A Small Reminder...

The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn't already know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder.

I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that lit up her entire being. She said, 'Hi handsome. My name is Rose. I'm eighty-seven years old. Can I give you a hug?' I laughed and enthusiastically responded, 'Of course you may!' and she gave me a giant squeeze.

'Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?' I asked. She jokingly replied, 'I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, and have a couple of kids...' 'No seriously,' I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age. 'I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting one!' she told me. After class we walked to the student union building and shared a chocolate milkshake. We became instant friends. Every day for the next three months we would leave class together and talk nonstop. I was always mesmerized listening to this 'time machine' as she shared her wisdom and experience with me.

Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon and she easily made friends wherever she went. She loved to dress up and she reveled in the attention bestowed upon her from the other students. She was living it up. At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet. I'll never forget what she taught us. She was introduced and stepped up to the podium.

As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she dropped her three by five cards on the floor. Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply said, 'I'm sorry I'm so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and this whiskey is killing me! I'll never get my speech back in order so let me just tell you what I know.' As we laughed she cleared her throat and began, ' We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing. There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success.

You have to laugh and find humor every day. You've got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die We have so many people walking around who are dead and don't even know it! There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up. If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don't do one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old. If I am eighty-seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything I will turn eighty-eight. Anybody can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding opportunity in change. Have no regrets. The elderly usually don't have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets.' She concluded her speech by courageously singing 'The Rose.'

She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives. At the year's end Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those years ago. One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep. Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example that it's never too late to be all you can possibly be.

These words have been passed along in loving memory of ROSE. REMEMBER, GROWING OLDER IS MANDATORY. GROWING UP IS OPTIONAL.

We make a Living by what we get. We make a Life by what we give.

God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage. If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.

'Good friends are like stars........You don't always see them, but you know they are always there.'

I'm Only 16 Years Old.... Muahahahaha!!!!

With Love,

Lt Timothy Chan Liem Joe

Senior Section Officer

2nd Subang Jaya Company

Boys' Brigade Malaysia

My 25th Birthday 20 May 2008

It was the most "memorable" birthday that I hope I would ever have. The situation was...

Location:

Mamak - Nathan's Corner

People:

Me, Joon Fei, Kai Hin, Sook Ling, Spider, April, Evonne, Poh Ling, Poh Ling's 13 year old sister.

Time:

11:30 - 11:50pm

Story:

Evonne's ex-boy friend stalked her to the mamak and asked her to return some items that he claimed that he "borrowed" her when they were together. The items were, RM500, 2 touch and go cards, 1 lighter, 1 smart tag, 1 old nokia phone (i think it would cost RM10 or less).

Ex-boyfriend became slightly angered when Evonne refused to return him the items claiming that she did not have them (of course she does not la, who would bring 2 touch and go cards and a smart tag out to mamak?? Wahliao!!). Ex-bfriend raised his hands wanting to (i assume) slap her. Joon Fei reacted and screamed at him.

Ex-boyfriend then walked over with an angered voice. Joon Fei stood up posioning himself for a fight. Some further accusations and a fight broke out. I pushed Joon Fei with my left hand and the ex-boyfriend with my right hand (To devide them). However, I failed to see that the ex-boyfriend had a wodden batton on his right hand. As he swing, it hit me on the head. I continued to push the ex-boyfriend away from Joon Fei.

At this time, all hell broke lose, Joon Fei then turned to the ex-boyfriend's friend who at this point has joined the "fun". Kai Hin and Joon Fei concentrated thier attention to the friend and eventually after a broken chair has left his friend with also a bleeding head. How serious? I have no idea as by this time i was bleeding and the people around the mamak as come to stop the commotion.

At this time Joon Fei's nose wes bleeding and his head was bleeding as well. As others went to his aid, I touched my head and it was filled with blood. As they sat me down and got hold of cars to take us to the hospital I sat there calmly rationally somehow without any anger or bitterness of what has just happened.

It took us only about 10-15mins to travel to University Hospital. walking into the emergency room, We were instructed by the nurse to sit down and register. Cool eh? Bleeding head, hands covered in blood, seated down on a round metal chair giving the nurse my IC. Then finally another nurse came to my aid, she asked me to lift my hand and said "tak berdarah dah..." (Not bleeding anymore). I guess those red stuff that was still bleeding were only sweat.

I cleand my face over a small tap at a corner of the room. then proceeded back to the registration table when the nurse asked me to go to another counter to register fully. I sat there with "sweat" dripping telling the admin personel my contact details, address and phone numbers. Oh Yeah! I pard RM20 too.

Then we walked into another waiting area were we waited for doctor's consultation. after 1 hour, it was my turn, walked in a nurse look at it and wraped it then took my blood preasure. 5 mins later I was back outside waiting to see thed doctor agian! another hour past, then it was finally doctor's consultation.

"You will need some stitching" the doctor said, "But before that go take an X-ray". Ok doc! went out, walked to the cashier, and paid another RM25 bucks! Walked to the X-ray room and waited another 30mins. Cik Ciak! X-ray done! Wooo hoo....!

Walked back and waited another 30mins then doctor saw me agian and looked at the x-ray online! (that was pretty cool) after confirming that I did not get and fractures on my round scull, I then signed the form for surgery. one hour later I was back outside with 8 stitches on my right side of my head! The doctor that attended to me had a very calming voice (for your info I am DEAD SCARED of neeedles). I told the doc that I am scared of needles, he was kind enough to do the stitching personally on me. What a good doc. He would also talk to me and let me know what he was doing.

We did make a police report about the incident during our waiting time. But we decided not to raise any charges towards the ex-boyfriend. We discussed and decided that what ever happened happened and no point of us being angry over such things. more anger would only spark more anger. With more anger and a hotter temper who knows what will happen.

Here are now some pictures of the incident in the hospital. Please take note that we had some fun in the hospital because of the long wait. I think I have gotten a PHD Permanent Head Damage. Muahahahaha!! I Praise God for his angels of protections and Hand upon my life. It was Him who kept me safe and it was Him that gave me peace even in times of anger. I could feel God sitting right beside me telling me what to say and word to use. I look back at this situation now and Praise Him even more. There was astually not alot of pain. Who could asked more from a God who protects you, guids you, comforts you, and healds you?

I went home, bathed, cleaned up all the access blood, blowed dry my head then knocked on my dad's door (by the way, I called qand told mom about the incident earlier when I was in the hospital (mom was outstation at that time). Told dad about it but he took it clamly (supprisingly).

Next morning, I took my cap and went to work as I had a meeting about next semester's plan. I submitted my Medical Certificate and informed that I would be on MC. Went home and slept...

I'll post some pics later...

After all the running up and down, I sit here now at my desk. Thinking of my actions and my decisions. Frankly if I were to rewrite this, I would have no idea how would I write it. What would have happened if no boys were at the table? The Ex-boyfriend has a wood in his hand ready to be used. Would he have beaten Evonne up? Would the otehr girls have gotten attacked? Frankly I would have never known. If I did not went in to help Joon Fei, would he be beaten up even worst? Are my actions right? Justified? Only God knows. But I for one know that I did not act out of anger or bitterness, it was a reflex to protect those that are around me.

Would I do such a thing agian? Maybe... But with a little more caution. What world do we live in now that people walk out of their house with a wodden batton tucked in their bags?

Be ever grateful of God's presence in your life...

Be Sure, Be Stedfast
Timothy Chan Liem Joe Phd.
Boys' Brigade 2nd Subang Jaya Company
Boys' Brigade Malaysia

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