‘Gor, u knw one of ur primary skol teacher died..’

That was the message I got from my sister late one night, when Morpheus was ready to bestow me his blessing of a good night’s dream. I was curious to find out whom, of course, but my line was barred, and I really was too tired, so I decided to put the urge to find out who it was off until tomorrow.

The following day, whilst happily munching away with a bunch of friends in the middle of lunch break, the curiosity somehow, without my realizing, wormed its way out.

“Did you guys know some teacher from Chung Cheng died?!” I queried, sensing tittle-tattle around the corner. Their answer couldn’t have turned the gossiping mood off more.

“Yeah, Yi Lin’s mom.” Their solemn glances, together with the thought of my friend losing her mom, hit home. It made me wrinkle my brow and ponder, for the entire day, and it dawned upon me that lately, the many people whom have somehow in some ways made an impact in my life, insignificant or meaningful, are passing away as the decade comes to an end.

The Crocodile Hunter was one of my favourite documentaries. I remember vividly how Steve Irwin would wrestle crocodiles down under and mummy, May and I would sit glued with our butts to the sofa and eyes to the tv, Fifi the poodle on either one of our laps. And how my boyfriend Gerald cried over the phone when he found out that the crocodile hunter died. Steve Irwin was undoubtedly one of the most prominent animal rights activists.

Next came Heath Ledger, overnight turned superstar circa 2005 after his most controversial film Brokeback Mountain. After the airing of the film, gay rights gained substantial prominence and attention amongst other human rights in today’s society.

In the past two months, another four people who contributed a lot to the people passed: Michael Jackson, Yasmin Ahmad, my teacher Mrs. Tan and Frank McCourt. Sometimes, it makes me wonder whether the 2012 Armageddon prediction is really true, that God is taking away the people he holds dearest, or that this is just life.

By Douglas