Facing Death

I am compelled to write something on DEATH,the much avoided word but unavoidable destination when one's time is up in this borrowed world. I know it sounds eerie to be writing my thoughts on this subject but it is a good topic to discuss for one never knows when death comes knocking at one's door. As it happened,late yesterday afternoon, we received a phone call from Sue to say that Gen had just died at Sarawak General Hospital,Kuching after a few months of illness. She was about 51 years old. According to Mak Aling,she did not expect her to die so soon because there had been times when she had felt worst than that. As all good christians know, the good Lord,being the perfect time keeper knows what timing is best. So,He takes her to be with Him now.
To most of us, the timing was most unappropriate because as all of us are aware,during CNY most things almost come to a halt..a complete stop. The flights are fully booked.The funeral wake is tonight and the funeral service is tomorrow at 1pm. We would only be able to attend the church service because our flight is early tomorrow morning. I did not realise that Air Asia only has one flight from Miri to Kuching & Kuching to Miri. There used to be 2 flights in a day. The airfare is something else. Talk about it being a LOW COST or BUDGET airline..we had to pay almost RM1000/- for 2 persons return...only available at the airport..none left for internet booking. MAS tickets?? NONE!
Nowadays,death does not only hit at the older folks but the young ones are being called back early too,much to our fear. I remember a friend who died sometime in May last year at about 45 years old. She was busy caring for her aged father who was always in & out of hospital because of old age;a husband who's always sick and a daughter who had just given birth. She was so concerned for her father's & husband's health that she neglected hers..yes, she died in her sleep. Little did anybody know she would go before the two sick persons that she took care of. Another friend died less than 2 weeks ago from lung cancer at age 54. She was a picture of perfect health when she did her brisk walking last year,often overtaking me as she swayed her arms/hands while walking.
How prepared are we when faced with death?
If one should die tonight,do you think you would go to heaven?This is a favourite question by one of the priests.
How is our personal relationship with God and our eternal salvation?
Is your house in order?
I'd better stop before this topic gets into me.

May You Rest In peace,Gen.

Geneivie Angking passed away today 7th February,2008 @4pm. She's about 51 years old. She had been sick since May last year. She was a lecturer at Universiti Putra m'sia. This photo was taken in November,2006.

Gen doing the twist with Dr. Cindy.

Fireworks

Last night's fireworks were the best I have had ever seen..best like,there was a continuous display of fireworks" coming into" my air space from Pujut 4. About 15 minutes before midnight,the sounds of firecrackers and fireworks already started. The surrounding area sounded as if it was it was in a war-torn area especially when the mothers or fathers of all crackers sounded like bombs. My mind quickly wandered to Iraq where the people are constantly hearing the explosions of bombs. Thank goodness that here, it's only during Chinese New Year that we get to hear the 'EXPLOSIONS'.
Watching the fireworks from my balcony,I saw the changing skyline from colourful to smoky. Millions of ringgits must have been burnt into making the sky as it was like night..colourful & smoky. My immediate neighbours even though 2 own supermarkets,one owns a goldsmith shop & the other one owns a famous photo studio did not even light a sparkler...so lokek one!(stingy)



This morning as it is already a habit,having breakfast at home is like not having breakfast at all. So we went looking for coffeshops that were opened and found a few coffeshops at Pelita commercial Centre were opened including QQ. We had roti canai at the mamak's kopi shop near Pelita Hai Ma. It's good once in a while to eat at a mamak's kedai kopi. The place was packed and quite a lot of Chinese were seen eating there. Infact,mamak's kedai kopi now are popular with the Chinese except the Ibans have not quite acquired the taste for mamak's food. After breakfast we went to Pujut corner market to get some pork. Years ago,it was hard to find pork on CNY because only the Chinese sold pork then but not so,now. We have Iban & Orang Ulu butchers selling pork now.
I have to go now........Kongsi Fa Cai..Kong Hee Fatt Choy!