My little helper, my little angel

Having hurt my back, it has been a very painful day for me. I have been doing nothing but lying in bed and walking at a tortoise's pace.

Despite the pain, my heart celebrates the day. I am very comforted by J's sensitivity.

He supported me gently when I need to get up to walk, brought me my dinner and drinks. He even helped me to undress when I need to take my shower. (yes it is that painful that I can't even undress myself)

When I mention that I need to go to the toilet, he stood up and offered his help. As I can manage myself, I told him it wasn't necessary. He responded by saying "ok but if you need help, just call me ok?".

This little angel of mine is God-sent and once again, I am grateful.

Parent Volunteer

Singapore's school system sucks! But yet, we allow ourselves to get sucked into it. Or is there a choice?

Every Singaporean child should be allowed the chance of getting enrolled to a school within 1km radius from their home. No balloting required. No clan or religion affliation required. Every child should start on the same level playing field. And if the Education Minister is reading this post, you sucks too!

Ok, ok. The intention of this post is not meant to bitch abt the system because at the the end of the day, it will take another GE to wake up the Government's slumbering minds.

This post is meant to recognize the effort my Ah Lau has put in to get the boys into the primary school nearest to our home.

So far, we were informed that we have clocked 10.5 hours out of the 40 hours as Parents Volunteer (PV).

K is the one who has clocked these hours. Whenever, we receive a request from the school to volunteer our time, he would sms me to ensure that we book the slot and reply to the co-ordinator.

He is the one who has spent his paid leaves to guard the staircase during the school exam period and invigilating.

If any of his friends or relatives know that he is doing this, they will roll on the floor laughing. Never in their dreams would they imagine him doing such tasks.

I guess what I want to say is I am touched by his dedication.

Thank you, K.

Wear Sunscreen

Ladies and Gentlemen of the class of ’99, wear sunscreen.

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it.

The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience.

I will dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth; oh nevermind; you will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they have faded.

But trust me, in 20 years you’ll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked….You’re not as fat as you imagine.

Don’t worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind; the kind that blindside you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday.

Do one thing everyday that scares you

Sing

Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts, don’t put up with people who are reckless with yours.

Floss

Don’t waste your time on jealousy; sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind…the race is long, and in the end, it’s only with yourself.

Remember the compliments you receive, forget the insults; if you
succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters, throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch

Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your life…the most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year olds I know still don’t.

Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees, you’ll miss them when they’re gone.

Maybe you’ll marry, maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll have children,maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll divorce at 40, maybe you’ll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary…what ever you do, don’t congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself either – your choices are half chance, so are everybody else’s.

Enjoy your body,use it every way you can…don’t be afraid of it, or what other people think of it, it’s the greatest instrument you’ll ever own

Dance…even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room.

Read the directions, even if you don’t follow them.

Do NOT read beauty magazines, they will only make you feel ugly.

Get to know your parents, you never know when they’ll be gone for good.

Be nice to your siblings; they are the best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go,but for the precious few you
should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle because the older you get, the more you need the people you knew when you were young.

Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard; live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.

Travel.

Accept certain inalienable truths, prices will rise, politicians will philander, you too will get old, and when you do you’ll fantasize that when you were young prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders. Don’t expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund, maybe you have a wealthy spouse; but you never know when either one might run out.

Don’t mess too much with your hair, or by the time you're 40, it will look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it’s worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen…