I’ll be having a talk with a man over lunch tomorrow. I think this would be the first time since we’ve talked thing down in a big serious note 6 years ago in Thailand. I’m not sure what it’s going to be about or how it’s going to go about. But I think it’s something like a post-mortem plus BBC Hard Talk style.
That much I can say.
I was driving in a lorry together with my Dad while we were on our way to Lukut the other day. Because I wanted to chase after time, I sped off like crazy. I think I’m the only lorry driver who drives like crazy on the narrow and beaten out road to Lukut. My Dad asked me to slow down numerous times but I didn’t heed. As if it was the ride of my life. The moment we arrived at the place, we discovered one of the chemical that we carry in a pail broke out and spill all over the back of the lorry. And the rest is history.
It’s easy say “I know what I’m doing” when somebody tell you to do something. Or it’s easy to say “Well, you’re not in my position. That’s why I know what I’m doing.” Actually it’s because that somebody is “not in your position” that he is seeing something that you’re not seeing. Sometimes you’re in your own box of dilemma and it takes somebody else outside from your box, who can see the bigger picture to tell you your problem. But I guess that’s human, right? Not until when the rubber meets the road. When the wall collides. Then we will learn from our mistakes when we experience pain and loss. It always take a painful lesson to keep us reminded for the things we should have known. That’s always the case.
A couple of days back, a neighbour staying opposite my house passed away. She was in her 60s, a spinster and living with her unmarried sister, brother and his wife. On that day, she was running her errands as usual and somehow she became tired. So she took her nap on a chair in the afternoon and she passed away quietly in her sleep. Her sister found out about it and called her brother to confirm it.
Initially when we first shifted to our current house, she had some issues with my family. She started a cat fight with my Mom, accusing my Mom openly for something that my Mom didn’t do. Ever since then we have been a very silent neighbour to them. After 6 years of silence, about 2 years back she began to show some friendly gestures whenever she passes by our house. Well, if you meant well, we will not hold any grudges.
Her funeral lasted for 3 days. There wasn’t much people who went there to pay their last respects. Mostly all are relatives and very few friends. That could probably explain her being a spinster. No pun intended. To me, it’s just a pitiful sight. Already she passed away alone, then so little who came for the visit. The house was so quiet as though nothing had happened. What more after her burial. Hers was a huge contrast compared to my late grandmother’s. We had to occupy half of the playground for her funeral at our house! It was the most happening funeral that I have ever seen myself. What more for me to mention the great things in her life.
I think the kind of person you are, and how you live your life reflects in the most honest way possible on the day you die. I’m not judging her (my neighbour) as there is no point for me to do so anymore. But I’m taking it as a view of what kind of life do I want to live until the day I die.
A couple of days back me and my sisters finally gave a very belated birthday gift to my parents. There was a delay in getting those stuff for their present. My Dad’s was the worst. His birthday was last year and the stuff that I ordered came very late. The same thing happened to my Mom’s present earlier this year.
So for my Mom, we bought Nigella’s Herb Chopper Mezza Luna. Me and my Mom were watching Nigella’s Show and when she saw the chopper in the show, she began asking about the odd yet unique looking chopper. That’s how the idea came about.
As for my Dad, he is known for his outdoor nature be it in work, fishing or hunting. His best friend in the outdoor field is a machete. The current machete that he owns is quite old, so I guess it’s best to keep it in the car. He even mentioned of getting a custom made machete. So I got a friend of mine from Perak to make a machete as a gift for my Dad. I had to wait for long 3 months. It’s obvious by then my Dad’s birthday has already passed.
It was a pleasant surprise for them. Who would ever think to getting a present when there is nothing special on a normal day? It did caught them by surprise.
It’s better late than never.
An opportunist is a person who seize chances at the right time and at the right moment. But when somebody offers you an opportunity, it’s not necessarily an opportunity. Often it’s an “opportunity” for them to swallow you up. They’ll give you a very limited time to think and decide, and they’ll keep on bugging you or make you panic so that you’ll make rush decisions until you finally bite the bait of so-called “opportunity”. I’ve seen this happening so many times especially in business. Opportunity won’t come on a silver platter.
Matthew 10:16
