Old days

Have you ever had the sudden nostalgic flash of memory of the old days so sudden that you take a break from whatever you're doing at that particular moment to recall "adjacent" memories because you just can't help it? I had such moment today. I was listening to the radio and Mariah Carey's Without You was in the air. I liked her. And that was some 15 years ago. I remember I used to listen to her song pretending that I was more sophisticated than my peers, who listened to Chinese songs. And I remember that I used to read up all good reviews in the newspaper or magazine, so that I could read about the critics' review about her new album, so that I could recite those comments about her octave range, or something like that, and felt sophisticated by doing so. And I remember San Chin agreed with me, and made me feel great about my choice of favorite artist. And I remember we had a lot of fights, and arguments, and stupid jokes, and real laughters, all the time when we were in high schools. And then I remember the stand-up comedy in cassette tape by this I-forgot-the-name guy from Singapore. San Chin liked to mimic his accent and jokes over and over again, and it was never old, and I laughed my pants off, every time, truthfully, sincerely. It was just so, funny.

Hah... those were the days... the old days. Nostalgic memory can be a pleasant surprise. At least this one made my day, today.

Return from Hiatus

I started this blog more than 3 years ago hoping to learn more about myself in the process. Well, I stopped writing about 2 years ago, for no obvious reason. Just like that, stopped writing.

Let's see if I have the will to continue this ranting, about things I observe in life. Since there's no longer anyone subscribing update from this blog, I think I can write my mind. If for some reasons you're strangely subscribed to this blog, I thank you, and I love you :)

Good News

Good news this past weekend – Phil got engaged, and Jacky and Michelle are getting married in May. I am so happy for them. Even though I learned it through email, I could still feel the joy from the simple writing. It was like seeing an expecting mother. And there is something about expecting mother that glows – they are suddenly full of love and kindness. It is as if they love all the people in the whole wide world. Not to mention that there’s an aura of divinity around mothers-to-be when they are, in essence, creating life. Yeah, it was like that – I felt the joy seep through the emails. Life is beautiful.

We are really not that different

"I laugh, I love, I hope, I hurt, I need, I fear, I cry. And I know you do the same thing too, so we're really not that different, me and you." -- Colin Rave

I Am TIME Person of the Year

Woohoo! Congratulations to me!

Love Your Life

By Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

"However mean your life is, meet it and live it; do not shun it and call it hard names. It is not so bad as you are. It looks poorest when you are the richest. The fault finder will find faults even in paradise. Love your life, poor as it is. You may perhaps have some pleasant thrilling, glorious hours, even in a poor-house. The setting sun is reflected from the windows of the alms-house as brightly as from the rich man's abode; the snow melts before its door as early in the spring. I do not see but a quiet mind may live as contentedly there, and have as cheering thoughts, as in a palace. The town's poor seem to me often to live the most independent lives of any. Maybe they are simply great enough to receive without misgiving. Most think that they are above being supported by the town; but it oftener happens that they are not above supporting themselves by dishonest means, which should be more disreputable. Cultivate poverty like a garden herb, like sage. Do not trouble yourself much to get new things, whether clothes or friends. Turn the old, return to them. Things do not change; we change. Sell your clothes and keep your thoughts."

Holiday Mood

I flew into Hong Kong from Shanghai this afternoon. It was drizzling at the HKIA and on my way back home. It hadn't been raining for a very long time in Hong Kong and the air smelled fresher than usual. The lingering haze since October is now gone. Then, for the first time in 2 months I open my room’s window to enjoy the fleeting fresh air after a late autumn shower. The view, although clichéd, is sparkling with Christmas lights. Combined with the Christmas Jazz music that is playing on my iPod, I’m really in a holiday mood…