LIFE MATTERS - AN EVENT FOR ACTIVE AGERS

It's Sunday morning as I am writing this. If you are in Singapore and have no plans for today, you might want to drop by at Suntec Convention Centre and check out "LIFE MATTERS" on Level 4. It's an event for active agers. I was curious enough to drop by yesterday.

Here are some photos I took to help you decide if it's worth spending a couple of hours there. Admission is free, and there are lots of free gifts and special offers if you bring along the coupons published in the Friday papers.

Some of the highlights include talks by medical professionals, estate planners and cooking demonstrations by master chefs.

Long queues for free health checks by practitioners of traditional Chinese health therapies..

A wide range of Chinese herbs to choose from for healing common ailments.

There's also a "Shoot for Life" photography competition...

as well as a "Fill this space" art competition for the best coffin design aka how you would want your casket decorated!

On my wish wish - a motorized bicycle. More models of motorized vehicles for the elderly at this e-bike booth. To view the complete range, go to http://www.ebike.sg/

One of the finalists in the "Golden Voices" singing competition. Some of these old-timers can really sing! There's also a beauty pageant, K-pop dances and an open line dance session.

Nirvana Memorial Garden presented a documentary promoting their columbarium services. I must say it was an 8-minute visual experience that was both informative and impressive. I hesitated to ask about the cost - probably beyond the means of the average family. For more info, go to http://www.nirvana.sg/

After visiting "Life Matters", you can opt for a 180-degree change in mood at the adjacent venue where there's an electronic expo and a food fair. A 3-in-1 Sunday outing at Suntec Convention Centre. Well worth the three hours I spent there yesterday.

A FAREWELL PARTY TO SAY THE LAST GOODBYE

We have all been to farewell parties where we bade a fond goodbye to a colleague who is leaving for better job prospects elsewhere, or to a family member or a friend about to emigrate to greener pastures overseas. We experience mixed emotions - we celebrate the occasion but at the same time feel a sense of loss not knowing when we will see that person again.

The same mixed emotions were probably felt at Joyce Ho's farewell party yesterday. I had seen the announcement in the Straits Times while browsing the papers a day earlier.

My first thought was "That's the way we should say goodbye when our time is up. If we have lived a good life, we should celebrate reaching the finishing line with oomph, not gloom.

I do not know Joyce or her family but she is certainly an inspiration to those among us who may be battling terminal illness. Death is not a taboo subject, and there is no need to fear death. We should count our many blessings and welcome the eternal rest that awaits us.

And to our dearly loved ones, when we bid our final adieu, please celebrate our crossing over to the other side with our favorite music, our favorite things and our favorite people.

And know that, just like Joyce, we too will rest in peace.

(All screen-shots from Straits Times.)