I came across this TV programme a couple of days ago, describing the life of a woman who had lost her husband to cancer and with two small children to feed.
It was said that she was not told of her husband’s illness until it developed into its later stages. The lady was obviously angry and upset at her husband’s decision for not confiding in her about the severity of his diagnosis and called him “selfish” and “irresponsible”.
This then had me thinking, what if one day we were in that situation? What if we didn’t know that the one we loved and cared so much about were to be stricken with an incurable illness and we were ignorant about the whole situation until our loved one is on his/her deathbed?
Thinking about this, I then posed this question to my mother who was with me and watching the programme at the same time; “What would you do if you were placed in a similar situation?”
My mum’s answer quick and firm, she decided that if she was ever diagnosed with cancer, she would fight to the end; a second opinion was not even required. However, she would discuss her situation with my father first, but would keep the news from us and inform us about it until much later.
She then added, “If it were to happen on your father, he would react differently towards it.”
I then agreed with her, we knew him too well to know how he’d react.
My father is afraid of operations, would probably be in a state of self-denial for awhile until he gets a second opinion and then probably after much persuasion from the doctors and mum, will finally seek treatment. I’m sure that my mother will be informed of his illness, but I’m not sure if my dad will be able to tell his children about it. Even if he doesn’t, I know my mother would inform us about it.
But I’ll definitely know that I would be angry and hurt if I was kept in the dark about the illness of my loved ones, only to find out too late. Even though I know I might not be able to do anything, I think I would be of help in some way or another.
I’ll like to pose this question to my friends, what would you do if you were faced with such circumstances?
There has been a lack of updates the past few months as I was sorting out various decisions one could make. I’ll will be officially returning to Singapore in November for good and have found work and will be commencing my new job in December. To my friends in Melbourne, I hope to see you again should you visit Singapore for a short trip, holiday or work attachment and good luck on your future endeavours. To my friends in Singapore, we’ll see each other soon…:)
I personally love this video. I like the fact how Joe Hisaishi incorporated both the Gu Zhen and Er Hu for this piece. The melancholic strains of the Er Hu plus the gentle and soothing sounds of the Gu Zhen brought this classic piece to new heights.
どうして…君を好きになってしまったんだろう? doushite… kimi wo suki ni natte shimattan darou? Why have I fallen for you? どんなに時が流れても君はずっと donna ni toki ga nagarete mo kimi wa zutto No matter how much time passes, ここにいると 思ってたのに koko ni iru to omotteta no ni I thought that you would always be here
でも君が選んだのは違う道 demo kimi ga eranda no wa chigau michi But you chose a different road
どうして…君に何も伝えられなかったんだろう? doushite… kimi ni nani mo tsutaerare nakattan darou? Why wasn’t I able to convey to you? 毎日毎晩募ってく想い mai nichi mai ban tsunotteku omoi My feelings that were growing everyday and night 溢れ出す言葉 解ってたのに(もう届かない) afure dasu kotoba wakatteta no ni (mou todokanai) The words begin to overflow (But I know they won’t reach you now)
初めて出会ったその日から 君を知っていた気がしたんだ hajimete deatta sono hi kara kimi wo shitteita kigashitanda From the first day that I met you I felt like I knew you あまりに自然に溶け込んでしまったふたり amari ni shizen ni tokekonde shimatta futari And the two of us melted together so naturally 何処へ行くのにも一緒で 君がいることが当然で doko e iku no ni mo issho de kimi ga iru koto ga touzen de Wherever we would go, it would be together It was so natural for you to be with me 僕らはふたりで大人になってきた bokura wa futari de otona ni natte kita We became adults together
でも君が選んだのは違う道 demo kimi ga eranda no wa chigau michi But you chose a different road
どうして…君を好きになってしまったんだろう? doushite…kimi wo suki ni natte shimattan darou? Why have I fallen for you? どんなに時が流れても君はずっと donna ni toki ga nagarete mo kimi wa zutto No matter how much time passes, ここにいると 思ってたのに(もう叶わない) koko ni iru to omotteta no ni (mou kanawanai) I thought that you would always be here (but not anymore)
特別な意味を持つ今日を 幸せがあふれ出す今日を tokubetsu na imi wo motsu kyou wo shiawase ga afure dasu kyou wo For the day that holds a special meaning For the day where we can stand with happy faces 綺麗な姿で神様に誓ってる君を kirei na sugata de kamisama ni chikatteru kimi wo For you looking beautiful while praying to god 僕じゃない人の隣で 祝福されてる姿を boku janai hito no tonari de shukufuku sareteru sugata wo Next to the person who is not me There is the figure of someone truly blessed 僕はどうやって見送ればいいのだろう? boku wa dou yatte miokureba ii no darou? So how am I supposed to see you off?
もうどうして…君を好きになってしまったんだろう? mou doushite…kimi wo suki ni natte shimattan darou? So why have I fallen for you? あの頃の僕らの事を(もう戻れない) ano goro no bokura no koto wo (mou modorenai) We can’t go back to that time, or how we were (We can never go back) 考えた…(もう戻らない)考えた… kangaeta…(mou modoranai) kangaeta… I’ve thought it through (we can never go back)
どうして…君の手を掴み奪えなかったんだろう? doushite…kimi no te wo tsukami ubaenakattan darou? Why wasn’t I able to take your hand? どんなに時が流れても君はずっと donna ni toki ga nagarete mo kimi wa zutto No matter how much time passes 僕の横にいるはずだった(もう叶わない) boku no yoku ni iru hazudatta (mou kanawanai) You were supposed to be at my side (just like that)
それでも…君が僕のそば 離れていっても sore demo…kimi ga boku no soba hanareteitte mo But, even though I say that I need you close to me 永遠に君が幸せであること ただ願ってる eien ni kimi ga shiawase de aru koto tada negatteru I just pray that you will be happy forever (例えそれがどんなに寂しくても) (tatoe sore ga donna ni sabishikute mo) (No matter how lonely that makes me) 辛くても… tsurakute mo… or how painful
