Wednesday, August 27

Happy Birthday Hanan


My baby is nine.

Has it really been almost 10 years since I was in the first flush of motherhood, throwing my guts up after drinking even water?

Has it been 8 years since he took his halting steps, and made us jump up and rush to his side everytime he fell?

Has it been five whole years since his first day of school, where his teacher had to pry his little hands of mine, and I walked away crying more than he was?

Was it only 3 years ago that that I decided I wouldn't do the kiasu parent thing and not put my boy in 400 enrichment classes, but let him find his passion and follow in on his own?

Wow.

Happy birthday son! I hope you become the man God intends for you to be.

Tuesday, August 19

This darned cold

There is nothing worse than being forced to work when your throat hurts, your eyes are streaming and every cough makes you regret not doing Kegel exercises when you were younger.

Argh!

And the swollen saliva gland under my chin either makes me look like a man with a misplaced Adam's apple or a bullfrog. Just what I need - another chin.

The antibiotics I am on look like pills for horses, I honestly don't understand how the doctor thinks I can fit them down my sore and delicate throat.

Oh that this season is ended!!!

Ok, I am done griping. Back to your regular programme.

Monday, August 18

Thank You Taxi Uncle

We in Singapore we like to complain about, well, just about everything, I think I want to take time out to thank an intergral part of our transport system. The ubiquitous "taxi uncle", as we call cabbies on this island.

Of course it takes an encounter with a really bad one to help me realise how good our cabbies actually are, and I had one such cause for comparision recently.

I hailed him in Yishun, and told him to take me to Woodlands - what under normal cicumstances is a 7 minute ride. This one took 20. He never went more than 40km/h at third gear, made sure all the cars at an intersection moved off before he started moving and finally asked me at least 12 times during that ride if he was to "go straight" which I already him to at the beginning.

I asked, "Are you a new cabbie?"
He said, "Yes, I have only been driving for two days."
And then volunteered, "I haven't driven a car since I got my driver's license more than 10 years ago."

!!!

So you can see why I am grateful for the majority of cabbies in Singapore who are polite, know the roads well, drive like pros and get me to my location in the prescribed amount of time.

I am extra grateful for those who engage in conversation rather than fall asleep at the wheel, share their life stories and ask for mine and considerately wait till I get into the lift before driving off to make sure my safety isn't compromised.

Taxi Uncles, you rock! Most of ya!

Thursday, August 14

exams and birthdays

It's that season again, where teachers start to panic, pile on the homework, and try and make sure that the kids know the subject matter, either by understanding or mere repetition.

Yes, its the awful CA2, which always hits my son badly because it happens either during or just after his birthday, ths diminishing his enjoyment.

One of the things that really affects him is that he has to balance being nice to his parents who are bringers of parties and presents with the endless frustration of being nagged, scolded and given a earful about schoolwork.

To add to that we have tution teachers who give the parents homework, along the lines of
- "Make sure he does.."
- "Make sure you go through.. with him"
- "Make sure you check his...."

And here I was, thinking I left school behind me.

Friday, August 8

I need my memory chip enhanced

Ken Mamlin shared a really cool idea at yesterday's class that Man would have no knowledge of anything if God didn't put it there.

And then, he illustrated it with a story of how God took the "Sanity" chip out of Nebuchannezzar's brain for 7 years for being proud and egotistical. And had him crawling around like an animal. And then when he came back, they gave him back his kingdom. Them crazy Babylonians. Anyhoo....

So, I am asking now - can I please have an extra "memory" chip, so I can memorise the 5 page script that I received this morning, for tomorrow's performance?

IN the words of Cathy Guisewhite - "AACK!"

Thursday, August 7

Dedicated to our 43rd National Day

Before you were formed
I knew you.
A tiny red dot on a pale blue dot.

I prepared the hearts of men and women,
Valiant and adventurous,
who were passionate about me and my people.
And you.

They came in big steamships,with the EIC.
And started to build My house.
For you.

I saw you in your infancy.
Your halting steps as you struggled to
Make a difference in your corner of the world.
As trade and commerce flourished, I saw you stretch your hands
To meet the needs of the old, the infirmed, the defenceless.

I watched as your face changed,
from white and foreign,
to brown and yellow and local.

I prospered your people across the nation
Blessed them to be a blessing.

On a tiny red dot on a pale blue dot.

When you plunged into turmoil,
And war tore through your veins.
How I longed to gather you up.

But I stayed my hand, and let your raise yourself,
And I preserved you, as my people prayed.
I healed your land and made it strong,
Strong enough to stand on its own.

AndI watched you standing there, through the strife
Shining glorious and bright.
Full of fire and energy for this new nation.
The tiny red dot on a pale blue dot.

Like a true daughter of Sarah,
I saw you get younger & more radiant
as the years went by.

Pooling together when needed.
Finding an itch and scratching it.
Making Me known.

You call yourself by many names
You put on many garments.
But you will always be My cherished bride.
I prepared you for My glory.

You are the church,
in the tiny red dot on a pale blue dot.
You are beloved.
You are Mine.

Tuesday, August 5

Says. Said. Saying

Now he wants to talk.
When I have nothing else to say.
When I think the time for talking is past,
and I want it to be clean, quick and simple.

Now he wants to discuss.
The "various aspects" of us.
I don't remember any of them,
they all seem so long long ago.

Now he wants to heal,
when the scabs are well-adhered,
and nothing is bleeding anymore.
Not my heart. Definitely not my heart.

Now my God, He speaks.
Turn around and listen.
You may not have the words,
but your heart is still Mine to hold.

Saturday, August 2

Swim Team Mania

Olympic Fever was rampant at my work place this morning as the US Swim Team had a meet and greet session with the members and the press. 100s of people turned up armed with posters, autograph books, swim boards, caps, T shirts.. basically anything that a marker can be applied to.

While I wasn't really into swimming etc, I was really inspired by Dara Torres, who at 41 is the oldest swimmer on the team AND who is swimming faster now than she did when she was in her 20s.

But being the shy and retiring person that I am, I never told anyone that of the 40 over swimmers, she is the one I really wanted to meet.

Read this next bit carefully, cos this is proof that my God is good and loves me.

We met the Media Director for the Swim Team yesterday and she said she had a last minute media request for a one to one interview and can one of us organise it. My boss volunteered me (as bosses do). I expected it would be Phelps or Coughlin, cos that was all the media here was interested in covering.

Then the Media Director says, "Ok Nalinee, I will see you by the pool at 8.30 and you can bring Dara to the interview."

And I am like "Dara??! Dara Torres?"

So, I got to spend 20 exclusive minutes with Dara, and see a side of her no one here got to see.
Oh, and I got this.



How good is my God!!!

Anyhoo, here are some other random shots of the team for the rest of you.