When was the last time...? 5:59 am

When was the last time...?

When was the last time someone ever called me generous?

This evening. By a stranger.

It is one of those compliments that has lost itself in our vocabulary of "nice" and "cool". A compliment that carries so much sincerity and thought. One that we should share more with the people around that deserve a compliment as this.

Generous. To share and not to count the cost, to give and not to seek reward.

If only I were.

Uncle T

Swirling Oxymorons 8:00 am

Swirling Oxymorons

Slowly the concrete makes way for pavements of autumn leaves.

The autumn leaves, swirling oxymorons.

Uncle T

An amazing process: Gift-giving 4:32 pm

An amazing process: Gift-giving

Gift-giving is an amazing process. Yes, a process that has in-built notions of rights and freedoms, as well as benefiting both giver and receiver. Especially in this age of consumerism and commercialisation, where corporates "guide" gift-giving patterns and seasons, it is no better time to ponder upon this process.

A friend casually mentioned how amazing this CD was but he didn't want to get it because it cost GBP10. It was a passing comment. Then whilst I was at Tesco's on a seperate shopping mission, I came across the CD and somehow my mind instantaneously made the link that this was the CD that would make my friend happy. So without thinking much, motivated only by that irrational desire to make my friend happy, I bought it.

Wrapped in beautifully environmentally unfriendly Tesco's bag, I gave my friend the CD. He couldn't believe it, that he got a gift out of the blue for no reason. His sheepish embarrassment made me embarrassed momentarily. And so, in line with my glorious attempts of one-liners in this country, I replied with a "So?" when he said: "Eh why you give me? My birthday next year leh".

Gift-giving indeed has been patterned, both on the balance sheets of corporate companies as well as in our psyche, that there are appropriate times and occasions to give gifts. These are set nearly in social concrete. It is sad how gift-giving, once an expression of free-will to voluntary give one's own property to another, has fallen prey to the corporates.

Where has the spirit of giving? Can Christmas not be the whole year round? Must it be Christmas only when the departmental stores scream "Christmas Sales!"? I surely re-found the wonderful joy of giving gifts, and it is all the sweeter when its least expected.

Why not let's try giving gifts the next time we can? No need for a special occasion. Just give. From the heart.



Uncle T

Ironically the saddest is the most beautiful.

It is starting to get dark early. My final autumn before returning to perennial tropics. The happy autumn breeze is giving way to an impatient wintery wind.

Uncle T

It's Back, Smiling. 7:36 am

its back, smiling.

its back. that feeling.
that sticks to your skin like
revolting sweat in the tropics.
that familiar stench,
the familiar irk.

yet i like it.
like how massages feel
repulsive yet soothing.
i smile at it, yet
i wish to tear from
seething just below the skin.

it smiles back.
i want to lash out but
i'm bound by social ropes.
it smiles in my face,
i can feel its breathe
yet cannot gnarl back like
an itching sore on your back.



Uncle T

Walking Oxymorons 7:05 am

walking oxymorons...

Are we not all walking oxymorons? Or the very least we are often oxymorons at some point.

Arrogantly humble, timidly brave, happily sad, hating to love, stupidly smart...

But do people know that they are oxymorons? That there is hardly any clarity of black and white, that we all thread amidst the massive grey?

Uncle T