Back to work...

Tomorrow, Alice and I will be back to work. After a hiatus of almost two months, everything will again be back to where they ought to be. It means we'll see our friends again, our colleagues, our peers, and of course our bosses. It is nice, actually, to work in an environment where there is a mix of nationalities, and for that matter, culture... It is nice to know a different custom or two, from different countries and different races. It does not only adds to ones knowledge, it actually makes one to be more enlightened... and more open, I would say. There's nothing better than to learn through experiencing things... and for our jobs, lifelong learning is not only essential, but indispensable.

Anyways, as I intimated already, tomorrow will be the big day... it is sort of starting a new journey. Well, at least, a new one towards our professional life. I know for a fact that for each and everyone of us, life is a big journey... one that is comprised of individual and unique adventures, and this is one of them. For me and Alice, and for our friends here, this is the beginning of a new adventure.

As I anticipate what will happen to me tomorrow, I got the chance to think of the things I did this vacation. What did I do with the seven weeks that were given to me to relax? Well, I had the time of my life exploring Singapore with my family, for one. I also got to at least cope up with my professional reading having read four great books during the break (I guess that will be a good topic for a separate blog this coming weeks). I also got to go back to some of my interests which I didn't actually do much the past several months because of time constraint: ebay, Friendster, etc. There's not much I'd done really... but the important thing is I got to unwind and recharge, to be as fresh as ever for the strict requirements of the job in the next ten months.

I can only say thanks for the chance to do this again and take this new journey... and hope that everything will be fine for all of us.

My Family in Singapore

Death...

Several nights ago, when the family was just starting to have a good time in Singapore, I was wasting some time joking around with Ash just before we're about to go to bed when suddenly I was choked with the water I was drinking. The choke was serious that I was not able to breathe. In the next several seconds I was gasping for air, and my breathing produced a whining sound which made Alice panic and shouted for her brothers in the adjacent room to come help us. I was a little bit dizzy from the fact that oxygen is not properly being supplied to my brain, and I continue to gasp for air. Edu, one of Alice's brothers, locked his arms around my chest and slowly pumped. Thus started the painful and arduous process of saving me for completely choking to death...

It was, I believe, the longest three or so minutes I had encountered in my entire life. Alice was clearly in panic and beginning to sob, while Ash was literally ashen during the ordeal. My two other kids, River and Rain, had just gone to sleep, and were peacefully resting on their side of the bed. For much of my life, I usually contemplate on life and death, usually making thoughts on death itself. That's probably because I love my family so much and one of my deepest fears is to leave them unstable. And when death stares you in the face just like that moment, it really makes you scared. In that fleeting two minutes or so, I thought of many things... most notably the things I did not, or was not able to do. I found out that time that when death is upon you, you really wanted to do those things. And it all the more makes you frustrated.

Well, fortunately for me, death did not happen that night. And I thank God immensely for that. As I ponder things after the experience, I came to the conclusion that it left me with a very important life lesson. That is, it made me appreciate more all the blessings around me - the people and the things - and all those that are happening to me, most especially the gift of life itself. That experience taught me to celebrate life and do what I really want, and to never give more attention to life's worries...

That night when I come face-to-face with death, I learned to appreciate life. I guess that's the secret to make this journey more meaningful.

Frolicking at Clarke Quay & Merlion

Our Trip to Sentosa