“Here she is, all mine, trying her best to give me all she can. How could I ever hurt her? But I didn’t understand then. That I could hurt somebody so badly she would never recover. That a person can, just by living, damage another human being beyond repair.” ― Haruki Murakami, South of the Border, West of the Sun

A mother's joy begins when new life is stirring inside... when a tiny heartbeat is heard for the very first time, and a playful kick reminds her that she is never alone” Author Unknown

Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.    

Soju and Li-Ann - Lost and Found

 

 Soju is one of the five dogs I have at home. Li-Ann, my daughter age 16 loves them very much. Last year, I brought Soju in my car to fetch my daughter back from school. The first time I took him to school. Li-Ann was delighted to see him. We went straight to her grandma's place for lunch and it was the first time Soju went to the house. They did not like dogs to be in the house so with the gate closed, we let him roam freely in the house compound. Being unfamiliar with the surrounding, he ran out of the gate when my wife who is also going there for lunch opened the gate. He ran and ran feeling totally confused and frightened. By the time we came out of the house, he had already disappeared. We went round the neighborhood calling his name but after half an hour, he was nowhere to be found. We came back in despair. Tears  flowed down Li-Ann checks endlessly. We went back to our own house. Li-Ann was angry and started blaming her grandma for not allowing Soju to be in the house. My wife for opening the gate. Then I told her," if that is the case, I should be the first one to be blamed to bring him to school. I thought I can  make you happy but instead I brought you miseries". 

Once at home, Li-Ann immediately published the incident in her facebook. She also make 400 flyers with photo of Soju. We went back to the neigborhood and distributed  the flyers house to house and to all the people we met along the way. I also posted photos of Soju in my Facebook informing them of our lost.

By 8pm, a friend of mine called and said that she saw our dog near her place in one of the play ground which is about 2km away from grandma's place. Quickly, we droved to the place. It was pitch dark. We called and walk around there for about 2 hrs but still could not find him.

Reluctantly we went back. By 11pm, another friend who saw the flyer called and said he saw our dog trying to cross a busy street near the supermarket. Our hearts dropped. What if he got knocked down by the cars. Without hesitation, we (my wife, Li-Ann) jumped into our car and drove there. My friend was following Soju all this while and luckily he went to a road with a dead end. 

We took him in our arms. He was whimpering, crying and trembling. Sadness turned to joys and what joy it was.

Dying is Living
A seed must die before a plant grows
“Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible.”
“People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.
If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway.
For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.”
― Mother Teresa

Progression of an Abstract Art - The Many Faces of Women

Still Born

http://annkitsuetchin.blogspot.com/2012/01/artist-oliver-wong-still-born.html

Extract from above link by a good friend of mine, Ann Chin, writer of Diary of a Bereaved Mother Published 2011 Genre: Non fiction, self help, bereavement, infancy death NZ$25 Available in New Zealand at: Women's Bookshop, University Bookshop, Auckland, Church of Christ Bookshop, Online orders: Wheeler books,Fishpond.co.nz ,academybooks.co.nz/product/isbn/9780473187095/ For Overseas order: www.abebooks.co.uk/9780473187095/Diary-Bereaved-Mother... please send an email: anncampomelic@yahoo.com.nz or my other email: annkschin@yahoo.com::-

I sent my draft to Oliver to edit:

"Wow what a beautiful write up..seems like your thoughts just flows through your writing..impeccable ..I would be honored to let you share my painting "Still Born" to all the bereaved parents and Sands. I like " Still Born" instead of Still Birth, actually which is the correct terminology? ( Oliver, both can be used)

How did I start to paint such sensitive issues.. My paintings are mostly accidental..I normally started with a blank..then I just draw lines, add in colors and bingo!

"Still Born" came to my mind. It is a sad painting. Then I thought to myself "Who would want to hang this painting on their wall" You know us Chinese , very pandan one (Pandan means supertitious)..So it was left in the drawer until I saw your clips "It is OK to CRY". Only then I realised you and me are talking about the same thing.

Coincidence? I believe God works in a miraculous way..During that time, I painted another one which I like very much but not my wife. I called it the Miracle of Life..A pregnant woman, I just love the shape of the pregnant women..I will post it for you later..Looking at Miracle of Life..I was thinking how so many people take life for granted..that it took nine long months for the baby to come out and during that time how the mother have to lovingly carrying the baby around. And those parents who so desperately want a child but cannot conceive.

This is a maudlin story, a very Melancholic topic. Oliver has done it beautifully. Thank you Oliver. Those of you who are fortunate never to have this topic affect you, thank your lucky stars or your God.