cat. I, however, called him Blackie. My duty involved opening the door around five in the evening. If he demands food, I should open a can for him. If not, I should switch on the TV for him to watch. Should he walks to the guest toilet, then I need to open the door and later empty the litter into a bag. Usually by six, he would want to go back out. Then it would be adious till the next evening.
That was my very first experience living in one house with a cat. I spent every minute of my cat hour observing him. He was a most dignified animal. Most of the days, he would just stand outside patiently waiting for me to open the wooden front door. Only on the first Saturday, I was chatting with my sympathetic ex boss who called to check if I needed groceries. By the time I realised it was past five, Blackie was smart enough to walk over to peek at me through the glass window. He behaved exactly as described. I was most impressed with his predictable habits. He seemed to have an in built clock. Everyday he appeared to the minute to be let in. Most days he would eat his food, watch some TV, use his personal toilet and then go back to the great exciting outdoor.
Blackie's normal meal is tuna fish flavoured cat food. That he ate four days in a row. On the fifth day that he was hungry, he refused to eat his normal ration. As instructed, I took out alternative cans and waited for him to indicate which can to open. Sure enough, he rubbed against my leg when I showed him the expensive can of lobster flavoured luxurious brand. To him, it was a treat of kind. The food he refused was bagged and placed in the fridge for the next day's meal.
In the first days I watched whatever programs he wanted. Later I would leave him to watch should I not like the program. Then I realised that he actually preferred sitting with me in the kitchen rather than watching the TV alone. After a while I begun to talk to him like he was my friend. I didn't think he understood me fully, but it was very obvious he caught on to my moods and responded to what I told him. It was strange that on the only day I was sad, he stayed on an extra hour to keep me company.
-- I will never leave you, or forsake you. --
Friday, October 29, 2010
(211) Build on Strength/ Upbringing 24
How do we know what a child is good in? Is this the strength that we should concentrate time and money in developing? It starts with really getting to know the child. One must be willing to spend time with the child, time playing, time working, time going to places, time staying at home, time making messes, time cleaning up, time disagreeing, time having fun together .... If one really spends lots of time with a child, both quality and otherwise, he or she will be able to observe the child and have insights.
From young, Keziah picked up jingoes from the television, radio and even from the ice-cream van easily. At age three, she first heard a piano being played in her nursery school. She didn't know that it was called a piano then. We next heard it while walking past a music school. She stopped and told me in no uncertain terms she wanted the black thing that 'sings'. Subsequently, she repeated her request whenever we passed the same music school.
Now, many years later, I can see why she was attracted to a piano. God has given her a good ear for rhythm and beat. She picks up new melodies quite effortlessly. All these years, she refused to sit for exams. Her creative teacher managed to teach her pieces of music and songs without Keziah learning to read music notes. While she may never make music her career, she derives tremendous pleasure from playing contemporary songs.
Whenever other parents heard her play, they often asked who her teacher was. While the teacher was patient, dedicated and enjoyed the challenges of teaching Keziah, the former has yet to come across another student who could play as well as Keziah in her twelve years of teaching piano. No, Keziah is not a music prodigy. She may never win any music competition. She is just reasonably good at playing catchy tunes and bringing a song to life. But that was sufficient to boost her self confidence and to build a healthy self image.
After her high school, she became close to a youth group with a band. She is now learning to accompany singers at the key board. Whenever others take over the keyboard, she likes to be one of the back up singers. In this instance, her musical training enables her to participate in group activities and be one of the gang.
At this point, you may be wondering why I have included this piece in this blog! From most perspectives, most people view Keziah as an outstanding young lady. I have started work on her since she was two and a half years old. I remember when she came home in tears because a teacher reprimanded her for tearing pages out of her exercise book. Why did she do that? Because she made big mistakes not leaving lines as instructed or maybe not adhering to the proper margin.
I was there sitting with her through her anguish when her gang boycotted her after a physical fight. She had to analyse through why she was that angry... because her so called friend taunted and laughed at her over some idiosyncrasy she could not help ... Out of a few paths, she chose to apologise to the offended party. Thereafter she distanced herself from any girls who pick on her, but rather befriend those who see good traits in her. She begun at that point moving from group to group during break, before or after school. That was a conscious choice to click with no group and yet have a wide base of friends. That works for her, as it allows her to be herself. She would not be pressured to conform to any one group.
She was dyslexic, perhaps mildly so. She still could not associate a certain date with what week day it is, or whether it was in the past, in the present week or it is sometime in the future. She needs to see the calendar, locate today, then only she could fix that date in her head. Since young I have drilled into her that God had made her different, not better and not worse, but all the same different for His purposes and Glory. And so she does not hide her handicaps, she has accepted herself just as God made her. She is comfortable with the way she is. If I had missed out on anything else, I know I have accomplished in her what God had intended me to do. It was not easy, but it was worthwhile. It is not because of me, but because God had enabled me through the years. If you need help in the same way, then turn to God and let him enable you.
* coral polyp 1 from plaza.ufl.edu
(209) Praying for healing/ Prayers 12
For many years I had had joint problems. From struggling to stand, taking medication and food supplements, I improved over the years. Prayers helped. Certain anointed individuals could make a lot of difference by the laying on of hands and praying.
There is this lady pastor from United Kingdom. She was the keynote speaker of a healing camp in a northern country which I attended. In her camp I went out three times to accept healing. After the camp she sat down and taught me word by word how to pray for my knees. She emphasized that as soon as I feel discomfort, I should immediately lay hand and pray for myself. I asked her how often should I pray, she said as often as I want or need to. Should there be pain, I should pray, walk on and pray. If the pain remains, then sit down and pray again.
This is the prayer she said all believers can pray, "In Jesus' name I release God's creative miracle over my --------. In Jesus' name, ---------- , be healed and be whole." while placing a hand on the afffected area.
* flower from digital-photography-school.com
(208) God who comes to us/ Prayers 11
When I was in High School, all the born-again Christians in my class call themselves Christ' Ambassadors. Every Friday they meet after school. In between the meetings they would talk to us about their God. I came from a Taoist background. What they said sounded like Greek, it was very confusing. What I really dislike was that they would condemn others' religious beliefs.
There was one meeting that I attended which was held under a big tree in the field. (This is now more than thirty years later.) I had forgotten all about it until my best friend reminded me about it. Apparently during that meeting we went round the circle stating what we would like to become if we were given a wish. According to my buddy with an elephant's memory, I told them I wanted to be a space craft traveling in deep space. My choice was very different from everyone else' movie stars, athletes, millionaires, political figures...
Looking back, I must have been a thorn in these Christians' side. I would use my wit and debating skills to argue with them. I could easily take on two and win the argument. When we graduated from High School, different students went different ways. One of my fervent Christian friends started to pray every morning for me and others. She shared that she would wake up at five in the morning to petition to God. It seems that I was on her list of people for God to reveal himself to that she diligently prayed over every Tuesday.
As she was praying, I was abroad. Many things happened. It suffice to say in this story that I met my faithful friend's God in the home of an Apollo astronaut who actually walked on the moon. This goes to show how much this personal God loves me that he used circumstances to bring me to the one person who talked about his Lord that I will accept and believe.
* animal1079.gif from help.com
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
(206) Sense of self worth / L. Difficulties 9
Sad to say, this leads to an identity crisis. Teenagers in particular do not see themselves as productive members in their respective families. Extra time and excess energy may be channeled into harmful activities. I may not be able to cite chapter and verse for this view from any reference text. Since I heard about this from a youth counselor in a workshop I have given it much thought. Generally I found it to be true among friends and neighbours.
After learning about this disadvantage of bringing up children in the city, I try very hard to include my children in all my activities. When I home tutor a special child, I rope in the child that is close in age to learn together with my student. Should that not be possible, I select one who is good in that particular subject to assist me whenever I run out of ways to reach the child. One thing I learn is that children have very original approach. They explain things in the least number of simple words. In other words, whenever I am stuck, they can usually find some easy way to get things across to the target child.
When I plan and write out a curriculum, my children serve as typists and editorial assistants. Should I decide to send out newsletters for fund raising purposes, they fold letters, stuff envelopes, write addresses, and stick stamps. For those recipients with e-mail address, one child will update the list if necessary and the other will handle electronic mass mailing. When we run holiday camps for orphans or under privilege children in foreign countries, my children function as assistant camp teachers.
Through all these various projects, they acquire new skills, find out their strengths and learn to see themselves as useful contributors to economic, social and spiritual enterprises.
* coral-cavernous-star from beadsbymail.com
(205) Angels / Learning difficulties 8
There was Betty, swinging her long pig tail, telling me that everything was fine. She was her usual perky self, cheerful, bouncy, and full of the Irish wit she inherited from her mum. There she was, assuring me that anytime I needed help, she would be there for me.
Betty was a senior while I was in my freshman year. Why she would deign to notice a quiet and needy foreign student, I still do not know. It must be her deep seated kindness and willingness to care for the underdog. That day I broke the test-tube and dropped concentrated acid on the work bench, it was Betty who came to my rescue. She deftly picked up the glass pieces and threw paper napkins to absorb the few drops of spill. She encouraged me by saying that were I not part of the class, she had nothing to look forward to on Wednesdays. It was having me around that liven things up. Otherwise it was such a drag that she did not want to get up at all.
I was such a clumsy person, I dropped things, I kept things that were supposed to be thrown but threw things I would need for the next part of the experiment. Whatever genuine mistakes you could possibly conceive of, I probably had made them before. Without a doubt, I was possibly the only student who would need five hours of intense effort to complete a routine experiment others breezed through in three hours. My professor, Dr. Carol, was patience itself. When others finished, she would ask how much more time I would require. Then accordingly she would come back to see what my result was like and give instruction to the lab assistant to lock up when I was done. Yet she told me that should I choose to, I would do well in Chemistry. I would make a reasonably good chemist and yes, possibly I could get a teaching assistant position to finance my Masters degree.
* bonaire-flower-coral from funscubadiver.com
The next thing I remembered about Betty was seeing her in her dream dress. She came back to college for her wedding rehearsal. She looked like a fairy princess in her froth and lace. I was not able to attend her wedding, that summer I flew home. A friend from the Chemistry class mailed me a write-up of the event with a lovely picture of the newly weds.
*** If you are a believing parent, pray that the paths of your learning disabled child is dotted with angels like Betty.
(204)Inability to associate object with function/ LD 7
Learning Disability
One night, I was teaching my youngest child and her friend how to write compositions for the Final Exam. Instead of deleting unwanted sentences, both of them were taught to erase the pencil written words. The eraser changed hand repeatedly. One eraser fell and rolled away. Another was dropped into my small basket of odds and ends.
One night, I was teaching my youngest child and her friend how to write compositions for the Final Exam. Instead of deleting unwanted sentences, both of them were taught to erase the pencil written words. The eraser changed hand repeatedly. One eraser fell and rolled away. Another was dropped into my small basket of odds and ends.
Christine, my youngest, was neat and meticulous. Her friend, Vivien, was untidy and easy going. As Christine was reading her concluding paragraph, I was listening with half an ear. My eyes were on Vivien. I saw her pick up something from my basket. Then she was rubbing away and making a funny squeaky sound. Before she could complain the eraser was not working, I already stepped over and grabbed the object. It was part of a key chain, it said "I love Hawaii". All of us had a good laugh! How could a hard piece of plastic function as an eraser!
The next time I met Vivien's mum, I told her the above episode. She was not surprise. According to her, Vivien would mistake a rusted old blade for a piece of wood. None of her other siblings who were younger than her have this problem.
Relating all these information to another mum who is a medical Doctor, Dr. Lee promptly answered that it is a learning disability.
* sea-animals 4260.jpg from hickerphoto.com
The next time I met Vivien's mum, I told her the above episode. She was not surprise. According to her, Vivien would mistake a rusted old blade for a piece of wood. None of her other siblings who were younger than her have this problem.
Relating all these information to another mum who is a medical Doctor, Dr. Lee promptly answered that it is a learning disability.
* sea-animals 4260.jpg from hickerphoto.com
Saturday, October 23, 2010
(203) The House of Promise/Prayers 9
When I almost lost my mobility, I was devastated emotionally. Since the age of seven, I have been searching deliberately for about fifteen years for the true God of the universe. After finding him, I sincerely followed him to the best of my ability. Then I found myself a few short steps away from a wheelchair.
Being a practical person, I spent less time wondering "Why me?". After all, Joni was younger than I when her head hit the hidden rock and she became a quadriplegic. I read Psalms often and cried.
I prayed and fasted for guidance.My prayer went like this: " If I were to be eventually wheel chair bound, then please let me buy a one floor abode in which every room is wheel chair accessible. But if God sees it fit that I will be able to walk until the very day he takes me home, then let me purchase a double-storey house."
The very first house I offered for was a double-storey house. I heard from a friend that he was moving out and the owners considered selling. After a silent prayer, I called the owners and offered a figure I picked from empty air. Two weeks later, we made an appointment to sign the sale and purchase agreement.
From that time, I have gone on with an unshakable faith that come what may, I would be able to walk right up to my very last day on earth.
* flower 022.gif from myspace.com
* flower 022.gif from myspace.com
(202) Call/ Prayers 8
Each time he listened to their personal stories as to how they came to be part of their team. Someone would encourage Joseph to consider joining YWAM and give six months to God.Without fail, the question of expense came up. The response usually was laughter. According to these YWAMers of different ages, background and countries, not one of them had sufficient funds when they applied. Somehow, between application and the actual date of starting DTS (Discipleship Training School), money came.
For Joseph, he did consider the option for a few years. However, he did nothing until his family friend who was a missionary pledged a certain amount towards the fee that he actually applied.With the minimum amount required in mind, he started living frugally and started saving. The result was surprising to say the least. By the time it was one week to departure date, he had received more than half the required amount as gifts. The interesting part of the only explanation one can give would be that the second half of the six month period would be devoted to community service. Kind people of all faiths believe in good work.
It was in the DTS that Joseph heard God's call and became convicted that he will be a missionary responding to specific calls to different parts of the world. He is currently qualifying himself for professional entry into most countries.
* rose1 from digitalphotoartistry.com
Saturday, October 16, 2010
(185) Yes, Mum/ Upbringing 21
Based on what she observed in her lady boss, she thought it is not good in the long run for any son to be too obedient and agreeable to his mum. You see, her boss has this son who was intelligent, self-motivated, obedient and generally the all star son any mum would dream of. This young man won a scholarship to a premier University in UK. As soon as he qualified as a doctor, he married a local girl. As he was agreeable to his mum up to his wedding day, his wife took first place in his life after they were wed. Margy said that there after he seldom visits or calls his family.
Being aware of this, Margy actually aims to bring up her son to have his own ideas and be able withstand objections from others. She figures that she would like him to decide what he wants to do rather than to listen to either his mum or his wife.
*flower 083.gif from universalscraps.com
(183) A lovely lady/ Pain 11
I just came back from the local post office. My youngest drove me there, it was a privilege to be driven after years of acting as the taxi driver of the family. While I waited in queue to complete my errand, my child went grocery shopping. After my transaction, I fell in conversation with an attractive person sitting next to me.
It may sound strange to you, but it is not unusual for me to talk to a stranger and found out within minutes what matter most to them at that split second. In this case I am glad to be able to say a few things to comfort, right a lopsided perspective and encourage the person concerned. Chances are, I may never meet the person again, nor is there any need to.
We shall call her Choon Ying, meaning cherry blossom in spring. She has lovely features, is slim built and has a certain intense look about her. If I may guess, she could be a medical doctor or a research scientist. I know for sure that her husband is in IT, as she answered my query about him. While waiting for my turn at the service counter, I heard him talking to the counter staff and his wife. It was just a sentence here and a few words there, yet it reminded me strongly of one of my favourite students many years ago. No, he wasn't my student, he is too young. At thirty one, he was only in the second year of high school when I taught my last class which happened to be a Computer Science and Mathematics combination in a local college.
As the sharing unfolds, I found that she was on her first trip to my home country to meet her in-laws. Both she and her husband have permanent jobs in say, Sweden. Her husband relocated specially to court and marry her in Europe. Sad to say, not all of her husband's nearest and dearest were polite and kind to her, a new addition to that sprawling extended family. As she told me that she did all she could possibly to be friends with everyone in her husband's family, her eyes were filled with tears. Quickly she blinked them away. Call it a divine appointment, I was able to explain to her why my country women could be so short-sighted and rude to a foreigner. There is no excuse, really, but the world is made up of all kinds of people.
I suppose I am predisposed to liking Choon Ying's country, as my uncle resides there. Since he came a number of times to visit us and I went to pay him a long visit once, I am intrigued by that country. It is not so for some people in my country, for the newspaper gives a very bad press to that particular country - namely con-men and social escorts that originate from there. If by now, you can identify the above incident, you must have been present at the post office over hearing our conversation or you are a friend of Choon Ying or her husband. If you are my compatriot, please do what you can to right this wrong. We live in an increasingly international world, we call it a global village. There is no room for xenophobia. And I sure hope that the next time Choon Ying visits my country, it will be under more pleasant circumstances and she will meet more pleasant folks.
It may sound strange to you, but it is not unusual for me to talk to a stranger and found out within minutes what matter most to them at that split second. In this case I am glad to be able to say a few things to comfort, right a lopsided perspective and encourage the person concerned. Chances are, I may never meet the person again, nor is there any need to.
We shall call her Choon Ying, meaning cherry blossom in spring. She has lovely features, is slim built and has a certain intense look about her. If I may guess, she could be a medical doctor or a research scientist. I know for sure that her husband is in IT, as she answered my query about him. While waiting for my turn at the service counter, I heard him talking to the counter staff and his wife. It was just a sentence here and a few words there, yet it reminded me strongly of one of my favourite students many years ago. No, he wasn't my student, he is too young. At thirty one, he was only in the second year of high school when I taught my last class which happened to be a Computer Science and Mathematics combination in a local college.
As the sharing unfolds, I found that she was on her first trip to my home country to meet her in-laws. Both she and her husband have permanent jobs in say, Sweden. Her husband relocated specially to court and marry her in Europe. Sad to say, not all of her husband's nearest and dearest were polite and kind to her, a new addition to that sprawling extended family. As she told me that she did all she could possibly to be friends with everyone in her husband's family, her eyes were filled with tears. Quickly she blinked them away. Call it a divine appointment, I was able to explain to her why my country women could be so short-sighted and rude to a foreigner. There is no excuse, really, but the world is made up of all kinds of people.
I suppose I am predisposed to liking Choon Ying's country, as my uncle resides there. Since he came a number of times to visit us and I went to pay him a long visit once, I am intrigued by that country. It is not so for some people in my country, for the newspaper gives a very bad press to that particular country - namely con-men and social escorts that originate from there. If by now, you can identify the above incident, you must have been present at the post office over hearing our conversation or you are a friend of Choon Ying or her husband. If you are my compatriot, please do what you can to right this wrong. We live in an increasingly international world, we call it a global village. There is no room for xenophobia. And I sure hope that the next time Choon Ying visits my country, it will be under more pleasant circumstances and she will meet more pleasant folks.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
(166) forgiveness/ Pain 6
After being married for more than a quarter century, I neither encourage nor discourage another to enter the married state. If we are wise in choosing our spouse, it still takes much effort to make the marriage work. In some cases it takes a conscious decision to stay married.
What one person cites for divorce, another can forgive and go on. I remember a woman who brought up a pair of her husband's love children along with her only son. She had such a serene demeanour and a pair of sad eyes. Alas, she died fairly young, in her early fifties. Shortly after that, her husband followed.
Quite a number of my graduate teacher friends divorced non-contributing husbands. Yet I see my blue collar neighbour brought up two sons in spite of the fact that her husband incurred in gambling debts periodically. The gambler is in his sixties while the capable and forgiving woman is in her fifties. They are still married.
Well, all these make up our colourful and interesting world.
*fullres2.jpg from ratemyscreensaver.com
(161) Pain
Last week I met up with two friends. One seemed to be in shock and the other was in deep pain.
The former has a house that a lot of women would kill for. Her husband is a multi-millionaire. Her three girls are all abroad. Over the years, we as friends saw her continually adjusting to her husband's financial success. It had not been easy.
The latter is a recent divorcee. Her child is with her ex-husband. She relocated to another city and for all intent and purpose, is making a good living with a new job. Most of the time, she seems to be making progress. Until she meets her child, that is. Then the cycle of pain and a deep sense of failure would descend. And she talks of death, yet again.
Of course there are many happily married couples. But I must say that if a young girl were to look at my two friends, she would probably decide to stay single.
* diamond-flower-small.jpg from veerle-v2.duoh.com
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
(160) Common sense/ upbringing 20
Ever wonder if such a person were brought up by a string of maids or nannies who did everything for them? It is funny that things are often not what you or I imagine them to be! I have a friend called Mina. She has never hired a maid in her entire married life. As she works from home, she looks after her own children. While her daughter was in charged of washing dishes, they placed the trash can on the ground next to the sink. Generally the kitchen, sink, dishes and other pieces of furniture are clean. But, If you bend down and look closely at the wall above the trash can, you would notice the many blobs of different colour fluid all dried up. I could not imagine how the dirt got there. So after one meal I stayed behind to watch the washing up.
Child number two brought in stacks of dishes. Child number three wiped down the table surface with soap, also the stove. Our beautiful and experienced dish washer simply threw whatever, solid or liquid, into the trash can. She did not bend down, neither did she really take a good aim. Whether the left over hit the floor, the trash can or the wall, she hardly noticed. Of course the dish washing occurred at a terrific pace. Right after she finished, child number two came with a mop and pushed it around systematically ending at the door to the wet kitchen. Mom came in and ordered a second round of mopping because the floor was still sticky. Of course the floor became sticky, our speed champion dish washer dropped many blobs of oily and sticky sauces near the sink. In came the mop and distributed the same all over the kitchen floor. But because mom ordered a second round of cleaning, child number three cleverly added a few drops of dish detergent into the pail of clean water. After a mop traveling at top speed, the kitchen is pronounced clean.
This is many years later. Our beautiful dish washer is of marriageable age. I wonder if she will run her future kitchen the same way?
Note added in 2012, she is recently married. What wouldn't I give to contrive a visit to her marital kitchen! Sad to say, it is easier said than done!
Note 2 in 2020 she now owns a music college. She is the happy mother of an infant girl. Her dad recently passed on.
13953.JPG from widget.bigoo.ws
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