Yesterday was my birthday and for the first time of my life, i find the true meaning of health. Was teaching halfway before my eyes swelled to the point that my primary one kids were quite reluctant and awkward to look me in the eyes or face. I know i look hideous and that i was allergic to this medicine ibuprofen. So a kind parent offered to bring me to the air base medical centre to have a look at my illness. Well, as usual, the clinics is reputed to close at the official time and will not give a minute more to anyone. So she drove me to the nearby hospital emergency instead! Gosh, i never thought i need to go to an emergency room again so soon since the time i did 3 years ago at Changi hospital due to a fish bone stuck in my throat.
Well, so today i call off my lessons in case any of my pupils will catch on my flu disease. I had always been in good health and i tried very hard to maintain this for my stay here in US. Afterall, i am alone when i am sick and i have only myself to depend on to get myself on the road again. So confident was i that i will not succumb to this viral flu that is going around since i have survived it for the past 2 years. No, heaven forbids, i have to admit defeat to it on my last year stinct here. Then again, a few parents were so nice to bring me food and herbal tea, that took away some of my sickness blues.
My birthdays would usually end up with me having exams in my younger days and now being a teacher for so many donkey years, i would end up setting exam papers for the students. I had a roaring birthday last year with Jenny and Jessica celebrating with me though but this year, i had no one, just the sickness and the hospital detol smell! I am filled with gratitude that at least i did have a birthday slam to reminensce upon. Friends these days come and go, i know i will meet new friends and possibly have a blasting time. Concievably then they may, whoosh, suddenly be gone, big time. Those whom once i thought cared for me, will we ever meet again and talk about old times and forget all the betrayals? I would never know and perhaps it is good not to know so as to move forward in life...
3 comments:
Hi Hui Khoon,
Firstly, Happy Birthday, belatedly. Good that you mentioned it. Otherwise people like me would not get a chance to wish you lots of happiness on such an occasion.
OK to be alone. Even if we have people around we can still be alone. But you are not actually alone if there are people who care about you where-ever they may be. Just remind them very strongly about important things like birthday.
What about this sickness? Has it gone away or still staying with you?
Happy Birthday again.
SH
Hi SH,
thank you for your well wishes! Yes, my sickness is pretty much gone, i hope, still coughing at times. I have always told myself that i am not totally alone as my family and friends are always in their spirit with me. Just that being 'physically' alone just kicks in the loneliness part. Well, i used to feel 'alone' too with crowds around me, this could be a better off birthday than any other times. At least i am still alive and kicking!ha...
Hey, Hui Khoon, hope that you get well soon.
Have a good rest.
Yeah, I agree with SH. When you are back, you will have your friends and family celebrating with you.
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