Saturday 19 February 2022

The Opportune Time

 

Photograph showing an early reunion dinner with my mother on 29.1.2022

My mother said she would cook for our reunion dinner on Saturday.  You can see the six dishes on the dining table.  

                                             Photograph of Dora eating chicken at the table

Dora waited at the dining table.  I saw her waiting and so decided to give her a piece of chicken.  She smelled fish, but it was spicy so I did not give her fish.  

On the fateful day, it happened just after our dinner when everyone was free, really free -- even Clara finished washing the dishes.  After the incident, we talked about it, and came to know that Ricsson saw Dora at first at the window.  But we were so used to her walking in and out and nothing happened.  She was so skillful.  So apparently he left her alone.  But moments later, when I was walking to Isaac's room, and at that time, Ricsson was looking for Dora too.  Ricsson saw Dora.  He did not know that was a reflection of Dora or the real Dora outside the window.  Dora looked at Ricsson and she 'fell'.  Ricsson conveyed the message next.   After the incident, we talked and thought and it was like all planned carefully.  Dora 'fell' as though planned, waiting for Ricsson to see her and then waiting for Ricsson to convey the message to me.  I heard the news with disbelief.  It was so unreal.  How can it be?  But still we have to face the music.  

We were suppose to eat Yu Sheng after the dinner, but in the end we need to tend to Dora's departure.  We went downstairs and I saw her lying on the ground.  I quickly carried her in my arms.  She was not dead yet.  I called out, "Dora, you must pull through." and the children helped to search for emergency hotlines to call vet or pet ambulance.  Dora was so weak and warm in my arms.  But later I saw her eyes not the same anymore.  She was gone...

Still we sent her to the vet, Mount Pleasant Veterinary Group.  It was still open during Chinese New Year Eve, a day where many shops closed early.  Carrying Dora in my arms, we took Gojek to 2 Jalan Gelenggang.  Over there, a vet quickly tend to us.  However, he declared Dora's death.  He told us that her legs were broken too.  Her jaw also dislocated.  

The vet brought us to a small room where we could spend the last moments with Dora.  It was a sad moment for everybody yet we were grateful that Dora had chosen to end at this perfect timing where everybody was around.  There were even time allowed for us to grief.  Not only was she obedient, she was so considerate until the end of time.


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The Fateful Day

 

A photograph of the beautiful yellow flowers on the tree at our neighbourhood on 31.1.2022

It was a beautiful sunny day.  On this day, people, mostly the Chinese, will celebrate their Chinese Reunion dinner.  My children decided to go swimming on this day.  So we booked the swimming slots and then took a bus to the swimming pool.  

After swimming, we wanted to go Marsiling Mall to eat Fried Kway Tiao, but most of the stalls were closed.  Only some Indian and Malay stalls were opened.  So we decided to go NTUC to buy some food for Hot Pot later at home.  

As soon as we were done shopping, we walked home.  On the way, we saw beautiful flowers as shown above.  The whole tree was blossomed with beautiful yellow flowers.  We stayed there to took photographs and then proceed to go home.  

         Photograph of our dining table on 31.1.2022 (You can see Dora at the top left hand corner)

                           Photograph showing Dora sitting and looking at the dining table

Back at home, we prepared everything for the dinner.  Everyone helped except Ricsson who was sleeping. Isaac shred the carrots, radish and cucumber for the Yu Sheng (Fish Salad).  Clara and me prepared the rest of the dinner.  Dora was so curious.  That was the first time she saw Hot Pot on the table.  She was popping up her head to look at the dining table.  Clara asked me to look at her.  She was so cute.  Then just before dinner was going to be served, Dora was sitting at the dining table.  She also wanted to join us!

During the dinner, Dora waited at the table.  We hesitated to give her Salmon because the soup was not clear.  It was tomato hot pot.  In the end we did not give her anything for that day.  A day before, when we had reunion dinner with my mother, Dora ate chicken for the dinner.  But we soon regretted not giving her Salmon...

After dinner, we cleared the table and I was talking about Dora, counting her age and years with us.  Then we was talking about what time we will have our Yu Sheng.  Clara was in the kitchen washing dishes later.  Ricsson and Isaac were together.  I was busy with some work on the dining table too.  I was not looking at Dora then.  After a while, I decided to walk to Isaac's room.  Ricsson and Isaac were together there.  I could not remember why I walked there.  As soon as I reached Isaac's room, I saw Ricsson standing at the window.  I heard a sound from the window.  The next moment, Ricsson told me about Dora being outside and had fallen...


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Proclaim Good News

We Are Sent Into The World 

 I have not update my blog since July 2021. It was 7 months since I last update it. 
Life had been smooth sailing until now, the tragic death of Dora...

Cebest died at the age of 3.  Dora died at the age of 3 too.  Besides this similarities, both seemed to be planned...  Cebest saw the death angel came and Dora's death angel was like being sent.  Her death happened at a 'good' timing...

 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” ~Matthew 26:34 

 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” ~ John 2:19

 Cebest died on 7.6.2006.  I was 'converted' in the year of 2007, the belief of spirits, the spirit returned, and I went back to church, our catholic church.  There, I 'met' Jesus again at the Church of Saint Anthony of Padua in the year 2008.   My sins were forgiven.  I had a new life then.  Isaac was born.

Last year, my father died.  This year, we celebrated his first year anniversary on 25.1.2022.  Then on 31.1.2022, dora died.  Unlike me, I was given a second chance to live.  I was dead but resurrected on 8.3.2008.  I was converted on 31.12.2007.  With all the explanation at night told to Richard and the children as regards to the noise that I heard at night.  

So similarly, I believe that my father would be resurrected after death.  So did Cebest and Dora.  And definitely my unborn baby.  These are not learned in our school.  I had to experience it first hand to believe.  And today I believe that my faith would guide me through the remaining days of my life so that I would eventually meet my dearly departed loved ones again...

  

Friday 18 February 2022

Fate or destiny

 

                                 Stray cats at Fu Shan Garden on 14 March 2019


Dora was the one in the middle

One afternoon when Isaac came back from school, he saw an incredible sight.  It was the dinosaur playground filled with many cats.  He quickly came home to tell me.  He said he wanted to have a cat.  

As it was my lunch time, I had to rush back to work.  So I quickly went to the playground to have a look.  Wow, there were so many cats, as many as ten!  All the cats were lying around, not moving at all.  Some were adults some were kittens.  We did not know which one to pick.  Then I just heard pick the grey one.  I saw the grey one and I carried it.  I put it in my bicycle's basket and we brought it home.  

The children wanted to name it Dora.  The children were excited to have Dora at home.  I did not know how Dora behaved as I went to work.  When I came home in the evening, I bathed her.  The next day we brought her to the vet to deworm and had vaccination.  The vet told us that she was about two months old.  

From that day onwards, Dora became our family.  As each day passed by, we love her more and more.  She was so adorable and sweet.  

Dora was very skinny.  The vet said she was underweight.  Under our care, she looked better and better each day.  She was so beautiful.  But it was too short a life for her.  She was only 3 years with us, so healthy and pretty.  

If we did not bring her home, what would her life be now?  

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