Wednesday, November 29, 2006
11/29/2006 06:05:00 AM
11/29/2006 06:05:00 AM
Turning 50: The Circle Game
posted by FH2o
Don’t laugh; your turn will definitely come as it did mine now as I recalled a time back when I giggled quietly to myself at this ‘old man’ polo shirt which read “Life Begins At Fifty”; and now it’s some other young punks who’s sniggling at me now! Such is this circle of life and while I still don’t quite ‘feel my age’ thanks to good genes and being truly blessed with excellent health and fitness (an active lifestyle, home-cooked meals and health supplements didn't hurt either); I nonetheless hate the balding old guy staring at me in the mirror. I know that true beauty is within and the measure of a man is his character and integrity but in this increasingly materialistic and superficial world – looks is all that mattered. Or so it seems. *sigh* Somehow I’m still (stupidly) bonded by this stupidity even though I had long come to terms with accepting and loving myself for who I am. Well, mostly.So instead of giving myself a ‘make-over’ (*shudders* and god forbid!); I’ll give my blog’s template a makeover instead by modifying one from here that I like. Don’t worry if you don’t like it as this is only interim before I make the switch either to the new Blogger or Wordpress. The links along with a few other items normally in the sidebar are still not in place anyway.
Now that I have hit the 'big Five-O' as my kayaking soulmate Huey puts it and advised by fellow childhood classmate and good old dear friend Edmund Song, that for the first half of our life, we work for ‘success’ (however you define it to be); so from now onwards we should now work on ‘significance’ in our lives. And the journey continues and I trust that I’ll remember the hard-earned (and painful) lessons learned along the way as I work on the ‘significance’ henceforth. So much time has passed and water had flowed under the bridge as they say. A lot of memories - some sublime while others still give me the twitch! And I’m truly grateful for the blessings I’d received over the last 5 decades – I still have my wife, family, friends, health and peace of mind. And I can still physically do what I'm passionate about - kayaking. I don’t think a man could ask for more.Meanwhile I’ll keep on paddling and if you’ll excuse me, I would like to go for a quiet paddle now on the river next to my house and catch the sunrise as I turn 50! I send you all my love. Be Well.
Stumble It!23 Comments:
At Wednesday, 29 November, 2006 
Wuching said:
At Wednesday, 29 November, 2006 
Geoffrey said:
Happy Birthday! Many happy returns! ..keep on kayaking ya!
At Wednesday, 29 November, 2006 urbanwriter said:
Happy Birthday Unker! I guess I'm jealous, you're younger than me!
At Wednesday, 29 November, 2006 FH2o said:
TQ wuching (nice song) and geoffrey!
lou - we're only a whisker apart!
Besides a personal sms birthday wish early this morning (TQ dear, u know who u are!)I also receive sms birthday wishes from my banks and the handphone company as well as a birthday song call from 'em!! This sort of thing is unimaginable years ago ... *sigh*
lou - we're only a whisker apart!
Besides a personal sms birthday wish early this morning (TQ dear, u know who u are!)I also receive sms birthday wishes from my banks and the handphone company as well as a birthday song call from 'em!! This sort of thing is unimaginable years ago ... *sigh*
At Wednesday, 29 November, 2006 Kenny Sia said:
Happy half-a-century, Francis. You're still the coolest 50-year-old I know in Kuching. 50? Nah... I always thought you're half your age.
Thanks for being a great company and happy birthday.
Thanks for being a great company and happy birthday.
Many happy returns, Francis! 50? Unbelievable. You make some of us (somewhat) younger folk look really bad...
At Wednesday, 29 November, 2006 Infectioner said:
OMG, I thought you're just 30 something plus. Man, look can be deceiving. ;)
Happy birthday and many happy returns!
Happy birthday and many happy returns!
At Wednesday, 29 November, 2006 dilvin said:
Happy Birthday FH2O!!!!
Wow...sudah lama i didnt read your blog and of all the day, today!, i manage to, right on the spot ha.
Keep on kayaking...dun forget our date next february.
Next year, u come climb mt. Kinabalu with us, okay?
Wow...sudah lama i didnt read your blog and of all the day, today!, i manage to, right on the spot ha.
Keep on kayaking...dun forget our date next february.
Next year, u come climb mt. Kinabalu with us, okay?
At Wednesday, 29 November, 2006 w.e.n.d.y said:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY FRANCIS!!!!
Yeah-yeah..I'm going to be 50 soon too...hehehe.
See you in Feb and see you at the top of Mt. Kinabalu!
Yeah-yeah..I'm going to be 50 soon too...hehehe.
See you in Feb and see you at the top of Mt. Kinabalu!
At Wednesday, 29 November, 2006 Simon said:
Happy birthday man!
You are my mentor in the 'art of kayaking'. Hopefully, as I get to know you better, you'll throw me some pointers in the art of life as well.
You are twice my age, so I'm assuming there's twice the knowledge and experience. Haha!
You are my mentor in the 'art of kayaking'. Hopefully, as I get to know you better, you'll throw me some pointers in the art of life as well.
You are twice my age, so I'm assuming there's twice the knowledge and experience. Haha!
At Wednesday, 29 November, 2006 SilveRaveN said:
HAPPY 50th - eh eh, sorry, wrong!! - 15th BIRTHDAY UNKER!!
:D :D :D
:D :D :D
At Thursday, 30 November, 2006 said:
Happy Birthday to you too FH2O. I just turned 39 today.
At Thursday, 30 November, 2006 bonnie said:
Happy Birthday!
At Thursday, 30 November, 2006 YD said:
HAPPY 50TH BIRTHDAY UNKER!!!
wow... i tot u were 40-ish...
May u be blessed with health and happiness!
wow... i tot u were 40-ish...
May u be blessed with health and happiness!
At Thursday, 30 November, 2006 fullmoon said:
Turning 50 on a kayak somewhere on a river is a truly 'significance' moment in life. The same time a homage and defiance to life and nature...
Wishing you another 50 years of paddling !!! ;)
HAppy birthday !
Wishing you another 50 years of paddling !!! ;)
HAppy birthday !
At Thursday, 30 November, 2006 Chen said:
Happy birthday, unker :D
At Thursday, 30 November, 2006 Happysurfer said:
FH2O, I was going to invite you over to view the post I did up for you. Guess you read my mind.
Happy Birthday again and many happy returns.
Happy Birthday again and many happy returns.
At Thursday, 30 November, 2006 FH2o said:
A BIG THANK YOU to you all for the lovely birthday wishes! Somehow I don't feel 'old' with such good cheers! ;)
At Thursday, 30 November, 2006 QuaVadis said:
Wah!! Uncle!! I never realised that you're 50 years old, you memang deserve the title of Uncle :P
Your now also officialy halt the "pitan nui" age :P Congratulatinos, 50 more years and you're a "pitan nui" (century egg) hehehehe
For a 50 years old, uncle is a really great and sporting guy, full of life and energy and very very sporting..unlike some 50 or over 50 years old I know..actually, unlike some 40 something people I know also!!
Kudo's uncle and a very very long and sporting and lovely life ahead to you.
cheers
Your now also officialy halt the "pitan nui" age :P Congratulatinos, 50 more years and you're a "pitan nui" (century egg) hehehehe
For a 50 years old, uncle is a really great and sporting guy, full of life and energy and very very sporting..unlike some 50 or over 50 years old I know..actually, unlike some 40 something people I know also!!
Kudo's uncle and a very very long and sporting and lovely life ahead to you.
cheers
At Thursday, 30 November, 2006 Selba said:
NO WAY!!!
Francis, You must be kidding!
Are you serious that you are 50? Because absolutely you don't look like one, seriously.. seriously.. seriously!!!
Oh well, though your age is 1/2 of the century but I know that beside your look, your heart is also still like the youth, young inside and outside :)
Happy belated birthday, Francis!
I trust you had a wonderful b'day yesterday...
Francis, You must be kidding!
Are you serious that you are 50? Because absolutely you don't look like one, seriously.. seriously.. seriously!!!
Oh well, though your age is 1/2 of the century but I know that beside your look, your heart is also still like the youth, young inside and outside :)
Happy belated birthday, Francis!
I trust you had a wonderful b'day yesterday...
At Thursday, 30 November, 2006 Pandabonium said:
Happy Birthday! Here's to the next 50.
At Friday, 01 December, 2006 said:
Definately looking good at 50!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
At Friday, 01 December, 2006 FH2o said:
Thank you QV, selba, panda and iml for your good wishes and kind comments!
Yes I'm seriously good looking at 50! And looking forward to the next 50! haha! ;)
Yes I'm seriously good looking at 50! And looking forward to the next 50! haha! ;)
Happy birthday tu-eyew (lard), why ur hair is so few? Maybe u too fong-liu...Happy birthday tu-eyew!