Lecture

Flying Fish

    These days, I feel like I'm being interviewed by Barbara Walters (the TV reporter who is known to make her guests cry). People know I am in mourning for my Mom so when they approach me they give me their sympathetic face and wait for me to cry. Bless their sensitive hearts but there are days when I'm actually in my regular happy mood and I don't feel like crying.

    And there's the Emotion Police who want to cheer me up but make sure I am not too happy lest others think I did not care for Mom; So like the flying fish, I have to straddle between water and sky ... between joy and sorrow.

  ( Tom of Pasadena sent me this video about the plight of the flying fish, Swim and you get eaten by the big fish. Fly and you get eaten by the birds.)

    Even when I want to have a happy day, there are late-breaking incidents that force me back into that troubled world. This morning I started my day with 2 terrible news. A close friend who sang with me back in my college years was diagnosed with cancer and the disease had masticated in her bones. Another friend from my TGIF family shared that his wife will be on IV for 3-6 months due to Lyme disease. Later in the afternoon, another college batchmate had passed away. It's wave after wave of bad news.

   When you are in mourning you are trapped in this emotional vortex and you cry like a baby until there are no longer any tears to shed. The formula to return to normal is to think of the fun times and immerse yourself into the routines of life. Slowly, hopefully, that storm will dissipate.

   When death and life collide, emotions burst like fireworks in the night sky. It's a beautiful thing really. Who would have thought that thinking about death would make me so alive?

Wisdom from Naomi of N Hollywood, CA

Lecture
Sent in by Don of Kelowna, B.C.

Ron Chester, 89 years of age, was stopped by the police around 2 a.m. and was asked where he was going at that time of night. Ron replied, "I'm on my way to a lecture about alcohol abuse and the effects it has on the human body, as well as smoking and staying out late."

The officer asked, "Really? Who's giving that lecture at this time of night?"

Ron replied, "That would be my wife."

Videos of the week:

Don't Wake Me
Contributor: Norm the Arcadia Accountant, CA

Cute and amusing. This little toy/entertainment box's behaviour is pretty realistic.

Tiger Woods Top 10 Shots
Contributor: Reynaldo of Manila, Philippines

I don't play golf but I can certainly admire what Tiger did during his prime.

Piano Without Fingers
Contributor: Ninette of Los Angeles, CA

Someone close to me has rekindled her love for the piano. This video reminds me that maybe even I can learn to play someday.

Swimming Without Arms
Contributor: Leovino of Manila, Philippines

Strange as it looks, this young man can swim better than most. He reminds me of the old TV show - "The Man from Atlantis" --- if you lived through the seventies you should remember that failed TV series. Keep on pushing the envelope! TGIF People!