As the seconds go past, equally spaced out, one after another, in precision; be year end becomes less and less further away.
The new year is eagerly rushing to reach us as fast as it can; bringing with it many, many surprises.
It is time to reflect on everything great, good and could-be better, how it has shaped us.
GOALS – Have we hit them? If yes, Congratulations. If it was a near miss, re-focus, aim and get the goal in the coming year.
If you have missed and way off target, analyze what worked for you and what didn’t. No point beating yourself up over it. Just get back to the starting block / line and start all over again. If you did not leave the starting block / line; you have to be honest with yourself with the “why?” Then, get back on the starting block, focus, aim, get the target.
If you want some form of consolation; even those who have achieved or just missed their goals this year, have to start the new year at the starting block / line, the same as you.
As we close the final hours, minutes, seconds, moments; let us rejoice and be grateful for our family, friends, people in general, who have impacted our lives, that the wonderful impressions in the time over 2025 become the memories that we want to keep all our lives.
HAPPY NEW YEAR’S EVE 2025. FILLED WITH GRATITUDE, LOVE, PEACE AND JOY; LET US ENJOY THE LAST MOMENTS OF 2025.
Following up from the two earlier articles. Not sure if I can call these essays, including this one which is about to be told, unfold… however you may want to read them.
When I started with the Good Friday article, I never planned to have the next one about the waiting period between the time of crucifixion and his resurrection. It just came to my mind while I was sitting in church. I started penning down my thoughts and then work on it, since I had my tools of the trade: my Samsung Fold 5; with me.
And now I am writing about “HE HAS RISEN”. At mass that Saturday evening (where I wrote IN STILLNESS, EARTH AWAITS THE RESURRECTION while waiting for mass to begin); we heard the readings from the Old and New Testaments, we held lighted candles to symbolize new life (and hope), we had the Litany of Saints, the sprinkling / blessing of Holy water…it was a “High Mass” (a term rarely used in church today). It was everything an Easter vigil mass should be. We were reaffirmed that this God who became man, Jesus; had died for us on Good Friday and now is risen.
Going back to over 2,000 years ago, when the large stone or boulder covering the entrance to where Jesus’ body was buried. “He is no longer here. He has risen, Alleluia”, said the angel.
I cannot help but feel the relief these people had when they heard that statement. They would now feel that all they went through was not in vain, that it is all true. Again, at that time, computers, google and other modern day technology was not available. They had to go by gut instinct, by faith and believe that it was true. Many who were fence-sitters or wait-and-see believers; now believed. If I was there at that time, I would have had more questions to ask. I would definitely have believed, but what’s next? It sure would have been quite the experience: seeing first hand the direct connection between heaven and earth.
My earliest memories of Easter was maybe when I was around 5 or 6 years old. It probably was Easter Sunday morning. We, meaning the Atkinsons; would have gathered at my grandparents’ home in Section 8, Petaling Jaya (it would have been around 1964). The Atkinsons, would have been dad, his siblings and families. I remember receiving a big Easter egg, made of chocolate. It was wrapped in colourful wrapping. I think if I remember correctly, I asked myself, “What am I going to do with a big egg?”, not knowing that it was made of chocolate.
I think when it came to our (as parents) turn, we gave our daughter, Laura; a big Easter egg and a Tamagotchi Easter (not too sure if it was an Easter egg) egg. Tamagotchi never included a warning that parents would soon take over the looking after and maintenance of these things, as children soon got tired of these electronic, noisy pets. End story is that Laura ended up having three of these devices. She also had Easter chocolate eggs for some years to come.
With the faith of the people who were with Jesus Christ during the time of His crucifixion right through the time HE HAD RISEN and AFTER; we the Atkinsons, wish all our family and friends around the world: HAPPY EASTER!
Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all. One of many excellent examples is J.K. Rowlings.
What a day it was, yesterday. According to the skeptics, the date was chosen to cause disruption to the process it was chosen for.
So, the big question is: Did it cause a disruption?
No one turned to the guy with the flying carpet, the 2 meter long bamboo binoculars and coconuts for help to control the weather.
First of all, the flying carpet…it seemed big enough for a “pilot” and 3 passengers. Come to think of it, no one has actually see it fly. Next, the most powerful binoculars in the world. The 2 meter long binoculars is claimed to help one see the next universe and back. Quite a feat. There is a caveat to this: only this guy, the “pilot”, has the resonance with this 2 meter bamboo binoculars for it to work; something like Thor and his Mjolnir (Hammer).
Odin placed several enchantments upon Mjolnir prior to Thor wielding the hammer: No living being may wield it unless they are worthy. This is reflected in the inscription on the side of Mjolnir, which states: Whosoever holds this hammer, if he be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor. (1)
So, it goes with the bamboo binoculars, more commonly known as “bambino” (short for…well.. yeah, bamboo binoculars). Whoever is worthy shall have the power to use it, focus and see the next universe and back with it.
And the coconuts? They are meant to balance the flying carpet with passengers on board. You thought they were for drinking, didn’t you?😉
Our neighbours from near, not so near and further away, who made their was to the school nearby us, were directed to our respective lines based on our ages. In Malaysia, the term “line” is more commonly used instead of “queue”. Many locals when reading the word. “queue”, will have difficulty pronouncing it – “coo-ee-u-ee“. So, we waited in line, patiently.
Malaysians were out early as the school gates opened at 8.00am to welcome the streams of people in. Schools were used as polling centers. It was Malaysia’s 15th General Elections. This date, November 19th, 2022; was announced about a month ago. Political tensions and fever, if you may; built up.
Politics: the bad, not so bad and the good (yes, there is hope), filled the media, especially the social one; with all the politicking. Not enough attention or emphasis as to how the country had progressed in nearly 5 years since the last elections, were insights based on the Malaysian layman’s or “rakyat’s” (as we are more commonly known) point of view.
What was happening in this school while we waited our turn to vote was people were chatting away merrily with each other. I had a chance to meet some friends whom I had not seen in a long time (since the last elections?) and meet many new friends.
What everyone was speaking without having to say a word was “change was in the air”. It was our fundamental duty to our children, our family, our country… to vote change in.
In the meantime, the weather tried to put up a determent for others to come out and vote, too. But the determent was all but a whimper – after a few measerly drizzling drops, the rain stopped. The word “measerly” is more commonly used rather than the actual word “miserly”. I have no idea why. I don’t think that “measerly” even exists in the English dictionary. Colloquial or another Malaysian invented English word?
I tried resisting having my finger pushed too deep in the inkpad as the inkpad felt like a soft, rubbery, squeezeball feeling. I felt like I was poking a slug…not that I have ever experienced poking a slug before. So…yeah, with my inked finger as a signed that I had come to the ballot box, received my ballot paper, marked it with a sign of hope; mission accomplished.
We are all looking forward to a new Malaysia with bated breath.
Eating chocolate\ while waiting with bated breath. Take your time.
We are doomed! A message I received from Whatsapp. The numbers are climbing. Does not look good.
There’s talk on the street. It sound so familiar. The city is crowded with a noisy silence.
The pain of being alone. Great expectations.
The cries are so loud but are deafened by silence.
Everybody’s watching you. But nobody sees you.
A plea for help is often in the eyes and the heart of the person, so loud yet it cannot be heard.
My Spanish-styled bungalow, my two BMWs. Once the envy of many. I am behind 3 monthly payments.
Credit cards – once my best friends. Now, serpents in my wallet.
The banks are hounding me for payments, there’s no letting up. Phone calls, a barrage of letters of demand… Legal threats….25 years of spotless payments on record, now don’t count. These are the same banks which constantly remind me through all their adverts in media and in mail that they are there for me. Now, they are not willing to listen to me.
Carol is to start college in the U.S. this fall. Judith still has a year left to complete college.
Cash-strapped. Affluent lifestyle yet no money for even a meagre meal.
Drowning in shame. I have never, ever been in a situation like this before. How do I face the public? What will my friends and family think of me? It was almost like yesterday when my family and I were living the best in lifestyle.
Why is the government not hearing my cry for help?….The 17th suicide reported for this month alone. Oh dear, the 7th, 9th, 15th for this month. Are we just reduced to mere statistical numbers, that who we are…by name…does not matter any longer? Or never did?
Sounds familiar? The Covid-19 pandemic seems to have no end in sight. The constant lockdowns have forced many businesses to fold. Many people have lost their jobs. But their financial commitments still remain.
This is all real. We probably may know people who are facing these challenging times. One of the first things we could do is to reassure them that there is no shame because of these challenges they face. It is not important what everyone thinks.
They need moral support at least from their immediate family and friends. This is where we try to help with basic needs like giving them a good meal or some groceries. No questions asked, no advice need to be given. No judgement. Least of all, advice or “I told you so”.
I love coffee. I am awake throughout most of every night, working on articles, always having a cup of coffee at the ready. Sometimes hot coffee and on nights like these where the weather is so humid; I love my coffee chilled from the fridge. I drink coffee almost 24×7. I invite you to buy me a cup of coffee @ $5.00. You can buy a cup of coffee once, or every week or even everyday. Whatever collected, less the price of coffee, PayPal and other expenses; will go towards buying a meal or meals for these people. These people – our friends, family or people in the neighborhood, in no way, have to feel obliged to repay us. You can refer to “Mmmm…Only Cuppa Coffee” at the top of this blog.
