My Tito Joji died yesterday and it is a huge shock to each of us. I haven't yet seen his coffin and today it still hasn't sinked in. But really. A death of someone close always makes me go into a sentimental mood. Got me thinking again of how life is short and that death is certain.

Though we haven't seen his death certificate, everyone says he most likely died of a heart attack/stroke. He died on his bed, possibly while trying to stand up to go to night shift. Im feeling sad not only because he left us so soon, and we will surely miss his funny stories and jokes (coz he's the tito who is funny and kindhearted), but also because of the sad thing that he died being so committed to his job and stress killed him.

Was browsing snopes.com today, and was scrolling through the glurge section. As you know snopes.com seeks to prove every possible internet/email story as true, false, undetermined etc. Just read a true story about Steve Jobs commencement address to Stanford's 2005 graduating class and Regina Brett's "45 Lessons Life Taught Me" article, and their realizations on life particularly struck.

Steve Jobs said "...Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything that all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart...

...Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."

and Regina Brett said "Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and family will so keep in touch"

*Sigh* With Tito's death, everything is again put into perspective. Suddenly, working takes a back seat to having dinner with my family and friends ; it made me think about resigning and really pursuing what I want most to do: to see the world, to gain new adventures... to go out and really BE, instead of targetting 50 each day which leads to nowhere..."

Now I just need strength to do what matters most.

Tito joji, we'll surely miss you. We know you're happy. May you rest in peace.

love it. love it. love it.
loving it again.
***

"Climb, climb into the rocket
And we set the fuse to go, go, go
Head start, cosy in the rocket
And I need to go, to go, go, go
Tip top ready for the sky
And I'm tip top ready to go
Tip top ready for the sky
And I'm tip top ready to go, go, go

Come, come, fly into my palm
And collapse
Oh, oh, suppose you'll never know

Nobody knows where they might end up
Nobody knows
Nobody knows where they might wake up
Nobody knows
Nobody knows where they might end up
Nobody knows
Nobody knows where they might wake up
Nobody knows

Tick tack toe, you're fitting into place
And now the old ways don't seem true
Stick stop blue you're only shifting
In the same old shape you always knew
Tip top ready for the sky
And I'm tip top ready to go
Tip top ready for the sky
And I'm tip top ready to go, go, go

Come, come, fly into my palm
And collapse
Oh, oh, suppose you'll never know."

- - "Cosy in the Rocket" by PSAPP

Guess from where? (^+^)