Thursday, July 30, 2009
Dad's 50th Birthday
On the 28th July 1959, a wonderful human being was born. During his short time on earth, he touched the lives of many. No matter the duration of time they knew him, all had only lovely things to say about this gentle, kind and fun-loving man. Oh what an honour and privilege to be his daughter. And what big shoes to fill. I wish I could be half as gentle as he was.So 2 days ago, 28th July 2009, my dad would have turned 50. Early this year, we were all thinking about what to do for his 50th. Sadly, he wasn't able to postpone his departure to heaven 3 months earlier. So we decided that in true Chua family fashion, we would still throw a party to remember him. The party planning was definately a trying process. There were quite a few arguments and misunderstandings as there were numerous details to take care of for the party. But over 70 guests and 50 balloons later, everything was worth it. I was so glad we decided to do this. We created a slide show of about 700 pictures of my dad's life. Such wonderful memories. As the guests ate and watched the slide show, I saw smiles on their faces. Many of them got to reconnect with old friends and remember those good ol' days. Some of my dad's old buddies came up to share about the fun times they spent together when they were boys. Laughter filled the room, as stories of their mischief were shared. We sang some songs my dad liked to sing when he was younger. And to wrap up the programme, we played a CD of a song (green, green grass of home) my dad sung this year during karaoke at my uncle's house, which my uncle recorded.There were some tears, but the song talks about the wonderful feeling of being home. And indeed, my dad is home in heaven.
The lovely venue, chilton park's function room.
50 balloons, 1 represnting every year of his life.
After singing happy birthday, we let the balloons (which we wrote our birthday messages on) soar to heaven.Happy Birthday Daddy."Green Green Grass Of Home"The old home town looks the same as I step down from the train,and there to meet me is my Mama and Papa.Down the road I look and there runs Mary hair of gold and lips like cherries.It's good to touch the green, green grass of home.Yes, they'll all come to meet me, arms reaching, smiling sweetly.It's good to touch the green, green grass of home.The old house is still standing tho' the paint is cracked and dry,and there's that old oak tree I used to play on.Down the lane I walk with my sweet Mary, hair of gold and lips like cherries.It's good to touch the green, green grass of home.Yes, they'll all come to meet me, arms reaching, smiling sweetly.It's good to touch the green, green grass of home.Then I awake and look around me, at four grey wall surround me and I realize that I was only dreaming.For there's a guard and there's a sad old padre - arm in arm we'll walk at daybreak.Again I touch the green, green grass of home.Yes, they'll all come to see me in the shade of that old oak treeas they lay me neath the green, green grass of home.
charlyn recorded history @
9:22 AM
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Mad World
A natural disaster claims many lives. But the disaster itself usually claims less lives than the after effects, which include starvation, lack of water, loss of property, loss of income, health risk, environmental problems, loss of loved ones and a lifetime of haunting memories. It takes numerous years and millions/billions of dollars to rebuilt disaster stricken places.
Everyone knows about the 2004 Tsunami which devastated some of our neighbouring countries. 229,866 people lost, including 186,983 dead and 42,883 missing and 1,126,900 people displaced. Nations all over the world provided over US$7 billion in aid for damaged regions. In 2006, 2 years after the Tsunami, areas in Sri Lanka were still having problems getting drinking water.
In my brother's eulogy, he said "theres a saying that our lives are like waves tossed in the ocean, I think my dad was a tsunami and we are all left in the wake of his devastation." How true.. The damage done is incredible. Our lives are all turned upside down.. Disagreement and unhappiness loom at every corner. This rebuilding is certainly going to take a lot of effort and time. But the recovery... I'm not sure. I think none of us will ever fully recover from this. Its like stitching up a deep cut, there'll always be a scar.
Mad World lyrics
Songwriters: Orzabal, Roland;
All around me are familiar faces
Worn out places, worn out faces
Bright and early for the daily races
Going nowhere, going nowhere
Their tears are filling up their glasses
No expression, no expression
Hide my head I wanna drown my sorrow
No tomorrow, no tomorrow
And I find it kind of funny, I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever had
I find it hard to tell you, I find it hard to take
When people run in circles its a very, very
Mad world, mad world
Children waiting for the day they feel good
Happy birthday, happy birthday
And I feel the way that every child should
Sit and listen, sit and listen
Went to school and I was very nervous
No one knew me, no one knew me
Hello teacher tell me, what's my lesson?
Look right through me, look right through me
And I find it kind of funny, I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever had
I find it hard to tell you, I find it hard to take
When people run in circles its a very, very
Mad world, mad world, enlarging your world
Mad world
charlyn recorded history @
8:59 AM
