Reminiscing...

In the silence of contemplation, what runs through your mind? Right now, at this very moment in space and time?
Memories engraved with friends? Echoes of laughter that reverberated through childhood? Songs that were sung and played in the hours before school?

***

My childhood was spent in the upper floor of the place I call home, where hours stretched long and arduous, a never ending continuity. Those were the afternoons filled with reading Enid Blyton and Francine Pascal, nights spent with siblings in tidying the 3 bedrooms upstairs, though more often than not, I ended up being the observer. Those were the times where my sister, brother and I explored worlds unknown in the relative safety of the master bedroom, where anything and everything was possible, where pirates sailed courageously one day and space was explored the next. We fed our imaginations with tales woven with childish curiousity. Back then, it seemed that time inched forward, seemingly at a snail's pace.

And then, we grew up.

I suppose one could say we outgrew the naivete we possessed as children. We had busier schedules with exams to study for. Computer games overtook the games of make-believe that entertained us. Time started to fly. No longer were we insulated as we were as children. We were expected to be aware of what was happening in the world, to be cognizant of our surroundings. And realism overtook imagination. It stood me in good stead, I suppose, but sometimes, I wish that time would be remiss in its duty and I can return to fully enjoy the times when days were endless and full of possibilities untold.

The world spins madly on...

Why do we do what we do? This is a question that I find myself asking time and again. Because it doesn't matter how hard we try... it almost seems like no matter what transpires in our universe, the world as we know it spins madly on. It stops for no one. Yet we plod on. Step after step. One foot in front of the other. With aspirations to be a Somebody. To what end? I remember one of the caregroup lessons I had when I was in first year, I think. That we are called to significance, but not necessarily prominence. But human nature desires recognition. Fame. It's a failing that is not a stranger to many.
We can get so caught up in all the duties that we have, the responsibilities to fulfill, the tasks on the checklist, that we forget the heart of the matter... that it is the people who are important. To be able to complete one's work is a laudable achievement, but if it was at the expense of others' feelings and emotions, the very real feelings and emotions, wouldn't that make the success hollow?
The roads ahead are long, narrow and winding. Life was never a bed of roses. And even if it were, there are thorns to contend with. And if we expect the good in life, it is only fair that we should accept the bad with a measure of dignity. Not whining, not complaining about the hand that life/God has thrown us, but to deal with it the best way we can. To the utmost of our efforts.
For happiness is not getting what you want, but wanting what you get, be it your heart's deepest desire, or the antithesis of it. It's never easy.

Melbourne and clinical placements...

So I've been back in Melbourne for a week now... Classes have started and I start with a cardiothoracic surgery unit rotation next week. Which means I have to revise the CVS Hx and Ex, as well as the anatomy of the heart and its associated vessels and interpretation of ECGs. Had a nursing shift today - made beds, took obs and BSLs. Paid for my ID and the locker and had a walk around the hospital. Learnt where I can get free coffee and how to search for imaging and path results. Then back home.
Mummy and Papa flew in with me on Friday. Unfortunately that was in the midst of the heat wave and the temperature topped at 45 degrees. Original plan was to bring them to City during the weekend and then sign them up for the Great Ocean Road tour, but because of the weather conditions, those plans were scrapped. So we went to Queen Vic, Swanston Street and the Melbourne Central and Flinders Street stations. And they're confident in navigating Clayton by public transport now. They flew back on Wednesday. =( Miss you guys loads...

Sunway College...

Went back to college with Kohila to meet the lecturers yesterday, but only managed to talk to 2 of them. Quite a number of teachers who taught the 2006 cohort has left. Jay, Pn Suhana, Ms Lillian... and Ms Santhi is no longer in Ausmat, though she's still in Sunway... But anyway, it was still good chatting with her and Mr Pathma. I suppose it was not the best of times to meet Ms Ruma or Ms Vanitha as registration for the programme was going full steam ahead.
Lunched at Orange and had soya bean drink from the uncle in front of college. Then went back to Pyramid to eat Yogi-yogi. Yum. Left Pyramid at around 4.30 and reached home at 7.
Kohila gave me this really good book for my birthday. Mitch Albom's For One More Day. It's touching and heartwarming and has the Mitch Albom touch so obvious in his prior works. (Tuesdays with Morrie and Five People You Meet in Heaven) Thank you very very very much dear! The other day at Curve's Borders, my sister was just pointing out that book to me... she has the other two books. So, I am ecstatic to have received this gift. Thanks dear!
On another note, I have about 2 more weeks home. This holidays seem to have just flown. And pimples seem to have found an affinity to my face. Sigh... ah well, here's to a brand new start this term!

Childhood games...

I was strongly reminded of the game 'Pepsi Cola' that my siblings and I used to play with our friends when I saw this group of children playing it in the neighbourhood today. Their childish laughter and the simple joy of being able to step on another player's toes made me feel... warm and goo-ey. LOL. But it was worth it. The simple pleasures of childhood, eh? Where there was no such thing as race, religion, no awkwardness between genders, just pure joy, innocence and friendship in the company of others.
I know I've been neglecting my blog... but there's not much to blog about really. Life is good rest and relaxation back home. Which is actually the main point of having holidays, I feel. Heh.
Anyway, this is a little late, but HAPPY NEW YEAR!! Welcome, 2009! May it be one of blessings, LOL.

Is There a Santa Claus?

Is There a Santa Claus?

From the Editorial Page of The New York Sun,
written by Francis P. Church, September 21, 1897

We take pleasure in answering thus prominently the communication below, expressing at the same time our great gratification that its faithful author is numbered among the friends of The Sun:

"Dear Editor--I am 8 years old.
"Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.
"Papa says, 'If you see it in The Sun, it's so.'
"Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus?
Virginia O'Hanlon
115 West Ninety-fifth Street

Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the scepticism of a sceptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no child-like faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if you did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Taken from: http://www.stormfax.com/virginia.htm

Home...

Been back home in Malaysia for almost 2 weeks already. But have only been able to go online today. Never really realised the extent to which I rely on the Internet to stay connected to people, to keep in touch, to communicate. So, to all those who were waiting for replies to emails, or for an update, I do apologise.
But anyway, Singapore was quite fun. My uncle and aunt were already at the airport when I touched down. Visited Wan Jie and her family. Had a lot of fun there, and was greatly entertained by the stories her father told. My aunt took me to visit her mother and then to Tiong Bahru Plaza. My uncle recommended Jeffrey Archer novels and I finished three of them while I was there. He also took my sister, brother and me to his school to have a look at his flowers, as well as out to NTUC and Margaret Drive for popiah. Then when my parents came, we went to Vivo City. And I helped to guide my father in driving my brother back to his room. I was happy that all of them liked the souvenirs I got them. =)
However, I think I ate a bit too much there, probably went out too much as well. LOL. Because when I got back to my sister's place in KL, I fell sick. -_- Haha. But am ok now. Will be heading to my sister's place again later today. Because my mother wants me to rebond my hair. So it's off to the hairdresser's tomorrow. Haiz. So Ivy, Fawn and Yu Wan, I'll be getting my hair straightened after all. And then my aunt will be coming on Saturday with the younger of her two sons. So, I'll be back in Bentong only on Monday. Not sure when I'll be online though, when they are both here from Perth. But I'll try to keep this blog updated.