THE BIG D

Seems like THE word that's hanging from everyone's mouth lately is the big D.
No, not D for Divorce.
Yes, divorce would be just as bad. It is much more worse, in my opinion.

I'm talking about the red-hot (No pun intended) topic of Dengue Fever.
Yes, it's the same Dengue that I'm referring to which has been hogging the news telecasts & hitting the big headlines in the press, giving the Bird Flu season a hard kick in the butt & into small inserts alongside the detailed, extensive reports of Dengue.

Not even Mr. Toot Toot Durian stands a chance of making it into the headlines now.

Was reading the papers while I learnt something new that i've never known about mosquitos (How could I not? With the radio & TV news blaring away with the loathsome D word & the headlines screaming out from the prints?).

The fact is, mosquitos only suck human blood.
Kind of makes sense really, I mean, have you ever seen a dog spoting a big red swell courtesy of a stupid mosquito?

Wow!!! It left a burning question in my mind.
What the heck of a vengence has it got with mankind?

Following few weeks of pondering, I've come to the logical conclusion that it's got to be the fogging that causes it.
I mean, who else but we human hoist a hose around & start fogging here, there, & everywhere?

At times, I've also wondered how the poor, innocent normal breed of mosquito feel, being killed in the crossfire between mankind & its more lethal & fatal fellow counterparts?
Imagine, there you are, just a normal, full-time mosquito minding your own business dutifully, lurking in your niche lazily, & all of a sudden, WHAM!!!!! Au revoir!!!

No wonder the vengence & hatred. Need I elaborate more?
Doesn't 1 + 1 = 2, & 2 + 2, 4???

Houston, have anyone actually given this matter more considerable thoughts?
Who knows, what if one day, the mosquitos decide to launch an all-out attack on the human race, & cross-hybrid with the similarly renowned & equally deadly Bird Flu virus H5N1?What would we get then, in addition to Dengue Fever & Bird Flu?
Dengue Flu & Bird Fever?
How about cross-hybridization with the SARS virus & HIV then?
Oh my goodness! I can't even bear that thought. Spare me.

If anyone were to ask for my opinion, my stand in the fight against Dengue Fever is to STOP THE FOGGING!!!
Don't repay evil with evil. Heap hot coals on their head instead.

Stop fogging, declare peace with the mozzies, & give them big juicy kisses (*MuaCkz muAckZ!!*).

We are civilized people. Don't take the easy way out, never ever resort to violence.
Afterall, the way-old cliche goes, "Love conquers!"


Mercy can & does triumph over judgement

PAUSE. THINK. REFLECT. ACT.

Know this is the 2nd time I'm using this title as a topic, but pardon me, for I honestly feel that it is totally apt on what i'll be blogging on today.

Heard from my Dad that a 23-yrs-old NSmen in the air force school passed on on 13th Sept, Tues at 11.07pm after collapsing 2hrs before in the midst of a game of soccer. Sadly, it so happens that he's in the same company as my bro is in.

A young, fit man dead at the tender age of 23. & he's someone indirectly connected to me.
Words can't express how & what i'm feeling now.
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Life is so unpredictable, sudden, & fragile.
One moment they were having a whale of a time playing the sport which the male species swears so ardently & fervently by, & the next moment, losing conscious & being cart off to a clinic in Nee Soon, before finally being sent to TTSH for medical attention.

From the perspective of the decreased, a thought keeps drilling into my head. As I was laying awake on my bed last night, I can't help pondering:
What would he have done if he had known he has less than 24hrs left on Earth???

Would he have called up all his loved ones & affirm of his love for them?
Would he have sent his apologies to whoever he felt is due?Or just a simple, big-bear hug to those who matters to him? A kind of physical closeness, a human touch in the form of love.

I don't know.
A young life, a bright future taken away so abruptly.
He must have his whole life mapped out in front of him - What he's doing after ORD, his goals in life, his ideal career, further studies, his family etc.
But yet it's all dashed so unpredictably, so swiftly, so mercilessly.

From the perspective of my bro.
How does he feel, seeing one of his company mate leaving without a word so unexpectedly?
How does he feel, being 1 of the 3 who rendered medical aid after he collapsed on the grass patch?
How does he feel, staring at death so upfront in the face & seeing it strike so close to home?
How does he feel, losing a mate, a friend, a "brother-in-combat" who had gone through thick & thin, the sweet & bitter times together?
How would he feel, carrying the coffin in which his buddy lays this coming sat?
I really can't imagine.

Feeling so solemn & down now. He replied to an sms I sent last night & mentioned, "Life's so unpredictable, ya? It could have been me for all you know."
I can sense his mood behind the words, as well as the gravity of life & death.
From the perspectice of the loved ones left behind. His family, his significant other. I shudder to think what they must be going through now. The stabbing pain, the overwhelming, piercing grief, the excruciating hurt, the deep regrets, the poignant agony.

A company of 12 NSmen now reduced to 11, 8 of whom would be carrying their mate's coffin this coming sat.
A mate. A friend. A bro-in-combat. Gone before them just like that.

What would be going through their mind? How would they feel?
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What would you do if you know you've less than 24hrs remaining on Earth?

Call up your loved ones & say the 3 words which somehow always so amazingly gets stuck at your throat - I LOVE YOU?
"You know, even though I've hardly ever said this to you, but you matters. Yes, you really do. I love you. Yes, I LOVE YOU. And I really, truly do."

Call up your loved ones & acquintances & say the 2 words which ever so often gets in the way of your pride - I'M SORRY?
"Do you still remember the slight disagreement we had back then? You know, actually, I don't hold it against you anymore. & I'm so apologetic for whatever hurtful words I have said in the heat of the moment. I'm sincerely sorry for the hurts & auguish I've brought you. That was so childish & unneccessary. I'M SORRY."
Unforgiveness??? Does past hurts seem so significant now? Does anger matters now? Regrets??? Is it time for regrets?

Wish you had spent more quality time with your loved ones instead of gaming away on your com?
Wish you had taken the time & trouble to enter into their life?Wish you had done something special, sweet, & totally unexpected, & brighten their face with a smile?
Wish you had taken the initiative & asked them about their day?Wish you had been less occupied with your own things & take on a slower pace in life?
Wish you had shared your life & all of its ups & downs with them?Wish you had given them a surprise big-bear hug, leaving them nonplussed?
Wish you had taken your parents out for dinner & paying for the bills yourself?
Wish you had say "Thanks", "I'm sorry", or "I love you"?Or just a simple kiss? A simple conversation? A simple hug?

Life is short, time is precious.
Spend time with those who truly matters.

Pause. Think. Reflect. Act.


When you come into this world, you were crying and others around you were smiling. Live your life in such a way that when you die, you are smiling and the others are crying.