Eat ice cream when you're sick

Yesterday mom came back from work with two tubs of Haagen-Dazs ice cream. At first I was surprised. She would at times come home with two cups of MacDonald's sundae. But today, it's Haagen-Dazs.

Then it suddenly dawned on me what they are for. For me. Two tubs of ice cream to get over two weeks of sick leave. Ice cream is the only thing that can make people forced to coop up at home feel a tinge better. That's mom's philosophy.

And I must say she is way ahead of others where it comes to healing. Afterall, the best way to get better is firstly to lift the spirit!

From young, while naysayers would frown at sick kids eating ice cream, mom would buy me ice cream when I am ill, which I thought is such a treat! I simply thought my mom is different, and I'm glad for that.

Way past being a kid, when i saw the two tubs of ice cream mom brought home, I'm once again reminded of what a special mom I have!

Blow bubbles when you're happy

Every Friday and eve of public holiday, soap bubbles linger around the pathway along the canal on the way to the mrt station. They take a life of their own, as though they too, are making their way home after a hard week's work.

It is always delightful to walk to the mrt station on these days. It's when the dull and mundane walk to the station becomes a little more magical. It's like the sheer fact of not having to spend the following day hard at work calls for a celebration.

And there stood the gym instructor every Friday and eve of public holiday, outside his gym at the other side of the fence, blowing bubbles. Injecting a bit of fun in anticipation of the weekend to come. 

I always slow down, looking at the pretty bubbles and smiling to myself. I oftentime catch his eye and smile or nod, in appreciation of the joy he is spreading. And he would smile back.

Today I was making my way to the mrt station and smiling to myself as usual at the pretty sight of the bubbles, reminding me to cheer up, it's Friday! I caught his eye and smiled and he smiled back. And I continued on my way. 

Today I made an effort to follow the bubbles and only then did I realise that the bubbles do indeed go a long way...all the way to the mrt station. It's like how joy can travel a very long way when you share it. And it's all the more a delight when it's shared by a perfect stranger.