gnatweds

It's a particular peculiarity of this job - we come face to face with human tragedy, often chasing it for that great read in the next day's papers. But ever so often, it's someone I know.

It happened before. I was a young reporter, doing an afternoon shift and I was called upon on a Sunday evening to caption some pictures that a freelancer had brought in. It was good pictures of an accident. The Beemer was wrapped around the tree, and although we never published that one picture, there was a shot where you could see the driver and you knew that he was in trouble. His face had swelled up, and well, he looked quite the mess.
So I nonchalantly called the SCDF and got the story down pat... and the next morning, Gene was receiving calls from all over. The driver was a good friend of his from med school - it pretty much shook me up.

And its happened again. Five young men on the Singapore team participating in a Dragon Boat race in Cambodia died after their boat capsized on Friday. One of them I knew from JC.

Then, over the last few days, the reporters were unable to claw up anything about one of the boys. And so, his Secondary School teacher started a blog about him. Guess what? I also know her from JC. Her husband is also from my JC and I think he knows the former victim well.

I guess its true that there are only so many degrees of separation in Singapore. But really...

Then, Dad on Thursday was diagnosed with heart failure. He had a mild heart attack apparently and had been hospitalised so that the docs could get a stent or something in.
But the news just keeps getting worse and worse: The procedure yesterday revealed that three vessels apparently, and I say apparently, because its too hard getting 2nd hand news from my parents, are fairly blocked and they want to do open heart surgery instead of stents.

To be fair, am sure my mom and dad are worried sick, but man, my temper exploded when they kept saying its "very serious" without talking to the consultant and understand the situation fully. Instead, they relied on... get this... the opinion of a friggin houseman who is a friend of my nephew's. Don't get me wrong, am sure the boy is brilliant and yes, open heart surgery is not something to just wave on by.
But I take umbrage at going on opinions when I haven't actually heard a good explanation of what his condition actually is, what the options are or what the risk/benefit analysis is.

gaaahk.

Can u tell I'm seriously annoyed here?

But at the same time, I am annoyed at myself because I yelled at my mom - who must be feeling the stress of all this. She's tired herself completely out from the last 5 days that dad's been in hospital and she is liable to get sick herself. Sigh.

So am annoyed and guilted out that I am annoyed. Geez.

I need a psychiatrist.

And man... realllllyyy need to go to my physiotherapist again man; my arm's gone numb again. Damned.

We're officially two, and I'm well... well and good into my third decade.

What a difference a year or two makes.

Happy anniversary G.

Nov 6 2005

It is also... yes... my Birthday.

Yep, we did it all on the same day.
I guess this way my husband has no choice but to remember the date.
Thank you to everyone who sent me mesgs today. Truly I am surprised and touched that people remember and care enough. Thanks everyone.

Am really like... wow... okay, words are failing me... and considering my profession, that says a lot.

And this was last year in Rochester. From left, Rachel, Tow Shung and me - three of us all share the same birthday. Yup, Nov 6.
What are the chances that a small group of expat Singaporeans and Malaysians in a small mid-west town would share the same birthday right?


Nov 6 2006

It's quite different this year. :)

Had an MRI this morning at SGH. It was actually not claustrophobic at all despite G's fearsome stories of his own scan. And I almost fell asleep in the machine despite the loud sounds and thrumming. (they are checking out my cervical spine to see if they can see whether they can spot where a nerve is being pinched)

But this year, my thoughts are with Tow Shung. He was one of the boys we had over for dinners, went to do silly things and had huge makans with when we were there.

Unfortunately, YS was diagnosed with the big C just a few weeks ago. He was an Oncology resident at the Mayo Clinic - now he's trying to get well - and all my thoughts and hugs are with him today.

We're checking his updates on his site.

One more day and we'd have been married two years.

Wow. Who woulda thought. Us, married. Still surreal man. Still going "huh"? too.
Did I ever write about how G's classmates (docs) all for some reason thought I was his junior medical officer or something? Wonder what his rep is at work for them to think that *big mischievous grin*
hehehhe, yeah, I know, I rib him and rip into him a lot, but isn't that what marriage is about?

In the meantime, I'm kinda counting the aches and pains am accumulating just before my 31st birthday.
My knee's pretttttty shot up from this weekend, could hardly climb stairs today. Why you ask? I;m asking myself that too. Didn't do anything that spectacular, the regular 20 k blading run at east coast (it's seriously v doable on the blades and no am not being modest) managed to kill it yesterday and Sunday morning's kickboxing certainly didn't help. maybe I really should take those glucosamine supplements a tad bit more regularly.
Am going for a couple of tests which might reveal that I have some kind of slipped disc or something in my neck; am not tooo bothered at that - yet - but I am bummed that it will take up most of the morning of my bday. And I had taken leave thinking that I'd be able to sleep in! Darn it!

There's hope yet - might not have to work on Deepavali (8th) but i think I prob will otherwise my colleague will have a mother of a week with 6 days on. (she's scheduled for next sunday). Ah well.

PS: we rediscovered Elamay - who sang at our wedding. We thought she was good then... she's blinking more than fabulous now. Had a great night listening to Jazz and knocking back the single malts on Sat.

okay, m pretty zonked. post again on Tues. Cheers!