Spirits, are they for real?

Copied and pasted from my Facebook page, conversations amongst my friends and I....


Anndze Tan: My hair is standing on ends !!!!! Eeeeeeeeek 
Bell Belle: Ohh..y? Saw anything? 
Leena Wong: Nampak hantu kah? 
Anndze Tan: Bell Belle Leena Wong Yup, standing besides me last night. "He" followed Adrian home. #$%@ 
Leena Wong: Yerrr....hair raising!!!!! 
Leena Wong: What else happened besides him standing by your side? 
Anndze Tan: Funny thing is I purposely carried Jingles facing him. JIngles just stare but did nto bark or grrrr 
Leena Wong: Vanished in a splitting moment?? 
Anndze Tan: No he was there for a short while standing besides the fan near to where I was sitting. Then he walked to the centre of my house and looked around after that ...vanished ! 
Anndze Tan: Nothing happen la. Just lost souls. Let him visit lo. 
Bell Belle: Anndze, urself saw it??? Or Aldrien Moh told u he stands beside u Anndze Tan: Adrian lah 
Leena Wong: Yerrrrr!!!! You can't be serious???? Now, I'm terrified!!!!! 
Anndze Tan: hahaha ..I scolded Adrian. Knowing 'he' is following why still come home. Go elsewhere jalan jalan first ma 
Bell Belle: Remind Aldrien Moh, even if he saw anyone standing beside me or facing me nose to nose, DUN EVER tell me, else, I duno how I will react! But I m sure I will cry n scream 
Anndze Tan: After that Adrian ask me to go join him at the sofa but I dont want. Later when 'he' went off I asked Adrian why. Adrian said 'he' was standing quite close to me looking at me as if he knows me. 
Anndze Tan: I think i know why he was looking at me. He was confused. I was putting on mask and the white piece of paper was on my whole face. 
Leena Wong: Hahaha! What a joke!!!! 
Bell Belle: Lesson learn: Do not put on facial mask during this entire month to avoid confusing ppl. 
Bell Belle: Btw, how long he accompanied u last night? 
Leena Wong: Let me share my recent experience during a terrace house stay at Lijiang, China. 
We were warned of power disruption from 1.30am to 6.00am and were handed torchlights for emergency use. 
That night I heard heavy panting and had assumed it came from my sis-in-law, an asthma sufferer.  
Straining my ears, I realized it was not. I then opened my eyes and stared as though challenging the spirit....my intention of sending my message across that I was awake and fear not!! 
My watch showed 1.25 am. The minute I closed my eyes, the panting went so much heavier and louder just above my head and almost instantly the lights went off!! 
The spirit had me kowtowing to it!!! As Bell Belle cautioned, I CRIED and SCREAMED!!!! "KIM KOR, WO HAU PA!!" which translates to mean "Sis-in-law, I'm very scared!!" Weird that I had spoken in Mandarin when communication between us has always been in English or Hokkian!!! 
You bet, though I had hopped onto my in-law's bed, I couldn't sleep a wink after that!!  I weeped through the morning??? while Kim went into deep slumber again after pacifying me. 
We found later that day, other travel mates encountered similar experiences!!! 

Anndze Tan: I think in the house for about half an hour. 
Bell Belle: Yoh Leena Wong, if I were u, i will shoot to lobby instead of staying inside d room! 
Bell Belle: Anndze Tan, if half an hour for me, heart attack d.. 
Bell Belle: u very brave, somemore not cry.. 
Anndze Tan: Wah Leena..that's scary. 
Leena Wong: Anndze, you tell me?! Indeed, it was!!! 
Anndze Tan: That day at Club Med also the same. I was sleeping near the window and I was sharing the bed with my colleague. Slightly after midnight there was scratching at the window non stop and very loud. I turned to look at my colleague and she was sleeping. I got out of bed and went to peep out of the window. Nothing and no sound. After that I just dont bother and went back to bed. The scratching started again. I just couldnt be bothered 
Leena Wong: Bell Belle. Sorry lah, no lobby.....it is a terrace house with a young male housekeeper in attendance.  Moreover, with no electricity, the entire place was in complete darkness saved for the small beam illuminated from the torch light I held through the night!!! 
Anndze Tan: They are everywhere 
Leena Wong: But then, Anndze, our experiences by comparison, scary though they may be, were not as frightful as what Aldrien had witnessed!!  Hearing noises as compared to SEEING SPIRITS!! I would have fainted!!! 
Anndze Tan: Leena Wong Norm for him. His eyes can see one. He has lots of stories to tell. 
Leena Wong: Yerrrrrrr.....goose pimples all over me now....  Me too, encountered many such related situations when a teenager and since I started travelling again..... May start sharing, in this month of the hungry ghosts in my blog....  
Leena Wong: SHIT! Was startled by the loud sound warning of low battery in the silence of my room as I typed the above!! 
Anndze Tan: Lol

Two soul touching stories within a day.....

Copied and pasted....

STORY 1:
My mom only had one eye. I hated her… She was such an embarrassment. She cooked for students and teachers to support the family.

There was this one day during elementary school where my mom came to say hello to me. I was so embarrassed. How could she do this to me? I ignored her, threw her a hateful look and ran out. 

The next day at school one of my classmates said, ‘EEEE, your mom only has one eye!’ I wanted to bury myself. I also wanted my mom to just disappear. I confronted her thatday and said, ‘ If you’re only gonna make me a laughing stock, why don’t you just die?’

My mom did not respond… I didn’t even stop to think for a second about what I had said, because I was full of anger. I was oblivious to her feelings.

I wanted out of that house, and have nothing to do with her. So I studied real hard, got a chance to go abroad to study.

Then, I got married. I bought a house of my own. I had kids of my own. I was happy with my life, my kids and the comforts. Then one day, my Mother came to visit me. 

She hadn’t seen me in years and she didn’t even meet her grandchildren. When she stood by the door, my children laughed at her, and I yelled at her for coming over uninvited. I screamed at her, ‘

'How dare you come to my house and scare my children!’ GET OUT OF HERE! NOW!!!’ And to this, my mother quietly answered, ‘Oh, I’m so sorry. I may have gotten the wrong address,’ and she disappeared out of sight.

One day, a letter regarding a school reunion came to my house. So I lied to my wife that I was going on a business trip. After the union, I went to the old shack just out of curiosity.

My neighbours said that she died. I did not shed a single tear. They handed me a letter that she had wanted me to have.

‘My dearest son,

I think of you all the time. I’m sorry that I came to your house and scared your children. I was so glad when I heard you were coming for the reunion. But I may not be able to even get out of bed to see you. 

I’m sorry that I was a constant embarrassment to you when you were growing up. You see……..when you were very little, you got into an accident, and lost your eye. 

As a mother, I couldn’t stand watching you having to grow up with one eye. So I gave you mine.

I was so proud of my son who was seeing a whole new world for me, in my place, with that eye.

With all my love to you,
Your mother.’

MORAL LESSON:
Always LOVE your parents. They are a blessing to you.

NOTE:
We only have one mom, so love her, you will come to cry when she's gone.
If you love your Mom, press "LIKE" and write,"I LOVE U MOM" if you are proud of her

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POSTED BY CherishedPholar

STORY 2

The Sandpiper      

She was six years old when I first met her on the beach near where I live.  I drive to this beach, a distance of three or four miles, whenever the world begins to close in on me.  

She was building a sand castle or something and looked up, her eyes as blue as the sea. 'Hello,' she said.  I answered with a nod, not really in the mood to bother with a small child. 

'I'm building,' she said. 'I see that.  What is it?'  I asked, not really caring.       'Oh, I don't know, I just like the feel of sand.'  That sounds good, I thought, and slipped off my shoes.       

A sandpiper glided by. 'That's a joy,' the child said.  'It's a what?'  'It's a joy.  My mama says sandpipers come to bring us joy.'       

The bird went gliding down the beach. Good-bye joy, I muttered to myself,  hello pain, and turned to walk on. I was depressed, my life seemed  completely out of balance.       

'What's your name?'  She wouldn't give up. 'Robert,' I answered.  'I'm Robert Peterson.' 'Mine's Wendy... I'm six.'  'Hi, Wendy.'       

She giggled.  'You're funny,' she said.  In spite of my gloom, I laughed too and walked on. Her musical giggle followed me. 'Come again, Mr. P,' she called. 'We'll have another happy day.'      

The next few days consisted of a group of unruly Boy Scouts, PTA meetings, and an ailing mother. The sun was shining one morning as I took my hands out of the dishwater. I need a sandpiper, I said to myself, gathering up my coat. 

The ever-changing balm of the seashore awaited me.  The breeze was chilly but I strode along, trying to recapture the serenity I needed.     

'Hello, Mr. P,' she said.  'Do you want to play?'  'What did you have in mind?' I asked, with a twinge of annoyance.  'I don't know.  You say.' 'How about charades?'  I asked sarcastically.  

The tinkling laughter burst forth again. 'I don't know what that is.'  'Then let's just walk.' Looking at her, I noticed the delicate fairness of her face.  

'Where do you live?' I asked. 'Over there.'  She pointed toward a row of summer cottages. Strange, I thought, in winter. 'Where do you go to school?' 'I don't go to school.  Mommy says we're on vacation.'     

She chattered little girl talk as we strolled up the beach, but my mind was  on other things. When I left for home, Wendy said it had been a happy day. Feeling surprisingly better, I smiled at her and agreed.       

Three weeks later, I rushed to my beach in a state of near panic. I was in no mood to even greet Wendy. I thought I saw her mother on the porch and felt like demanding she keep her child at home.      

'Look, if you don't mind,' I said crossly when Wendy caught up with me, 'I'd rather be alone today.' She seemed unusually pale and out of breath. 'Why?' she asked.      

I turned to her and shouted, 'Because my mother died!' and thought, My God, why was I saying this to a little child? 'Oh,' she said quietly, 'then this is a bad day.' 'Yes,' I said, 'and yesterday and the day before and -- oh, go away!'      

'Did it hurt?' she inquired.  'Did what hurt?' I was exasperated with her, with myself. 'When she died?' 'Of course it hurt!' I snapped, misunderstanding, wrapped up in myself. I strode off.       

A month or so after that, when I next went to the beach, she wasn't there.  Feeling guilty, ashamed, and admitting to myself I missed her, I went up  to the cottage after my walk and knocked at the door.  

A drawn looking young woman with honey-colored hair opened the door.       'Hello,' I said, 'I'm Robert Peterson. I missed your little girl today  and wondered where she was.'  

'Oh yes, Mr. Peterson, please come in.  Wendy spoke of you so much.  I'm afraid I allowed her to bother you. If she was a nuisance, please, accept my apologies.' 'Not at all -- she's a delightful child.' I said, suddenly realizing that I meant what I had just said. 

'Wendy died last week, Mr. Peterson. She had leukemia. Maybe she didn't tell you.' Struck dumb, I groped for a chair. I had to catch my breath.       

'She loved this beach, so when she asked to come, we couldn't say no. She seemed so much better here and had a lot of what she called happy days. But the last few weeks, she declined rapidly...' 

Her voice faltered, 'She left something for you, if only I can find it. Could you wait a moment while I look?' I nodded stupidly, my mind racing for something to say to this lovely young woman.  

She handed me a smeared envelope with 'MR. P' printed in bold childish letters.  Inside was a drawing in bright crayon hues -- a yellow beach, a blue sea, and a brown bird. Underneath was carefully printed:  A SANDPIPER TO BRING YOU JOY. 

      

Tears welled up in my eyes, and a heart that had almost forgotten to love opened wide.  I took Wendy's mother in my arms.  'I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry,  I'm so sorry,' I uttered over and over, and we wept together.  

The precious little picture is framed now and hangs in my study. Six words -- one for each year of her life -- that speak to me of harmony, courage, and undemanding love. A gift from a child with sea blue eyes and hair the color of sand  -- who taught me the gift of love.   

NOTE: This is a true story sent out by Robert Peterson.  It happened over 20 years ago and the incident changed his life forever. It serves as a reminder to all of us that we need to take time to enjoy living and life and each other. The price of hating other human beings is loving oneself less.      

Life is so complicated, the hustle and bustle of everyday traumas can make us lose focus about what is truly important or what is only a momentary setback or crisis..      

This week, be sure to give your loved ones an extra hug, and by all means, take a moment.... even if it is only ten seconds, to stop and smell the roses.      

This comes from someone's heart, and is read by many and now I share it with you... May God Bless everyone who receives this! There are NO coincidences!      Everything that happens to us happens for a reason.  Never brush aside anyone as insignificant.  Who knows what they can teach us?  

What is $$$$$!!!!!?

"Money is not everything! Money cannot buy you happiness!"  

What say you? And, how does one measure wealth? Who should be termed RICH with MONEY?  

I feel, only THOSE, bitter with lack of monetary wealth, trying to console their poor dejected selves simultaneously seeking SUPPORT of the POOR or POORER MAJORITY to sing their depressing tunes, will scream and insist on the opening statements!! 

It is common to have a RICH being jeered at, with remarks such as..... 

"So what if he is rich. He has no family members around him!" Does it then deem to be DESERVING not to have relations if one is POOR? 

"So what if he is rich, he can't even get himself cured of his illness!" Does it mean the poor are free from incurable ailments? 

"So what if he is rich, he cannot buy eternal life!" Does the poor live on forever? 

"So what if he is rich, he cannot be buried with his wealth!" Here, I reserve comments, for the poor would have NOTHING to be buried with anyway! 

Come on! Given such instances, how does MONEY correlate?  

These situations strike both RICH and POOR, YET, merely the RICH or RICHER are scorned at while the POOR or POORER sympathized with!! 

I would gladly announce that HAPPINESS lies in one's own hands! One dictates how colorful a life one craves to lead!!  

WHO, in the world would not yearn for everything....Family, Wealth and Health? 

However, there are times when choices have to be made and sacrificed....  

To the AVARICIOUS me, I value the STRENGTH of MONEY!! As I had it documented on Facebook, quoted by Leena Wong "NO MONEY NO TALK, MONEY WALKS THE TALK!"  

Life with even little money spells misery! Without it, how then could I have afforded and enjoyed my pampering facial and massage sessions? vacations abroad? beautiful clothing and nice comfortable homes?

I'm not being arrogant or trying to disparage the poor or poorer. I only feel that the rich or richer should be spared criticism....    

Below, an exchange of recent conversations that spurred me into sharing my views on this blog. 

Only my comments and that of my Facebook friend's, in red, posted on her wall, copied and pasted for your diversion....   

I realise 1 thing.. doesnt mean when u have money living in a high class condo or driving luxury cars you are happy... I hv seen how lonely, self.centered and sad a person can be regardless how tough one behaves or happy on the surface. It is lonely at the end.... m very grateful for what I have.... 

Money cannot buy happiness but can poverty guarantee that? Not having money is definitely a misery! I would choose to hold fast to thinking that happiness is a state of mind.... 

Its good and nice to have money provided you know how to balance w companionship or family happiness.... w money if one think they can push ppl ard n pretend to be happy on surface... just a sad sight.. 

My dear, similarly the poor or poorer may project a superficial front of happiness....  

I've seen that too, Leena Wong. 

Hence, I conclude, happiness lies in our hands. We decide whether to stay positive and be happy or lean towards negativity and live in misery!  

Whatever, I doubt if ever there is one who has never experienced happiness or sadness at one time or other in one's path. That's life....of ups and downs.....  

But if you ask me, I'd rather cry in a Rolls Royce than laugh on a bicycle as quoted by the ex-wife of the Italian Gucci family!  

By the way, this phrase brought about repercussions from the majority of the poor in China when, during a Dating Talk Show, a contestant quoted it!! LOL!! 

Lol good one

Alzheimer's?

Bidding the receptionist with a brief hello, I dashed off in a hurry for my yoga session. 

Oh yes, I managed a "Been traveling....." to her "Long time no see!"

As I raced up the stairs, heading towards the elevator, it struck me that I could not recollect the country I had just visited barely 9 days ago!! 

When attempts to remember the destination failed, I switched to registering who I went with instead, hoping then that it would aid my memory.....

It even took me awhile to recall who I went with... Oh yes, with Tracy and her parents!! But, where to???? Where to????

Several minutes passed and it really bugged me.... Then, just before I stepped into the elevator, it hit me!....Hokkaido!!!!

Looking at my photos staring back at me, I do not wish to acknowledge that it may an early sign of dementia..... Can it really be???

Whatever....I'm pretty glad I've traded my business, lucrative though it had been, for my freedom to indulge in my long shelved passions!!

And, living everyday now like there's no tomorrow, for tomorrow may never come..... 

Yet, wishing the clock may come to a standstill for a little while longer this period of time for me to reap the pleasure once robbed of me....of looking and feeling real good!!!

Konichiwa!

Mt Kurodake

Hokkaido, another interesting destination not to be missed with it's spectacular views from the snow mountain, Mt Kurodake to Jigokudani Hell Valley, to sumptuous food and hot spring baths!! 

For me, many first experiences too.....

Mt Kurodake

A first fun thrilling experience sliding on a plastic toboggan sledge, down a short snow hill stretch, with all squealing like kiddies in excitement!! 

Jigokudani Hell Valley 

Jigokudani Hell Valley

Witnessing for the first time a valley which displays hot steam vents, sulfurous streams and other volcanic activity.

First attempt on SASHIMI! Yes! I've gone prepared for the cuisine, a dish which both Ca-Ryn and Al-Wyn failed to entice me into trying despite their concerted efforts to tempt me back home then! 


Anyway, without the WASABI, I doubt if I could have gulped the raw seafood which many find delicious! 

Conclusion? Not something I would crave for or feel I had missed out all these years while patronizing our local Japanese restaurants! I would still stay to my comfort zone of preferred prawn tempura and teriyaki chicken!!

First taste of king crabs and hairy crabs at the eat all you can buffet..... Crabs, my favorite! Mmmmmm....yummy yummy!










First public nudie hot spring bath! Once stripped of robes, we hastily covered ourselves with the skimpy towel provided and dashed to immerse into the pool! 

Frankly, everyone was too conscious of oneself to size up the other!! However, with my shy experience overcome, I found myself parading confidently in the days that followed at different hot spring venues.....  

Sorry, couldn't entertain you with photo illustrations though.....

Below, Mt Showa Shinza and the Bear Ranch....

While one is being fed, the other poor thing kept hammering at the door, crying out to be released and fed too!!

Follow me on Facebook for more photos viewing....

Till then, Sayonara!

A price to pay from a seasoned traveller!

Was I sacrificing vanity for comfort when settling for my pair of Snowfly wedge heel boots which eventually killed me?

Honestly, no. The cold weather had been the deciding influence on my choice of footwear! I least expect this pair of shoes which had kept my feet warm and served me well during my Scandinavian trip to prove otherwise!

But then again, it wouldn't be fair blaming the shoes, considering the amazing distance in city coverage of Rome yesterday and Florence today with my much abused feet......

Shopping around for TEMPORARY substitutes, I brushed aside Ca-Ryn's suggestion on sneakers! I do not wish to add further to my possession of Timberland, Reebok and Fila walking/hiking shoes, a pair of which I may have brought along if not for weight constraint since we decided to travel light!

Whatever, I finally decided on a €59.99 (Rm252) pair of flat soled boots to move on with my journey ....

Had awakened 4.15am local time, 11.15am Malaysian Time. Ciao from Florence!

Have money, can travel....

With that mindset, Ca-Ryn had, on 6/2, impulsively booked us on a flight to Rome 12/2 and a return from Paris 26/2 without casting much of a thought about the climate, accommodation, visits to places of interests and means of point-to-point transportation!

Planning the fortnight's itinerary, anxiety set in when she encountered the odd hours of arrival and departure from one country to another. Incidentally, we have included Portugal and Spain in our exploration as well....

Had I not cautioned her repeatedly about the time difference, we may have, metaphorically speaking, ended up sleeping on the street in Florence!!

Massive warnings about pickpockets from concerned friends and relatives vide FB PM, SMS and Whatsapp, kindled a sense of fear in me!

Most were astounded when learnt that we are traveling on our own! My nephew-in-law, Eric, even suggested we looked our worst to distract attention with several echoing his sentiment! Gracious! Can it really be that bad?

Discussing it out with Ca-Ryn, I soon realized, I am not paranoid being a victim of the pickpockets....more so if we were confronted and asked to relieve of all possessions.....

Since such confrontations were least likely as confirmed by some other friends, my worries just vanished into thin air......

By the way, except from some sucky actions of the cab drivers, our eventful day one passed by pretty excitingly....with all the sightseeing and shopping!!

Check out on this page again when I upload our photos on our return home....

Had awakened at 4am local time, which is 11am Malaysian time! With love from Rome.......

Stay young and pretty always!

Ironically, such were the felicitations from well wishers on my recent birthday!

How I wish so too!! However, sadly,  there's no beauty that withstands time..... 

Of late, lots of attention and comments had been drawn to my physical looks whether in person or on Facebook!! Why? Ahem! Simply because I look good following my successful weight loss!!  

Some even insinuated I went under the knife!!.... That the cosmetic surgery must have been performed while I was holidaying in Korea! That my frequent absence from home, were in truth, trips abroad for beauty enhancement!! 

I've learnt that friends or not, it is in the character of some to be maliciously envious of others, who fared better! Hence, just so that they feel better, I would comply sarcastically with "So it's obvious, huh? The beauty transformation? It's well worth all my $$$$ spent, then!!" 

Frankly, except for downsizing my diet portions and refraining from shoving table scraps down my throat, harboring thoughts of rather to waste than to my waist, I had done pretty much nothing!!  

Oh no, sorry.....that's not all.... I have been diligently attending the dance and yoga sessions and the facial and body massage sessions....all activities, my passion now!!  

Above all, it is the state of mind....THINK, ACT and STAY POSITIVE..... 

When I had once shy away from the camera, I welcome the lens now.... 

My faces plastering all over my blog and FB will be testimonies of HOW I WAS, ONCE BEFORE, decades down the road......

Heartrending......

Though riled by the parents' negligence, William's tragic death by way of punishment is abhorrently brutal!!! 

WHY??? The poor child was only but six years old...so tender, and, naive of dangers lurking around him.....

Boy....may your passing be a CASE HISTORY to all CHILD MINDERS.....

http://www.nst.com.my/top-news/william-found-dead-1.208052

Is it not too late to be feeling remorseful?

Call me names...inhuman, barbarous, cruel, whatever...I just don't feel at all sorry for the parents who had lost their son! 

Consider themselves fortunate that only one went missing and not all three!! 

It had not been a case of an unavoidable incident but a situation of negligence of their own doing! 

Had not been the widely publicized instances of missing children enough to keep them on their toes?? They deserve to cry their hearts out!! 

Except with their daddy, I had never allowed Al-Wyn and Ca-Ryn out with anybody until they were well into their teens!! My mom and siblings were always annoyed that I couldn't even trust them with my children then!! 

I had been a paranoid with valid reasons! I had witnessed with my own eyes when my youngest brother aged about four then, being grasped by the hand and led away from us by a middle aged man while Mom was busy selecting bargain buys at a bazaar stall along Penang Road!! 

I was too stunned to even call out for a moment...but shouted I did, when I recollected my senses....to my Mom who then gave chase for the return of my brother!! 

I was about 12 then, entrusted with a responsibility to watch over my siblings aged 11, 9, 5 and 4 each time we shopped with Mom!! Those were the days....  

In a separate incident, in 1995, when Mae Ryn was merely 5 years old, my brother-in-law had, for the first time, without my sister tagging along, took her to Giant at Subang Jaya, for some groceries while Tuinny, feeling sickly, napped, one afternoon. 

At the hypermarket, Chong stood Mae Ryn at one corner cautioning her not to budge while he hurried to grab an item he missed out. 

As you may have guessed, little Mae Ryn wandered off within the MINUTE so Chong claimed, and was no where to be found!! 

Swiftly, he sought assistance to announce through the Public Address System, his missing daughter and to have all exits closed!! 

By then, my sister had dashed to the scene in rage and, as if demon possessed, greeted her husband with a tight SLAP across his face which he so deserved!!!!! Had I been there, he would have been minced!!!!!!

Apparently, while Chong was frantically searching for his daughter, a senior couple had contacted Tuinny, with the house phone number Mae Ryn furnished them, informing her that they had Mae Ryn who was crying, in their care!! 

Imagine what would have happened if not for the kind Samaritans and the fact that little Mae Ryn was able to utter the telephone number!! 

Retrospecting, both incidents still give me shudders!! For the little boy's sake, God, please permit a joyful reunion just so to be assured that the poor kid is safe and sound!  

Given the worst scenario, William Yau Zhen Zhong, wherever you are, Aunty Leena pray hard that you be safe, happy, well loved and cherished......

Mom, I'm sorry......

Since made a Mom, I have forgotten my role as a daughter....

I had been harsh to the extent of being cruel when Mom turned to me following her intemperate outburst over Chiew's handling of his daily help issues!! She was piqued that he had slighted her in defense of the helper!! 

With two maids running about my brother's bungalow in Selangor, Mom merely tended to the preparation of meals, supervision and delegation of the household chores back then. 

It was not until recent months that Chiew ceased to engage any, following the difficulty in the procurement of maids. Instead, he settled for day help since both his children are already in their teens.  

But how much can be done by a mere day helper what had taken two maids and Mom to be performing? Hence, Mom soon became the automated appliance multitasking washing and pressing of clothes, preparing meals, maintaining the garden and chauffeuring the kids to schools! 

Her spick and span nature worked her to the bones and before long, this wonder machine  broke down! So stressed out she was, this 74 year old lady took it out on the poor helper resulting in my brother defending the innocent target! And, so enraged she was, that she left Chiew's home for mine...... 

I was all too happy to have her, on my terms though.... Mean though I may seem, it's rules I've got to lay all the same. Rule number 1...no entertainment of guests at my home, 2...no interaction with neighbors! I could not risk having the whole neighborhood know even when I last moved my bowel when run out of subjects to share!! 

By the third day, she became grumpy. She moaned when I went about my routine for dance classes, yoga, facial and massage sessions! She whinged about not being able to communicate with my Cambodian maid who only speaks Khmer! She raised the roof because the telephone line was down, all through her own doing, we discovered later, as she had had the cable dislodged while engrossed in her frienzied complaints! Hence, instead of offering solace, I hollered at her!! 

I was incensed that she, while vowing to leave my brother's household for good, simply could not allow herself to settle with peace in my home, citing boredom having practically nothing to do save for gluing her eyes to the box, engaging in long telephone conversations and out for meals with me!! But aren't those pampering? 

Within the week, I sent her packing to where her heart belongs.....with her grandchildren!! I had brushed aside her reluctance to return to my brother as I could not put up with her tantrums..... 

However, soon after, a friend's sharing on Facebook had me in tears. It had taken me days trying to retrieve this meaningful message....  

"Letter from a Mother to a Daughter" from Facebook page Spring In The Air 

My dear girl, the day you see I’m getting old, I ask you to please be patient, but most of all, try to understand what I’m going through. If when we talk, I repeat the same thing a thousand times, don’t interrupt to say: “You said the same thing a minute ago.” Just listen, please. Try to remember the times when you were little and I would read the same story night after night until you would fall asleep.  

When I don’t want to take a bath, don’t be mad and don’t embarrass me. Remember when I had to run after you making excuses and trying to get you to take a shower when you were just a girl? When you see how ignorant I am when it comes to new technology, give me the time to learn and don’t look at me that way. Remember, honey, I patiently taught you how to do many things like eating appropriately, getting dressed, combing your hair, and dealing with life’s issues every day.  

The day you see I’m getting old, I ask you to please be patient, but most of all, try to understand what I’m going through. If I occasionally lose track of what we’re talking about, give me the time to remember, and if I can’t, don’t be nervous, impatient, or arrogant. Just know in your heart that the most important thing for me is to be with you.  

And when my old, tired legs don’t let me move as quickly as before, give me your hand the same way that I offered mine to you when you first walked. When those days come, don’t feel sad—just be with me, and understand me while I get to the end of my life with love. I’ll cherish and thank you for the gift of time and joy we shared. With a big smile and the huge love I’ve always had for you, I just want to say, I love you, my darling daughter.”