While we wait...

Wiki: Markandeya, a boy born of worship of Shiva,
was given the boon of profound wisdom but a short life.
Markandeya, himself a devout Shiva devotee, could not
be taken at the time of his supposed death.
He was in deep prayer in front of Shivalinga.
Yama's noose trapped the Shivalinga, incurring Siva's wrath.
A war ensued. Yama was defeated. People reached
immortality and were acting with impunity without the fear
of death. Yama was reinstated but, Markandeya was
bestowed to stay forever young.

This is what my father must be feeling right now. Completing his eighth decade of existence on Earth, he would be soon entering his ninth. By now, he must have got used to seeing his friends falling down like flies, one after another. Until about a few years ago, my contemporaries and I were only used to seeing pictures of relatives donning the obituary columns. Pretty soon, like him, we would start seeing more familiar faces of friends, buddies and soul mates. That, my friend, is the double-edged phenomenon called 'Time'. It grows us, nurtures to face the challenges of the time to a future which will lead to our senescence, senility, infirmity and subsequent demise. That is, if we are destined or fortunate enough to experience the whole red carpet laid for appreciation.

Just the other day, one of my close friends was called back by his Maker.  Even though he had been quite regular with his medical check-ups, came out with flying colours in the mandatory tests and tried to maintain a healthy lifestyle, Grimm Reaper apparently had other plans.

So at the wake, the main topic of discussion was the sudden nature of some deaths and the absence of farewell. The merits and demerits of having a forewarning before the curtain call. The unfortunate thing about forewarning is that the preceding event could be a painful one for both the sufferer and family alike. Sudden death could be swift but traumatic at the moment. In time, after closure, we remember him only as happy, regal and healthy. That is the memory of him that would stay with us.

Bade adieu in a haste

Michel De Lottinville

I personally do not know this guy, Michel De Lottinville, a teacher of pre-university students, a father, a friend, an author, a motivational speaker, a runner, a biker, a Canadian and a basically fun guy, from what I see from his blog.
http://michelfreedom.blogspot.com
I just happened to bump into this sharing of a letter on Facebook complaining about the inappropriate pictures of him appearing on terrestrial TV after his apparent suicide in his apartment.

Dear SJ Echo and NTV7 and any other media outlet that chooses to disrespect the life of Mr. Michel De Lottinville.
Your newspapers/channels should be ashamed.
You knew his name, you knew where he worked…. in fact, you published it.
The dead human being is a teacher, a father, a friend.
And all you chose to publish is the picture of the body and a video of the body hanging there? This is objectifying a human being. Someone loved. Where is the humanity? Where is the respect?
Mr. Michel De Lottinville was a classroom hero. An inspirational voice. A guy who lifted a lot of other people up from their own difficult struggles.
Those who know him will remember him for who he really was, and not for these final hours of his life that you like to promote. He is not an object.
[What] heartless ‘journalism’. Get to work….. if you are going to cover a story, cover it properly.

He must have been a heck of a guy liked by students and colleagues,
as evidenced by the spontaneous outpouring of emotions by all.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/9/11/nation/12005134&sec=nation

Farewell Amachee...

1927-2012

After living a full life to a ripe age of 80 something, Amachee slumbered off to the land hereafter.
It is funny that when someone passes on, we only think of the good times and funny times that we spent together in their lifetime. Amachee was one of the few relatives who used to visit us when we were exiled in RRF. Her lighting trips up north from Seremban (106, Templer Road) will be unannounced. Hive of activities will ensue to make the house presentable and tea will be prepared in a jiffy. She would update Amma about the latest happening in the family circle - who died, who married who, latest scandal, etcetera. The tea is not complete if not with some accompaniment. That is when I would be summoned to the rescue to buy some biscuits or such from the shop downstairs.
On one particular visit, I had a crash course on dentures and food selection after buying a variant of Mung Bean Pastry  (tau sar piah) with gooey sticky paste. Only then did I know that Amchee had dentures and it would get stuck!
I remember Amachee to be one of the adults in my childhood who could actually swim. This I discovered during my trip to Port Dickson beach in the mid 70s with my sister. I still remember how she demonstrated her swimming skills dressed in a sarong tied over her chest and the air bubbling through the garment!
Amachee had been a vegetarian as far as I can remember. The irony of it is she found great pleasure in cooking sumptuous elaborate non-vegetarian meals to all who visit her home without even tasting it for salt or flavour - but it just turned out delicious and perfect, every time!
Missed all these long ago when she was taken ill and slowly progressed into her own world into another dimension. She slowly said her farewells and is now united with her long lost husband and with her Maker whom she had painstakingly worshipped through her various prayers and early morning trips to her favourite temple.
Amachee, Thank you for everything. You are the closest to a grandmother I ever had. May your soul attain eternal peace and reach Moksha.