Few days ago, I had a brief dream.
Blink once – I was walking towards my bedroom, passing the living room, passing the spot where my Dad usually sits.
Blink next – I was walking towards my bedroom, passing the living room, passing the spot where my Dad usually sits – his armchair is gone.
Few days ago, I had a brief dream.
Blink once – I was walking towards my bedroom, passing the living room, passing the spot where my Dad usually sits.
Blink next – I was walking towards my bedroom, passing the living room, passing the spot where my Dad usually sits – his armchair is gone.
The brooding wild stare deludes the talents within
The sophisticated air she exudes, conjures up a dignified presence.
The aloofness that melts the coldest of hearts
The songs she delivers with tragic oomph
The differing roles she plays with versatile ease
That’s Nana, the singer, the performer, a shining star in her own quiet way.
(I wrote this in 1998 for Tang Na – singer, actress, bizwoman, yoga instructor).
She lent a bossa nova rendition to a few oldies, oh-so-splendidly done. I particularly like “Imagine”, “Just The Way You Are”, “Somewhere Beyond The Sea”..to name a few. In her previous album, I especially liked her light-hearted upbeat “I Only Wanna Be With You”. If I ever get hitched, this song will be played in my wedding!
Another singer I discovered was a China singer by the name of Snow Rose – with her soulful renditions of “Have I Told You Lately”, “Every Breath You Take”, “Especially For You” etc.. simply swept me away. Of course the other singer, another of my favourite is Emi Fujita with her “In My Life”, “From A Distance” etc….
All these angels have one thing in common: different backgrounds but they sang English songs without a tinge of weird accent – crystal clear, soulful – blended pitch-perfect with sweet oldies. My weakness is hearing an unique voice delivery of my favourite English songs. These angels are really God-send!
An excerpt of Emotion…..
It’s just emotion that’s taken me over
The brooding wild stare deludes the talents within
The sophisticated air she exudes, conjures up a dignified presence.
The aloofness that melts the coldest of hearts
The songs she delivers with tragic oomph
The differing roles she plays with versatile ease
That’s Nana, the singer, the performer, a shining star in her own quiet way.
(I wrote this in 1998 for Tang Na – singer, actress, bizwoman, yoga instructor).
She lent a bossa nova rendition to a few oldies, oh-so-splendidly done. I particularly like “Imagine”, “Just The Way You Are”, “Somewhere Beyond The Sea”..to name a few. In her previous album, I especially liked her light-hearted upbeat “I Only Wanna Be With You”. If I ever get hitched, this song will be played in my wedding!
Another singer I discovered was a China singer by the name of Snow Rose – with her soulful renditions of “Have I Told You Lately”, “Every Breath You Take”, “Especially For You” etc.. simply swept me away. Of course the other singer, another of my favourite is Emi Fujita with her “In My Life”, “From A Distance” etc….
All these angels have one thing in common: different backgrounds but they sang English songs without a tinge of weird accent – crystal clear, soulful – blended pitch-perfect with sweet oldies. My weakness is hearing an unique voice delivery of my favourite English songs. These angels are really God-send!
An excerpt of Emotion…..
It’s just emotion that’s taken me over
This is written for my buddies: Veg, Jess, Joan, Boon Eng
The chemistry between friends…
There’s no need for words
Simply a smile, a knowing grin
And our hearts click.
The chemistry between friends…
It’s just pure sincerity
You will know me, and I will understand you
That’s what makes it so precious.
Even though we’re not together everyday
There’s no distance between us
I’ll support you quietly all the way
And pray for your well-being.
The chemistry between friends…
It’s just pure sincerity
You will know me and I will understand you
That’s what makes it so special.
How to improve one’s luck? From time to time, we may face a bad patch / luck or “negative qi” (energy). Here are some methods to change or alter bad luck:
1. Body and foot massage to activate all the qi points in our body.
2. Drink red wine daily helps in blood circulation and also aids a good sleep
3. Fasting. No food (only peanuts, milo, plain water) for 3 solid days.
4. Go vegetarian without meat to rid the negative qi.
5. Do donations to any charitable organisation
6. Pick up coins on the floor and keep it for good luck
7. Buy new sets of panties (only on 1st and 15th day of the lunar month).
8. Buy a small calculator (on 1st and 15 day of the month)
9. Activate the fengshui pond in the wealth area (2004 to 2023).
10. Praying and chanting mantras helps.
11. Meditation – count 1-100 watch your breath without your mind wandering.
This is written for my buddies: Veg, Jess, Joan, Boon Eng
The chemistry between friends…
There’s no need for words
Simply a smile, a knowing grin
And our hearts click.
The chemistry between friends…
It’s just pure sincerity
You will know me, and I will understand you
That’s what makes it so precious.
Even though we’re not together everyday
There’s no distance between us
I’ll support you quietly all the way
And pray for your well-being.
The chemistry between friends…
It’s just pure sincerity
You will know me and I will understand you
That’s what makes it so special.
I learnt from Master Lynn how to improve one’s luck. From time to time, we may face a bad patch / luck or “negative qi” (energy). She felt it was important that we know some methods / tactics to change and alter the bad luck. Here are some of the ways:
1. Body and foot massage to activate all the qi points in our body.
2. Drink red wine daily helps in blood circulation and also aids a good sleep
3. Fasting. No food (only peanuts, milo, plain water) for 3 solid days.
4. Go vegetarian without meat to rid the negative qi.
5. Do donations to any charitable organisation
6. Pick up coins on the floor and keep it for good luck
7. Buy new sets of panties (only on 1st and 15th day of the lunar month).
8. Buy a small calculator (on 1st and 15 day of the month)
9. Activate the fengshui pond in the wealth area (2004 to 2023).
10. Praying and chanting mantras helps.
11. Meditation – count 1-100 watch your breath without your mind wandering.
This is not the first time Dad has cancer. Twelve years ago, he has a small lump which was cancerous somewhere near his kidney. He lost one of his kidneys that time and had to undergo chemotherapy for a while. I remembered then that the doctor told me privately that my Dad has only 6 months to live. That time I was too shocked rather than had time to feel sad. I had to keep it from my Mom because I did not think that Mom was prepared for the news. I had to keep it from my sis as she was having her final stressful exams then and I knew she would definitely freak out. Luckily I had the support of my boss who is a medical doctor and also my colleagues then. And luckily my Dad healed miraculously and bounced back into life after about one year later.
Now 12 years later, it’s the same scenario. Only that the doctor is optimistic this time. I don’t know why it had to be a Chinese cycle of 12 animals/years. Morever the Year of the Dog is around the corner and the Dog has started to show signs of his arrival. The Year of the Dog next year is supposedly not going to be a smooth year for me. I know some of my friends do not believe in superstition or fengshui or bazi stuff. However, somehow, based on my limited knowledge and calculation or prediction, I had known and dread this might happen again. And it did. I pray and hope that my Dad will bounce back again this time.
This is not the first time Dad has cancer. Twelve years ago, he has a small lump which was cancerous somewhere near his kidney. He lost one of his kidneys that time and had to undergo chemotherapy for a while. I remembered then that the doctor told me privately that my Dad has only 6 months to live. That time I was too shocked rather than had time to feel sad. I had to keep it from my Mom because I did not think that Mom was prepared for the news. I had to keep it from my sis as she was having her final stressful exams then and I knew she would definitely freak out. Luckily I had the support of my boss who is a medical doctor and also my colleagues then. And luckily my Dad healed miraculously and bounced back into life after about one year later.
Now 12 years later, it’s the same scenario. Only that the doctor is optimistic this time. I don’t know why it had to be a Chinese cycle of 12 animals/years. Morever the Year of the Dog is around the corner and the Dog has started to show signs of his arrival. The Year of the Dog next year is supposedly not going to be a smooth year for me. I know some of my friends do not believe in superstition or fengshui or bazi stuff. However, somehow, based on my limited knowledge and calculation or prediction, I had known and dread this might happen again. And it did. I pray and hope that my Dad will bounce back again this time.
True enough, on Saturday, I heard from my good friend, Boon Eng that her grandmother had passed away. She was 104. The grand old lady was admitted to the hospital the week before and had struggled with chest pains. Towards the end, between unconsciousness and a weak state of being unable to speak, she could still recognise her more than a hundred of family members who visited her. When Boon Eng and her mom told grandmother that she would get well and go home soon, her grandmother shook her head. On Friday, unbearable to see her grandmother endured the painful jabs which had swell her arms and at the risk of further infection, Boon Eng and her mom whispered to her grandmother gently, asking her not to worry about the family as they can take care of themselves, asking her to go in peace if she was suffering much pain. On Saturday morning, she passed away peacefully.
The press had come to interview the family because grandmother was 104! They learnt that grandmother was a buddhist who lives simply, not fussy about food, turned vegetarian during the 1st and 15th of each lunar month. She also drank a bottle of chicken essence everyday.
The monk who presided the prayer chanting session for grandmother told the family that the night before, Buddha had appeared in his dream, and had asked him to come and offer 3 lotus flowers on grandmother’s altar. This was a very auspicious sign. I also chanted my own prayers for grandmother, praying that the Buddha and all the tataghatas are with her during this time and to guide her to Amitabha Buddha Pureland or to have a good rebirth. I told Boon Eng to do the same prayer. During this period for 49 days, grandmother’s spirit remains in the Bardo state (where the soul left the body and is in the ethereal state of awareness) before heading towards Pureland.
During the last night of prayers before the funeral, strangely 2 house flies were seen flying around her family throughout the session and eventually landed on the palm of Boon Eng’s mom, before flying off. Grandmother’s own daughter in law had also passed away a few days back. They believed that the houseflies were grandmother and her daughter in law, both in the ethereal state, saying good bye to the family. They were hugely relieved and happy that the Buddha was with them. Grandmother looked peaceful. She was indeed blessed. Om ami dewa hrih.
Life of Lopsided 8 