Final post...

"When there's a gathering, there'll surely be a departure."

Stray does not stay around. Its wanderlust calls it to travel forth, and never stay at a spot for too long. It has stayed to watch the situation where the sailor sails upon a tattered ship, his attention no longer on the maintenance of his precious ship but on the mermaid swimming round his ship.

Stray has stayed for it worries that the mermaid would fall first due to her expenditure of energy to keep up with the sailor and his ship. When the mermaid has grown stronger, Stray has decided to leave then.

Yet now, Stray sees something else which he may not be certain of even as of now. The possibility has not occurred to it recently so much so concerned over the mermaid Stray is. That it was not the mermaid who had bewitched the sailor. That it was not the sailor who has kept the mermaid about his ship. That it was not love which has ensnared the mermaid. But the very fact that the mermaid has bewitched and ensnared herself.

Stray shook its head, its fur rustling. What it can help, it will always be there to help. What it cannot help, it will not be able to help of course. Stray sets course for its trip, wanderlust calling it forth away from this blog...

Formula

E = mc square...

I know a better one.

E + R = O

Wait, I know a much better one.

MU + MU = FMU

And the best...

MU + BF = IDT

Hahahaha..

Happiness

We sometimes let things of the world control us so much that they also control our happiness. We forgot that happiness is always in our hands and not in others' hands.

Idiots

There should be no calling of people idiots.

Sometimes, you may find that the person is an idiot but then times again, what happens if you are a bigger idiot? Does it matter that you go hide your head in the hole and pretend that it is not to be the case?

Better to just shut the trap and observe.

Pointing Fingers

They say when you point at a person, you have at least 3 fingers pointing at yourself.

Moral of the story: Keep to your own business.

Wise words from a Wise Lady

Other than influencing people who are around us, we ourselves get influenced too.

So, it depends on our choices, doesn't it?

Choose wisdom, you get wisdom.

Choose wits, you get wits.

Choose love, you get love.

Choose shit, you get shit.

Choose spiritual, then you get holiness???

Wishes

Ok. Been an eternity when asked the question "What is your wish?" Really felt like an aged ancient dragon coming out of its stupor from a century worth of hibernation.

Let's provide a few layers of answers for this question which has been used in countless interviews, pageant selection et cetera...

First layer, some answers can be "I want people around me to be happy", "I want more money", "I want my family to be happy", "world peace (hopefully no one here knows the punt behind this)", "I want to see you more often", "I want your heart (as in love not being cannibalistic here), "I want two more wishes (one true wish and the other to wish for 2 more wishes again - one of the creative answers".

Of course, there can be worse superficial answers, some even bordering on obscene jokes (but let's not go there).

Then the second layer where the answers are no longer about answering but questioning the intention of the person asking. Why this question in the interview? Why this question in the pageant selection? Why this question? You wanna know me better? You wanna create a common ground or interest? You want to express your feelings? You wanna impress me with your answer? You curious? The "why" questions can be non-exhaustive. No thanks to me being a bachelor in communications "p.

Finally, the third layer. The deep layers which everyone may or may not like. Realise that the general public find deep layers intriguing in movies and novels but never in real life situations.

Let's face it. Wishes are not realistic. Wish I could turn back time and set things right. You go back time and you will realize nothing will be changed because in the past, you do not have the maturity or right mindset to decide or do otherwise. Wish the whole world is happy. Hmm then you may have to do away with the society hierarchy and wish everyone to heaven. Fascism occurred because of the dream of one homogenous ideal community. Wish I could have this immediately. You skip steps - the pain, the agony, rather the process. The worth of "this" (whether it be material, situation or relationship) will never be as sweet. People need the experience ( be they regrets, pain, or sweet memories) to grow, to mature, to appreciate and to love.

At a certain point of time, switched to the question "what do you want in life?" because then we have a plan where we can work towards it.

Having said all these, then the contradiction. Wishes may be empty words or out of the wisher's area of influence, they are still messages where emotions are being conveyed. I once read of a story where a unique shopkeeper grant wishes but the catch is that the person who wishes must pay an equivalent price for it. It is then they realize that sometimes the worth of their wish may be far greater than they have expected. Wishing is easy. Working towards it is hard. Attaching the worth to it and knowing and appreciating the worth is harder.

Would one agree to a wish being granted where the beneficiary is some other and the one who pays the price is oneself and that the beneficiary cannot know of it? ")

Focus

Perhaps you just wanted to get a drink from the kitchen. By the time you get the drink from the kitchen, you might have done a few other things as well. Sometimes after doing that few other things, you may not have gotten your drink at all.

In life, while we aim for something, there are bound to be other stuff which calls for our attention. Do we stop for them or do we skip so that we can be more focussed on the main objective?

Each time the wind gushed by, each time my palm swished out and up, I am being reminded of my main objective...

How well do you know yourself?

If you are going to say you know yourself best, you are most probably a long way off.

Characters are tested, developed, changed, improved or deteriorated through situations and time. There are many facets which are not explored or unknown till one is tested.

Imagine a person as a countless faceted diamond. Each situation gives an insight into the strength and type of character, revealing a facet. Each situation gives an insight into the attitude and social beliefs of the character, revealing another facet. Each relationship with a friend is an insight, revealing yet another facet.

There can be basic overall characteristics of a character but not fool proof since it is based on situations.

Hokori (pride)

Even if wealth may be robbed, the health depleted, the reputation ruined, the ego shattered, and be left all alone without any form of support, the character within one will still be an undying flame...

Character...

Royalty

These days we don't practice monarchy for obvious reasons. It would mean putting all your eggs in one basket - putting all the hopes on one or two people.

Yet in the olden days, the subjects closest to the King or Queen would revere the royalty in servitude and love, ideally.

Really hard to understand in today's context? To serve and to love? I don't think so. LOL

Truths are not good enough

Sometimes truths are not good enough, sometimes people deserve more... sometimes people deserve to have their faith rewarded...

Bruised

Stray was bruised... physically and mentally by the Gorilla from the past...

It was his own doing. Sailed up to Gorilla's island and got a verbal and physical lashing from the Gorilla. The words of the day "You are an idiot."

For those who have watched Guan Yu, acted by Donnie Yen, the Cao Cao was saying, "You be the hero and I be the bad guy (something like that in context)."

The statement sounds cool but on retrospect, Cao Cao was not going to just be the bad guy for anyone else except for Guan Yu because he felt it was worth it. Why do things for people who are not worth it then?

... To pay back the debt...

Nuclear bombs

When weapons are drawn, one of the objectives of the attacker is to hurt.

Swords and guns work pretty well.

Bombs work really well, because of the efficiency.

Problem is when bombs are used... Yes the target is decimated, broken. Objective reached. But the collateral damage? The people around the target? They can be those close to the target, or just bystanders, or even innocents.

How is usage of explosives ever going to be justified then?

Torch Bearers

For once, I am thankful that light bulbs are invented. The torches held in the Medieval are smoky and worse they flare right in your faces. I don't understand how they could use it when they are practically blinded by the torches. They might as well rely on their night vision.

The Principle of Alchemy

What you want to take you will have to give an equivalent amount. The worth will have to be decided by the person who made the decision then. The worse is when another is involved in the decision made by both.

There is no coincidences but choices.

I have neglected your teachings for so long, Senpai. You have taught me to look at humanity through that special lense.

Very soon, Senpai. Let me settle one more issue and I will be what I was, am, will be.

Loss of lack or Lack of loss

You dimwit... Stop losing your wallet already!

As I retraced my steps for 10 minutes and finally retrieved it, I wondered at the lack of panicking, the embarrassment, simply put emotions.

People would panick. They would be embarrassed or have some sort of relevant emotions. They would if the thing they had lost is precious. Goes to conclude it is not as precious as I thought. I could just stay out the entire night, and simply not care.

There is only one last precious thing for me to lose. And once that comes to happen, I wonder briefly what I would be in the end...

Care

As the ship sailed on, Stray watched his skeleton crew in a detached manner.

He could have his original crew, comprising of brothers bonded in blood. He could still have his First Mate, who had some interest in sailing. Yet he said Nay.

To have feelings, he would have to be selfish. Yet as he thought further, breaking it down, it was not love which was selfish. It was about caring for the other which was selfish.

To love, sub-conscious expectations are being put in place, where caring for the other comes first nature. To care for one, the others would have to be forgone, clearly the same analogy as in you can only save one in a calamity and you have to decide the one.

To love is to care. To care is to be selfish. The Messiah syndrome which is so common in so many people, as studied in psychology, only make things worse, by allowing one party to be much more dominating in the caring process, where expectations are heaped upon the other party be it through rationale or non-rationale. Rationale, of course, makes it feel more comfortable, but where the imposing of the expectations could still be felt at a deeper level.

Moral of the story: To care unselfishly would mean a good balance of dosage of care being dished out and also to let go sometimes when the party has to let go.

Wanderlust

Soon... very soon... under construction...

Travel companions

Monsters and devils - I can live with them...

Angels and humans - I rather not...

Truth is often twisted by those who proclaimed to be good. Why? Because they have expectations to meet - that their judgement is right, that they know what's right and wrong, that their lives and opinions are far more important than others - and something to lose - dignity, integrity or reputation...

I rather the thieves and beggars where their perceived truths are simpler. Nothing to lose...

Shinjutsu... Hontoni...

The owl hoots.
Wait. Is that the owl?
The crow caws.
Wait. Is that the crow?
The elephant trumpets.
Wait. Is that the elephant?

Reaching out tentatively... pinched myself...

Ouch... ok... I am still myself...

Where's the absolute truth?
Me. Myself.

I am my own bitch. *acknowledgement to a certain party*

Wolves and Pirates

Wolves are always wolves as Pirates are always pirates.

What is a wolf without fangs?

Still a wolf.

What is a pirate with a heart of gold?

Still a pirate.

What is this all about?

It does not matter what we are or what we do. It does not change people’s perceptions. Maybe only the frequency of them making the comments.

Wolves and Pirates

Wolves are always wolves as Pirates are always pirates.

What is a wolf without fangs?

Still a wolf.

What is a pirate with a heart of gold?

Still a pirate.

What is this all about?

It does not matter what we are or what we do. It does not change people’s perceptions. Maybe only the frequency of them making the comments.

Captain Straywolf

Idealistic pirates... Sailors who just want to be in the seas, enjoying the sea spray, the days of being out there in the nowhere... But basically free from all judgement, from laws and from prying eyes of those who love to judge... Free from all troubles, keeping their loyalty and lives to one single common lover - the Seas - the Tempest who could be so gentle at times, and be so rough at times, always unpredicatable... Only making port once awhile to sate their loneliness... Other than that, RUM is the cure for everything...

Ahoy, comes the wolf wearing the Captain's hat... struggling to find its "sea paws"... Captain Stray.

Looking forward...

The brambles cried out their outrage. They had kept it hidden from the main path for so long. They had kept it protected when it was half dead from the others' attacks.

Yet they dripped blood, the blood of the wolf. In exchange for refugee, it would sustain itself from the blood of the wolf. It would induce the wolf into a dream where promises happened, when it dreamt of itself lying next to the moonflower.

The wolf had awakened from its slumber bit by bit, sedated and weak. Yet it had moved out from the brambles. It was a refugee, where dreams could happen. But the dreams were pushed onto it by the brambles, not itself. There was nothing in the dreams that it would want from the brambles.

The wolf lowered its great head for a moment in gratitude that the brambles had allowed it to stay alive. But it was time for the wolf to move on its path. Be it if there is no moon flower, it is a choice that it makes itself, rather than when it was broken, and weak and sedated from what it really wants.

The road ahead will be fraught with dangers. But it is able to to meet it straight on now for it knows it will run for the things it wants, where dreams are not imposed by the brambles...

The return

It almost passed the path it had stayed off for so long. If not for its familiar smell, it would not have identified it. Its head drooped as it stumbled into the path.

Long was the goal of it finding the moon flower. Years had passed but the moon flower has not appeared. It only appeared in tell-tale glimpses. Once it had entered the illusion that the moon flower was right before it, only to realise at the very end, the illusion was just a naive illusion it wanted.

So it had shrugged off the vines that bound it, tearing fur and skin apart just to break it. It is determined. And finally emerged on the path. The vines trembled at its escape but it did not turn back to look and headed on its path which had always been beckoning it in its heart.