| The special 221st day in the 36th year 9th August 2001 The first national day of the new (official) milleniuim. Instead of being at the National Stadium watching the parade from the VIP box, I was cruising along Dunearn Road on a Volvo Cross-Country. I can envision the beautiful fireworks shooting out from the back of the stadium, exploding into a potpurri-like stance at the very minute when we just passed the now defunct Bukit Timah Fire Station. The magnificent fireworks which not only rejuvenate the nation's spirits August each year but also light up the otherwise bleak and gloomy Singapore in the year of 2001. The economic prospects which have been giving out mixed signals according to the number of contrasting views that appear in economic journals, have generally been worse than before. People in the lower rung of society have been losing jobs, canteen operators in factories have reported lower profits as more blue-collared workers prepared their own food to work. It has been a sad and depressing 1st half of the year. But the fireworks added some spark to Singapore. As one looks up at the fireworks in the sky, one can only conjure up beautiful images that have been in our lives. The colourful fireworks remind us of the happy times that we have had with our families, the good that the nation had provided us, rather than to rake up memories of anger, need and fear. We needed those sparks and light to remind us of how we can still thrive in the days where everything look so bleak. But those sparks are only transient in nature, which can serve only as reminders. But, fear not, countrymen; we have our memories, our family, our friends, our nation to look to when we need support. My friends, the times are not so bad and will never be that bad because we will always find love around us. Nothing fails with the aid of love. * * * * * 7.30pm, 9/9/01. Being in the car with the special one in my life made up for not being able to catch the fireworks display and being part of the celebrations for our independence. The love that I feel around me, embraces me and keeps me alive. Kai 2001 |