"Don't Worry", Life Goes On

It seems like a really long time since I published anything. Actually there is a whole lot of backlog drafts which I never seems to get down to completing. They are getting stale, I must admit. Still there are some things which I want to share in them.
I finally see a specialist for my Gastro-reflux. All my worries over the past days of having a tube pushed down my throat comes to nothing. There isn't any endoscope or whatsoever-scope needed for the doctor to tell me there is no cure for it. That's it. No heal-it-all remedy. The only way for me to go is to take long term medication in the hope of suppressing my symtoms which had been getting worse from year to year. It was comforting that he tell me "don't worry" and patted me assurringly.
Different batches of work had been forthcoming in the past month. Continuously with very short breaks in between. It was good working on different templates for a change. We had just finished the last lot of data entry. I felt rested. Strange. Today, I seem to have all the extra energy needed to type. Where did all that energy come from? Normally, by this time, I would be tired out. And normally, I would be dead tired after a trip to the doctor by the Home ambulances.
We had to stop working temporary to pack up the computer room. A week from now, we are moving out of this room. Our computers will temporary be housed at the Residential therapy room. On the 28th, the contractors will start tearing down all the cupboards and hacking up the place. The Home is doing a major facelift for the computer room and the handicraft room next to it. They have in mind a new layout which we weren't too keen about. After all that we had to say, we could only keep our fingers crossed. It will be two months or so before we move back. Fortunately, the internet will be set up at the Therapy Room so that we can still have access and continue using the computers. Can you imagine life without computers and internet? I'm afraid I can't!

Unlucky Day with One Big Blessing

What luck we have today!
First my handphone got locked after just 2 error trials entering the security PIN code. (I thought they allow more, my old handphone allowed 4 errors).
Next, the internet went down (and stayed that way for a whole day) when I got energy and inpiration for blogging.
In the evening, Peng Mun's right side back tire tore and the inner tube ballooned.
Last, but not least, his handphone hung. No matter what he did, Peng Mun couldn't get the phone to respond. It wouldn't even be switched off.
I was to find out later that someone else in the Home labeled the day "black" too. She called it a
horrible, unlucky, black day. That same day, something horrible happened for her too.
To be fair, this day didnt start out all that horrid. It began with something good. Mr. Harry Tan came back to volunteering after recovering from an ailment which was life threatening for him. To see him back was a relief and a joy for all of us who had been worrying for him over this period of time. Mr. Tan has been volunteering for the Home for more than 3 years now. His loud hearty laughter was an advertisement of his presence and residents waste no time in asking him for help in all sorts of purchase. He was always running back an forth buying food and grocery for us and doing some odd job, always going an extra mile. Mr. Tan shares openly and it is a known fact that he has bad medical records relating to coronary artery disease.
"Anytime, I may just drop dead," he was always telling us. Yet he affirmed that he finds happiness in coming and volunteering. We thought he'd burnt himself out soon enough, but he kept going and proving us wrong. Many times he tired himself out and we kept reminding him to take it easy and learn to say 'no' sometime--something which he don't know how to do. He wasn't afraid of death but was only afraid that he would not outlive his mother. He didn't want a broken hearted mother crying over him.
"I pray hard, God will take my mother first."
Thursday, 23rd April, while he was still away in Genting, his mother met with a fatal accident and passed away on the spot. After that it so happened that Mr. Tan got ill and was hospitalised with a life threatening condition. We did not know what to make of it and was anxious. Praying for Mr. Tan was all that we can do. We were happy to see him again. That's one great blessing for the day.

Earth Day and Growing Old

I feel old when I'm tired out and weak. I mean really really old. I'd imagine myself to be a 90 year old lady and tried to feel less frustrated at my weakness. Then also I could empathise with old people and offer up my feelings to God for them and for my old Grandma at home. Grandma is close to 90 now. Thank God she's still able to walk, though a little unsteadily.

Today the thought of getting older had not crossed my mind. Today I turned forty one and felt good, young and energetic. Yet eminently today I stumbled upon passages and verses that set me to think and remind me not to think that age is a bothering factor. Ha ha ha! First the Our Daily Bread reading for today "Too Old?" stared me in my face. The Bible passage reading come from Genesis 17:15-22. God was telling Abraham to expect a son by Sarah, his lawful wife. Abraham was then a hundred years old and Sarah was 90. Yet God proved that nothing was too hard for Him. God fulfils every promise He made in His time. When all seem without hope, there is always hope in God and faith in Him will carry us through.

Dee surprised me with a bouquet delivery and a message that goes:

Lizzie!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MY FRIEND!!!!!

and remember.............."age does not make us childish, as some say; it finds us true children."

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

All my love, Dee OOOXXX

I'm not that old, am I!!???

Thank you God for friends that worry and fret lest I think I'm getting too old.

Why '1 Caterpillar'.

At forty, I'm really begining to feel faulty everywhere!
One would think that at this age I have learn everything about myself. Not so. Everyday presents something new that I need learning to cope. Living with SMA isn't easy. In many ways I liken myself to a caterpillar journeying through life towards that final transformation that will free me from my physical disability. As a Catholic, I looked to what's beyond.
There's a purpose for our existant. Life is, to me, a school that I may learn and be transformed by what I learnt; a journey filled with exciting things waiting to be discovered. Things that point me towards the Creator of the universe. Life has it's ups and downs, but I'm thankful all the same. 1 Caterpillar's Notebook is where I can share my personal encounters and discovery.

What is SMA? I belong to tpye II
Link to our association: MDAS