Laughters

Have you ever heard the phrase, "Laughter, the best medicine"?

In my condition now I certainly need plenty of that and each day I look out for "laughter".

During the past few weeks when I had the opportunity to live with my eldest brother and his family in the Lion-city, I deeply admire my sister-in-law's simple sense of humour. She laughs everyday at the slightest things that tickle her. She's blessed with a youngest grandson whose personality is so cheerful, it's contagious. He makes us laugh. I really want him to stay contagiously cheerful even as an adult. We need plenty of people like that in this world, don't you think?

Last night I had plenty of laughs looking at some pictures and video clips of a boat trip taken at a nearby dam. It happened to be a public holiday and I had been anticipating this boat trip since forever!

I didn't get to enjoy the dingy thrill but watching the "Musketeers" falling into the water when the over loaded dingy capsized was fun enough for me. Of course hubby would not leave out the fun for me. He let me sit in the opposite end of the boat to take pictures and at the same time balance out the weight. You can see from the picture that without me, the boat was really tilting to one side.

You really have to be there to see how hilarious these people are when they're in the water being swung around by hubby's skillful maneuvering of the boat. Next time, please join us! Meanwhile, enjoy the pix and the video!

11 April 2006 (Tuesday)

This is the beautiful lake (dam) where it all happened

Here is our little hide-out, deep in the forest.

The 3 Musketeers or "Sakai"?

The younger 3 Musketeers

First we tied the dingy to the boat, then we climb onto the dingy. Hey be careful, looks like the boat is about to sink!

Let's try to get two people on the dingy and two people hanging on the side of the dingy

Hey, this is fun...but...but...wait!

I can't wait, I'm going full speed! (Notice the tilting boat?)

Oh no...Dad, we're capsizing! Stop, STOP!

Gulp, gulp...

Finally, everyone managed to swim to safety.

Let's try one person to one dingy at a time.

Getting a hang of it.

Now it's really full-speed ahead!

Wow!!! Hang on tight! Weeee....

That's really THRILLING!!! Faster, faster! Hahaha...

Myojo, Me & Dad

Dear Myojo,

I have a confession to make.

You had been my favorite for over 3 decades.

They say you acquire liking for things from your childhood and I couldn't agree more. You played a big part in my growing up years.

I remember that fateful day when I was first introduced to you in my neighbour's home. I immediately fell in love with you. You were such a novelty then. Everyone wanted to have you. I was no exception and you should know that I really went all out to get you.
You see, I came from a humble family.

My Dad brought home meager income as a waiter in a coffee house at Goodwood Park Hotel. My Mom took care of all family expenses with that little money. She had to make sure all bills were paid and food were on the table at every meal. Dad used the tips he got as a waiter to pay for extras, such as his cigarettes, his favourite "fried kuey teow", occasional movie tickets for the family, weekly betting on 4D's, bird seeds and fish food for his pets, etc.

I learned from young to avoid asking money from Mom and Dad unless it was absolutely necessary. For example, school fees, bus fare and daily allowance etc.(not applicable during school holidays) If there was something I really like, I would save up for it.

How? I either skipped snack time during recess or I would do jobs. I learned to iron my eldest brother's shirts and pants and his children's school uniforms. My sister-in-law would pay me money for each piece of clothes pressed.

Soon I was able to bring you home, even on a regular basis.

I used to keep you behind the bed. You were my motivation to wake up early in the morning. You kept me warm and satisfied before I left for school.

I can't recall how and when it began, but you became a very important part between Dad and I.
Dad used to work shifts. When he did the afternoon shift, his home-coming was my favourite time of the day. It would be close to 11pm and I should be sleeping by then. However, on countless nights, I found myself chatting with Dad while he busied himself in the kitchen.

Droplets of sweats could be seen forming on his shirtless shoulders and arms as he laboured lovingly over a pot of left-over soup from dinner. (Yes, we had soup every single day!) He would check for any vegetables or meat that we couldn't finish for the day and added them into the soup to heat them up together.

His legs must be very stiff from all that standing during the day as I noticed the slight limp with each small steps he made round the tiny kitchen. His slippers would be making tapping sounds as he landed each steps on the bare cement floor. I loved that familiar sound. Even until today. I miss it.
When the left-over food began to boil and the aroma filled the air, it was time for you to come into the picture.

You were taken out from the package and dropped into the boiling soup. You softened as the seconds past and within minutes we'll be adding the small packet of chicken flavoring that came with you. From a compact round cake you stretched and loosen up into long, curly and yummy strands of noodles.

Next, dropped in an egg and spiced the soup up with a spoonful of home-made Hainanese chilli sauce--walla! We were ready to sup together.

Dad and I sat down together and slurped over the hot and spicy noodle and soup. To me, that was a nice little piece of heaven on earth.

This night ritual kept up for many years. It grew to be a very big part of my memory of Dad.
Soon I found myself far away from him, living with my own little family. I couldn't bring Dad with me, but I always had you.

As I said in the beginning of this confession, you had been my favourite for over 3 decades. I couldn't tell if I loved you because you reminded me of Dad and my childhood or because you were simply too good to resist.

Maybe it was both.

Throughout those years, I've heard people say bad things about you. Some even accused you of causing cancer. I thought of staying away from you, but I couldn't. I loved you too much!
Today I write to tell you that I am avoiding you from now on. Sorry if you felt that I took the blame out on you for my breast cancer. But you must know that I still love you. I just can't have you because you are not good for me. I must move on to find something better and healthier for my body--like vegetables and fruits.

This fact will never change: You will forever be my favourite, Myojo!

Dear Readers: if you read carefully, you'd learn that Myojo was also life little extras. Notice the left-overs? How about supper--the 4th and redundant meal?
Life lesson: Hard time is not forever, but for bringing family together.