hoangha80

Today, the lucky angels didn’t smile with me. The stomachache lingered on and I had to stay at home while there’s lot of work still to be done. The plan to go to the aerobics center was also postponed. The only interesting things I could do were logging on the Internet, having some chats with my friends and doing some reading. I am trying to sharpen my English not only through writing but reading also. Books are waiting to be finished but the reading went on even more slowly than snail’s pace. I hardly focus on anything that requires mental reflections, especially when I encounter difficult words or complicated expressions. Concentration keeps eluding me. It may be an unwanted sign of the coming old age, I guess .

Before, whenever I got sick, the first person I would call was him. Just hearing his tender loving voice and looking at his deep caring eyes, my pain would be relieved somehow, though I might complain more than my illness should be. Now that he has gone, I should shoulder the pain by myself. After his passing, I have become more mature and more resilient, I think. Only by becoming a stronger person than I was before, can I everyday live with the harsh truth that he is no longer with me, no longer holds out his hand when I fall, no longer gives me warm smiles when I feel down and blue, no longer and never again. Luckily, I have my younger brothers besides, who normally look so carefree but can prove to be caring and considerate if situation requires (such situation should not last long, of course).

A ray of light came to this dull day when I got a letter from my former Singaporean teacher. For me and for all those who have the chance of knowing her, she is a heart of gold. Always smiling, listening and understanding, she is one of the most agreeable, sociable yet intelligent and sensible persons I have ever met. She is neither beautiful nor famous but she has touched so many lives by her loving heart and knowing mind. She is unmarried (which is so unfortunate for the menfolk) but she leads an incredibly enriching, passionate and profound life. From her, I learn that we can choose to live our life in a way that renders the most meaning and value, unassailed by adversities or prejudices. It’s really heartening to read her mail with so many inspirational words like “really happy”, “wonderful time”, “thankful for”, “enjoy”, “nice time”, “good” and “God bless” and so on. With these words in mind, I shall stop here with an encouraging quote to give me nice dreams tonight and you too: