Normal Night

Tonight was another normal summer night here is Florida. The video below is of a thunder storm that was raging behind our house. In front of the house the sky was clear and the moon was bright. We never did get any rain from the storm. It stayed to the south of us.

FOREVER PICTURE

This is the group photo of me with my 2 sisters and 4 younger brothers

( My 2nd elder Brothers was not around while this Pic was taken)

This photo is now even more valuable than before since my eldest sister

has gone to join my father, mother and eldest brother

This photo was taken at Eng Kui's house in Johor Bahru , Malaysia in 1997

Once, I asked my mother, " What is the thing that you are most proud of ?" She was then around her 60 something; she passed away at 83.

Her answer: " The only thing that make me happy and satisfied in nonetheless for having 9 children who are normal kids!"

How humble and true is her answer. This is why I respect my mother more than anybody in this world. She has so many good things for me to learn from.

I used be No 5 in between 2 elder brothers & sisters and 4 younger brothers. Now..... I am not !!

FRUIT OF TENDER CARE

I love looking at this plant every morning before going to work and in the evening after work.

I bought this plant with the rusty stand from a Garage Sale about 3 months ago. It was from an estate sale. It was placed by the side of the entrance to the house and no one bothered to look at it. ... I believe the plant could have been special to the owner who passed away and left unattended for a long period without watering . It was a pot of dying plant. I bought it because it looked funny but special to me.

When I took it home, I told myself, " Well, I'm going to try to save this plant; even if I fail, I would have the pot stand that could be used for other plant".

In life, we do like to take chances in this manner. We like to bet! After all ,our lives are full of risk taking.

Same principle also applied in situation in handling negotiation. I always believe there is nothing wrong to bargain. there is nothing to lose. Says, if I offered a price that I am willing to pay and that the seller is comfortable to sell. We are both happy, If the seller is unwilling to accept my price, I walk away.

I watered the plant every morning. I looked & touched it every morning....... Slowly and gradually, the leaves were turning from white to purple then to green........ Then one day, a small bub appeared. In next few days........ it bloomed into a lovely flower!!!

In this case, I am not talking about bargaining with price I paid for the plant,.... I am paying the price to take the challenge to save the plant........ and I made it happens ..my effort is rewarding.

When I look at the plant these days, I am very satisfied. I can sense that the plant is sending me this warm message " You can turn a deadly plant to green with tender care and patience"

See! these lovely flowers .......... She bears flowers every 2 weeks.

The leaves were dry and white in color once...... very unhealthy and unsightly!!!!

NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN.......

When we broke or damaged something that is valuable to us, we would try our best to get a replacement. If this happen it's easy to deal with the temporary loss. If the item has its sentimental value and that there is no way that we will not blame ourselves for being careless.

I have this mixed feeling over the loss lately..........

Case 1 : I broke one of the Avon Canny Bowls which we bought from a garage sale. This is a collectible item that is no longer in production. The seller was a young lady who was lucky to inherit the house with contents from her uncle who passed away without decedent. We bought these 2 Candy bowls with other items that come in set. We used these 2 bowls for ice cream after dinner. Now, I am using a different bowl and hope that I will be find one from garage sale; or else, I have to buy from ebay !

This is the only one now left for use by Don

These are shattered pieces after I hit the edge of the sink accidentally. It went to trash!!! I am yet to find one from the garage sale...... I may have to bid from ebay

For this Case 1, I am sure to find a replacement i a matter of time. But not for the following case..... I will never get one ; it will NEVER BE THE SAME .......

Case 2 : The following are 3 knitted sweaters as gifts from my eldest sister. She spent her leisure hours to knit these sweaters for me; they are great gift that are full of love from her. It shows how much she loved me and cared for me despite her poor health. She wanted me to keep warm with these sweater in USA . She knitted these sweaters piece by piece while she was watching Cantonese drama or while she was in the car or waiting at the clinic or hospital for consultation.

This was the 1st Sweater she gave me the day before I left for USA in May 2005. She said, " It's cold in American , you must keep yourself warm!" This is a sweet sweater and I used to put it on at work

This is the 2nd sweater she knitted for me when I came home for Chinese New Year in Feb 2006. During that time she was still in good health except having some aging problem. She told me since I was not available for measurement hence the sleeves are a bit longer...........It's fine with me !

The is the 3rd I received from her this past Chinese New Year. She rushed to complete this sweater for me even she was not fully recovered from her operation. She even felt sorry for not fitting the white buttons ; She told me she could not walk for long and did not go shopping for the buttons!! She still care for me like her little sister; she forgot that I am a senior citizen !

This white sweater is the last sweater I received from my Tai Ka Che. I would not receive another sweater from her . She is no longer there to knit for me when I return home again. I won't see her face in person, I can't chat and joke with her ; There is no way that I can taste her good cooking again....... She is gone to her Lord.... What she left with me is the memories......

These are sweaters that are real treasures that can be bought by money. They meant so much to me...... Each of them keeps me warm from her heart.

These gifts are non-replaceable . They are full of sentimental value ........... Unlike the Avon Candy Bowls....... I will find one again.............

These sweaters were knitted with warm love from my Ta Ka che.......No one else does the same!!

I love you and miss you so much Tai Ka Che!!!