Conspicuous absence
***
He used to sit there watching
through the window
Now the chair looks
forlornly empty.
****
Where are the customers?
Are the drivers working from home?
Where are the people on the street?
It’s a quantum leap
for online shoppings.
Will the malls be irrelevant?
****
The face that was,
is one’s identity.
It’s about one’s privacy.
‘Cos linked to one’s face,
are other faces and identities
by relation, by kinship,
especially in mental illnesses, breast cancer, Covid-19, HIV.
“Can it spread ?” “Don’t play with them, their mum works in a hospital!”
Contagion by genes, by marriage, by touch, as society defines.
Health education is an ongoing necessity; a continual challenge.
Chen Song Ping,
31 Dec 2020
Don’t promise the moon…
“…if one is not sure one can deliver it!”
****
A forest to cherish in Tangjung Tuan
Fortunately, Tanjung Tuan has been gazetted as a forest reserve since 1921 and as a wildlife sanctuary since 1971. We certainly hope this natural beauty would remain as a reserve and sanctuary for eternity for the public as well as for the flora and fauna. During most weekends and public holidays, this small sanctuary is swarmed with hundreds of hikers, a testimony of its attractions.
The breath-taking beauty of the forest, boulders, beaches, cliffs and sea proves irresistible to most of us. Hikers come for exercise. But it’s normal for us to take photos of strange trees, fungi, unique rock formations. Also, on rare occasions we took our poses amongst rock pools and watched whirlpools while hiking.
Note:
This is a post by Toh HL. Coauthor, Toh HL is an avid cameraman. He used to teach physics. It’s much later I discover that he is a good writer too!
Does yelling work?
“I always say if you aren’t yelling at your kids, you’re not spending enough time with them.” – Reese Witherspoon
“I got it first!”
“No, it’s mine!”
They fought and wrestled!
“Sigh! Do they fight only
when I come back from work?”
****
One late evening, the younger one
stood by the door-grill wondering
why his big bro was not home yet
… from the football field!
****
I found that yelling didn’t work… for them and for me! I would call them to a room and gave each of them a chance to explain. Sometimes a hug each… Usually each would still get a few canes on his palm…
*****
“It’s not easy being a mom. If it were easy, fathers would do it.” – Betty White
****
COVID-19: Desensitizing numbers
One case of Covid!
Beware, COVID-19’s here!
Careful, don’t go out!
“***
Going on two years
Covid numbers kept climbing
Up-trend graphics show!
****
More daily numbers
What statistics, what numbers?
The figure’s blurring!
***
SOPs complied,
Yet the number kept rising
Soon, it is numbing.
Dual perspectives: Bringing hospital care to home. (Poem, poetry, Senryū)
Changing time beckons
Hospital versus home care
A time to reflect.
Both venues promise
presence of healthcare workers
and assessment tools.
Certain illnesses can be treated and cared for at home and community. In the light of COVID-19, would home-care be a better option?
How humorous and courageous can one be?
A group of elderly senior surgeons put up
a courageous and entertaining show
for fundraising… Good idea!
With exposed hairy chests
and ballet-like costumes
they skipped in a row
as they pointed their shoes.
With a tap, tap here,
and a tap, tap there!
Here tap, there tap!
Turnaround tap, tap!
And they flap their ‘wings’
and disappeared behind the stage.
Only to come back again
to take a grand bow
to a thunderous applaud!
When fund-raising is fun raising, indeed!
***
How flexible is humility?
This is about how humble one can be, the higher one goes up the career ladder.
****
A medical specialist asked a nurse along a corridor, “how come you always greet my boss, but you never greet me when you see me?”
She answered, “we have to, otherwise he will greet us first, even to the cleaners!” 😐
****
Have you noticed
some people in higher management
are so high and mighty,
they are not able to bend
to touch those below!
******
Just how humble
are your top managers?
*****
“On the highest throne in the world, we still sit only on our own bottom.” – Michel de Montaigne
******
Chen Song Ping 