It's May already??!!!

How did this happen? I thought I could write another blog before April bids us adieu. I had all these blog ideas in my head while riding the bus to work but didn't put pen to paper or rather, fingers to keyboard. So poof, they're gone, evaporated. Gone, babe.

With the swine flu scare, I worked from home for two days after falling sick over the weekend. There was actually a memo that advised unwell employees to refrain from sharing their germs by heroically insisting on coming to work. My parents didn't think it was that special when I told them I had the sniffles. My father even said, "You and the cold virus are best friends." Yeah, I used to get sore throat, cold or allergies every other month as a teenager. Imagine, being the awkward teen with self-esteem of an egg affected by DDT. It definitely didn't help if you wanted to attract the attention of the guy you have the crush on if you have mucus flowing out of your nose.

I have been reading and watching some pretty depressing stuff lately. Awaken one night by fire alarm I couldn't get back to sleep after the firefighters came to check that everything was ok. I watched the movie, 'The Color Purple.' Now, I have seen plenty of white-discriminating-against-black movies but this one was special because it was a story of oppression within the African American people, particularly women who are raped, abused and treated like slaves by their own family and spouse.

Then I read a Nobel Peace Price winner's account of the Holocaust. Elie Wiesel wrote 'Night' is such a simple but devastatingly clear manner that I was just stunned all over again by the atrocities the Nazi Germans committed against the Jews. The thing that struck me was how trusting and peace-loving the Jews were. They didn't want any trouble. They just wanted to live their lives, follow their customs, be with their loved ones. Elie's father is my hero because he kept his son going until the very end. Elie was about to give up while they were all being forced to run 42 miles continuously in the snow but the father, looking like a corpse, prodded his son on.


Today I watched 'Cry, Freedom', directed by Richard Attenborough, brother of David Attenborough. I enjoyed hearing Denzel Washington speak with an African accent. But there it is again, the theme of racial discrimination and domination. The separation of families and keeping people poor in their social standing and in their minds. The war against apartheid claimed many victims for many decades.

So I've covered disease, war and slavery. Makes sensational reading, no?

Of course, learning about the suffering of others whether through fictional or non-fiction work makes me grateful for all that I have.

Yes, my government isn't perfect. But it hasn't stopped me from becoming a conservationist.

Yes, my job isn't perfect. But it has given me interesting exposure and learning experience.

Yes, my health isn't perfect. But this body has enabled me to do many things and go many places.

Much, much to be thankful for indeed.