10 April 2020
This week little pink buds in clusters of fours are appearing quietly on the palm sized plant that I received during the lunar new year this January.
“Clusters” has taken on an ominous tone these days, so I hope seeing clusters of flowers helps to provide some balance.
3 days ago the super pink moon graced the night sky even as residents in Singapore retreated indoors to avoid Covid-19.
And on that full moon night among the pink buds and under the pink moon, I sat up with Grace, my 13-year-old cat.
She had suffered rat glue trapping in her kittenhood while living on the streets of Little India and endured spaying and dental surgeries after her rescue. Now in her old age she had to battle blindness and ill-health.
Her life hadn’t been great in the normal sense, but she was loved, treated for her discomforts and had outlived the vet’s projection of her life span by 11 years.
After a final drink of honey water to quench her thirst and in anticipation of a sweet rebirth, eye drops on her eyes to regain her sight in the life to come, and a brief cuddle, Grace left her body without struggle.
The stars were sparkling that night as I lit a butter lamp to give thanks for her easy passing and to guide her home. 善终 meaning a peaceful death is one of the 5 blessings (五福）
Yesterday on Maundy Thursday, Grace’s ashes came back to me in a small porcelain urn.
Amidst the restrictions of physical movements, sufferings of loss and shortages of tangible goods, I hope that acceptance of whatever we’re facing will also allow compassion to flow, so that our heart can expand a little & we can breathe a bit easier, even as our body retreats temporarily from the outside world.
Lisa Ong 