Here I am, chilling on the couch with my husband on a sunny Sunday, about to enter the second week of what I consider as my half employment.

Just when I was getting a bit of footing, life pulled the rug from under my feet — yet again.

I’ve had many hopes the past couple of months.

Vaccination had started earlier this year in Singapore, with the prime minister getting his first shot on January. After the longest time, I started to see a bit of light at the end of the tunnel.

I might be able to finally go…

Blinking — blinding lights
Deep into the dark of night

Into the waves I stare
The wind — a tango with the lights

Lovers by the waterside
Soft tender murmurs

Busy-bees
Wide awake in times of slumber
Early birds, worms —
way too early way too late

This city — consumes
This city — engulfs

12.16AM
Into the darkness
Into the light
I stare

This city — swallows you whole.

Author’s note:

12.18AM —
I’m sitting by the water, typing these words — thoughts.
Observing, contemplating, reflecting, pondering. …

You know you’ve been gone for too long when it feels a tad weird to type a new story and you have to pause and stumble many many times.

First order of business, I suppose –

How are you doing?

How are you all?

It’s been so long since I spoke to you and though I try to check up on you every now and then, it’s far from enough.

I am Medium deprived. If such thing is even a thing.

Anyone else had this?

I am by no means back for good (I wish).

I am only stopping by…

Life and Love

“I will love you with all I’ve got, and I will try my very best to give you everything I can possibly give you. I am happy when you’re happy and I will do everything reasonable and within my power to make sure we’re both happy in our relationship. That’s how I have been brought up — to love with all I’ve got. But don’t mistaken this as a free pass for shitty behaviour. I will leave if you’re bad.”

Those have been my words to my husband at some point in our relationship (I can’t quite pinpoint when). I…

Life — Happiness

Hi Agnes!

You now have a nice 1½ kg package of Genuine American Commercial Junk Mail! I hope it gives you (and N, of course) some amusement and a possible LOL or two. And maybe even something to write about.

Thank you for your encouraging words, delightful photos, and thoughtful writings, and we look forward to enjoying your posts on Medium and Instagram. (And Facebook, but that’s mostly Deb who reads that.)

Hugs,

Jack & Deb

Life — Parenting

Oh, if she could have carried her children on her back for the rest of her life, she would.

My mother — the strong, beautiful, kind-hearted figure who always stood by us, her husband, her parents, her siblings, her children, everyone whose lives had been touched by her presence.

She once told me that not a single day gone by without her thinking of us, worrying about us, her two oldest children who had left the nest to make something out of themselves, her youngest child who is still learning about himself, trying to find his way and place in…

Photography

Oh, to catch the sunlight streaming through the green foliage — gently touching the ground with its soft golden light.

A light morning warmth for those who start the day early.

Even birds could not resist its warm touch — perching still on the ground, facing the majestic force.

Oh, to start the day with such a blessing…

Life Lesson

Spoiler alert: this piece contains a bit of spoiler for the movie ‘Sergio’.

The man came into consciousness underneath the rubbles. His face dusty, half of his body buried underneath the concrete.

As he laid dying there with his friend who was also trapped underneath the ruin, he started to get flashbacks. Life events leading to the moment where he now found himself.

4 months.

“Last 4 months,” he had promised his lover.

4 months and he’s out.

It was supposed to be his last assignment. His last job before he finally ended everything and spent his old years with…