Yesterday, I accompanied my mother to her dentist. She was scheduled to get a partial denture in her upper jaw. But before we reached the dentist’s office, I had to endure a long and tiring conversation with her on why she didn’t want to see the dentist—her reasons ranging from simple fear to irrational fight with our neighbor.
My mother is a very loving person. All my life I haven’t heard her raise her voice to us. But when my father died, everything changed. She became so confrontational and moody. Even a leaf from our neighbor’s tree is a cause of annoyance for her. Since I moved with her a year ago to look after her, she has never been the same. There’s not a day that she don’t get angry at me, at our neighbor, or even our cat.
Don’t get me wrong. I love my mother very much. I just hope she doesn’t dwell much on the loss of our father. We’re still here, her children, to love and look after her.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Monday, December 7, 2009
This got me thinking . . .
I accompanied my mother to her dentist yesterday to get dental implants. My sister was supposed to go with her, but she had a last minute meeting that she can’t cancel. So, since my plans were less important than her, I had to cancel it to go with my mother.
So, anyway, as I was waiting for my mother, a woman came in with her 3-year old son. The kid sat beside me and started skimming through the magazine in front of him. He seemed so engrossed in what he was reading. He suddenly looked at me and asked, “What’s a superhero?”
Good question. The kid actually got me thinking. Do I tell him about the superheroes whose lives only exist on the pages of a comic book or within the screens of the movies? Would he actually understand if I tell him about the lives of George Washington and Martin Luther King Jr.?
So, who is a hero?
When the catastrophic hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, many lives and properties were lost. Flood was everywhere, cars were overturned, and a large area was left with no electricity. But behind the remnants of the storm were unsung heroes who came out of nowhere. Men and women who risked their lives to help people in need. Kind-hearted individuals who rushed to give shelter to their fellow victims during and after the storm. People who saved others they hardly knew. Brothers aiding brothers. The list goes on and on.
What’s common to these people is their power of compassion. The power no one can take away from them; a power without limitation. And as long as there are people in need, their willpower to help is there, in exchange for nothing. Superheroes in their own rights. They need not be given plaques or recognition just to be called heroes. They are heroes in everyone’s heart.
Now, that’s who the real heroes are. The kid would surely learn a lot from these heroes.
So, anyway, as I was waiting for my mother, a woman came in with her 3-year old son. The kid sat beside me and started skimming through the magazine in front of him. He seemed so engrossed in what he was reading. He suddenly looked at me and asked, “What’s a superhero?”
Good question. The kid actually got me thinking. Do I tell him about the superheroes whose lives only exist on the pages of a comic book or within the screens of the movies? Would he actually understand if I tell him about the lives of George Washington and Martin Luther King Jr.?
So, who is a hero?
When the catastrophic hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, many lives and properties were lost. Flood was everywhere, cars were overturned, and a large area was left with no electricity. But behind the remnants of the storm were unsung heroes who came out of nowhere. Men and women who risked their lives to help people in need. Kind-hearted individuals who rushed to give shelter to their fellow victims during and after the storm. People who saved others they hardly knew. Brothers aiding brothers. The list goes on and on.
What’s common to these people is their power of compassion. The power no one can take away from them; a power without limitation. And as long as there are people in need, their willpower to help is there, in exchange for nothing. Superheroes in their own rights. They need not be given plaques or recognition just to be called heroes. They are heroes in everyone’s heart.
Now, that’s who the real heroes are. The kid would surely learn a lot from these heroes.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Counting for Something
I was sitting at the reception room of my dentist in Irvine the other day waiting for my turn when I noticed a bookmarker at the receptionist’s desk. My attention was caught with the last line of the passage written in the marker. It says, “At the end of the day, we all want our lives to count for something.”
True enough. That’s probably what’s keeping most of us from giving up on life. With the economic crisis and all, it’s crazy how our lives have been changed dramatically. It’s sad to think that gone are the days when we can simply sit on our porches and watch children play in the street. There’s simply no time to laze around and be carefree these days. Even in the innocent eyes of kids today I can see the struggle they are facing to find meaning in their lives.
It’s sad to see that even kids, rich or poor, are at work. All of them are in search for opportunities to make even a small sense of accomplishment in their lives. But funny as it may seem, the more we search for meaning in our lives, the more we live a dull and meaningless lives. Some even resort to drugs just to have a life out of the ordinary. Others push themselves to the limit just to have huge bank accounts.
What’s important to know is that we can get all the wealth, power, and fun we want in our life, but we’ll still die penniless. It’s not in how many numbers we can get in our bank account or how many houses we own that counts as meaningful. It’s more about how we live each day and the kindness that we shared to others that makes life count for something.
True enough. That’s probably what’s keeping most of us from giving up on life. With the economic crisis and all, it’s crazy how our lives have been changed dramatically. It’s sad to think that gone are the days when we can simply sit on our porches and watch children play in the street. There’s simply no time to laze around and be carefree these days. Even in the innocent eyes of kids today I can see the struggle they are facing to find meaning in their lives.
It’s sad to see that even kids, rich or poor, are at work. All of them are in search for opportunities to make even a small sense of accomplishment in their lives. But funny as it may seem, the more we search for meaning in our lives, the more we live a dull and meaningless lives. Some even resort to drugs just to have a life out of the ordinary. Others push themselves to the limit just to have huge bank accounts.
What’s important to know is that we can get all the wealth, power, and fun we want in our life, but we’ll still die penniless. It’s not in how many numbers we can get in our bank account or how many houses we own that counts as meaningful. It’s more about how we live each day and the kindness that we shared to others that makes life count for something.
Monday, November 16, 2009
What is Gum Disease?
Gum disease is something that can’t just be ignored. If you think that only old people get gum disease, think again. Even your dentist in Irvine will tell you that kids and teens can get gum disease too. If not addressed immediately, this disease can lead to embarrassing and serious tooth loss.
Gum disease is often caused by plaque buildup. Bacteria are usually found in the plaque that produces toxins. These toxins are what irritate and damage the gums. Once the gums are damaged, bacteria can enter the inner tissues into the bloodstream and to the heart.
Gum disease is often caused by plaque buildup. Bacteria are usually found in the plaque that produces toxins. These toxins are what irritate and damage the gums. Once the gums are damaged, bacteria can enter the inner tissues into the bloodstream and to the heart.
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