Category Archives: Being Human

Being Human, Flashbacks, Food & Drinks

Creative Leftovers

Different people react differently to free food and drinks.

While my mother will be pleased to take when offered, my father will be wary and most likely refuse. D’s mother on the other hand will even go for seconds. D will take whatever that is offered, then look, and will hand it to me if he does not want it. 😛

My mother knows that she has the rights and entitlement to the free things life has to offer. My father, who grew up believing that ‘there is no free lunch’, cannot bring himself to partake in this kind of things. I will not try to analyse the Belgians.

As for me, I will take whatever that is offered but will not ask for more. My advantage is that I would or can, eat and drink anything.

This evening, this alleseter will whipped up a ‘creative leftover’ dish for dinner. The fridge needs to be tidied up a bit.

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Being Human

Different Paths

Both my parents are eighty-one years of age. Mom and dad met in college in their twenties, and have been a couple for more years than I have been alive. 😛

My parents grew up in very different circumstances. The decades of being together do not erase the fact that they are from different backgrounds. I think their difference in personalities and viewpoints are becoming more obvious as they age.

Dad was orphaned at a very young age. The four younger siblings by my grandfather’s second wife were separated, to be taken cared of by adult half-sisters. Dad grew up with the struggles and obstacles of a post-war Malaysia, but he did alright in life because he is an intelligent and hard-working person. His first two decades in life made him wary and a little disappointed in people.

My mom came from a well-to-do family. She has both her parents well into her adulthood. Her flamboyant father passed away when she was thirty years old. When grandma passed away in 2015, mom was in her seventies. Having family stability and never having to struggle with finances, mom becomes a happy-go-lucky. Life is kind to her.

Observing and understanding the different life paths of my parents made me realise how important stability, education, knowledge, awareness and money play in the forming of our characters.

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Being Human

Never Bored

D started his internship two weeks ago. Since then, the parents have called me twice to make sure that I am not bored to death…

The following list shows some of my activities from yesterday:

  • Changed, refreshed, and laundered beddings.
  • Jotted down numbers from electric meter, and inputted these into a spreadsheet.
  • Visited the weekly Thursday market.
  • Bought fresh bread from baker.
  • ATM withdrawal.
  • Refilled bird feeders.
  • Updated and analysed the finances of four people.
  • Emailed my decision to the law firm as regards a matter of administration.

And just like that, D got home while I was prepping dinner. I did not even have time to read the pile of magazines, go to the library, or plant the rest of the endive roots…

Bored? Never! I have not known boredom since I can read.

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Being Human, Flashbacks, Malaysia, Numbers

Seventeen

When I was in my mid-twenties working in my mother’s life insurance agencies, many people thought that I was a teenager. A friend of my aunt thought I was seventeen when I was a twenty-five year old university graduate. 😛

Going through your twenties and thirties with a face that was a decade younger has its pros and cons…

One of the disadvantages of looking way younger than one’s real age, was not being taken seriously by certain people. Although, with the right twists and strategies, my youthful looks was used to my advantage. Many did not see a ‘calculating strategist’ when they looked upon my damn innocent face. Ha!

Most people my age would love to be able to turn back time. They envy the youth and wish to be frozen in a certain younger period of their lives. Not me. I do not envy the youth, nor do I want to turn back time. I have travelled on interesting and unique paths in my teens, twenties, thirties, and forties; to reach my fifties. I am content to be at this point in my life. Life has been good to me.

All the best to those who still need to catch up. 😉

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Being Human, Belgium, Jibber Jabber, Simplify

Obligations

Storm Pia hit Belgium two days ago. Strong winds caused a Christmas tree to topple over in the city square of Oudernaarde. The tree, which was in the Christmas market, injured several people and killed a 63-year old woman.

Why would people want to be outdoors during a storm? Are we that heavily burdened by the yolk of consumerism? Are all those chrismassy obligations that important?

Since my thirties, I have been purposefully simplifying my life by reducing unnecessary obligations to myself and others. Nothing gets to be too important, that I lose sight of living.

A decade from now, I will be turning 63. May I still have overall good health, plenty of common sense, human decency, and a minimum number of pesky obligations.

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Being Human, Health

Dementia

Dementia is the general name for a decline in cognitive abilities that impacts a person’s ability to perform everyday activities. This typically involves problems with memory, thinking, and behaviour. Aside from memory impairment and a disruption in thought patterns, the most common symptoms include emotional problems, difficulties with language, and decreased motivation.

Source: Wikipedia

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