Death - the one thing that we all are (secretly) morbidly fascinated with. It's the only certainty we have in this ever-changing environment. Yet, ever so often, we choose not to think about the inevitable.

Funerals - the thing that we say is for the dead. It's the time when the living gather to say nice things and think nice thoughts about the dead. Yet, more often than not, it actually is for the living.

Love - that incomprehensible mystery that we all like to chase after. It's that

Yet, we tend to love broadly instead of deeply.

When I was younger, I always wanted to attend my own funeral - to hear what people would say of me. I often wondered what it is that they have to wait until I'm dead instead of telling me directly when I'm alive.

When I grew up, I then wanted to die before my loved ones - to avoid going through the pain of losing them. I often thought that I would rather die in their arms than having them die in mine.

Now, I think of who I hope would be delivering the eulogy at my own funeral - to figure out who really are closely cherished and loved. These are the ones I want to love deeply, so that there will be no regrets if I ever have to give their eulogies. 

Yeah I know I've said that age is just a number. But I couldn't help it but instinctively react with a 'woah'. Perhaps society has constructed me to react that way. Nonetheless, 15 years difference. Another of my friend was quick to point out Dr Sun Yat-Sen and his 3rd wife who were 26 years apart.

Well, age is but a number, no? I've heard of couples differing by 5 years or 10 years, but 15 years is indeed a first for me. Perhaps what shocked me was the sheer number and also the fact that the couple has 2 kids. Leaving the kids issue aside, I suppose 15 years does seem a little wide. But it's pretty subjective isn't it? To me, 5 years difference is perfectly acceptable while some people feel that the maximum should be 2. I guess it's a matter of the environment we grew up in. My parents differ by 5 years, so I would think that 5 years is perfectly normal. Then I have friends whose parents differ by 9 years, and so they wouldn't be too surprised if they heard of similar couples. So, really, who decides what number is too big or too weird?

Assuming we take a 22 year old and a 12 year old. 10 years difference. Even for me who has no issues with 10 years difference will object to this simply because it's pretty paedophilic. What about a 7 year difference for a 23 year old and a 16 year old? Arguably this is more acceptable but some will still feel that it's a tad paedophilic. What if we were looking at a 25 year old with a 35 year old? Still 10 years apart, but it doesn't seem half as bad as a 22-12.

That's why I figured that age is a number, and also a signpost to suggest the stage the person is at. It's like a quick reference to the sort of life a person might be having. Schooling or working. So if you meet someone for the first time and the person says he's 15, you'll ask which (secondary) school he's in; if someone says he's 18, you'll ask whether he's in poly or jc or ITE; if someone says he's 22, you'll ask whether he's studying at a university or if he's working. So there you have it, age is a rough guide to where a person might be in life. Of course, all these at the risk of stereotyping.

Alright just a short post about my take on age and numbers. To all the couples out there whose age difference may be significantly wide (however you want/choose to define it), I wish you all the best in your relationship and no matter what people say, always remember that age is but a number which is a quick reference to the stage in life you are at. You may not be in the same stage with your partner now, but one day you will be. And at that time, you'll realise that age is but a number, and love transcends all that.

天空有云作伴，海洋有浪花同行。

我独自坐在冷清的岩石上。

我在寻找，寻找一个愿意与我坐在石头上的人。

我在寻找，寻找一个愿意与我坐在石头上，什么都不说的人。

我在寻找，寻找一个愿意与我坐在石头上，什么都不说，一同观看景色的人。

我在寻找，寻找一个愿意与我坐在石头上，什么都不说，一同观看景色，一同思考生命的奥秘的人。

我在寻找，寻找一个愿意与我坐在石头上，什么都不说，一同观看景色，一同思考生命的奥秘，一同体会彼此的爱的人。

我在寻找，寻找一个愿意与我坐在石头上，什么都不说，一同观看景色，一同思考生命的奥秘，一同体会彼此的爱，就这样过一辈子的人。

我在寻找，寻找一个愿意与我坐在石头上，什么都不说，一同观看景色，一同思考生命的奥秘，一同体会彼此的爱，就这样过一辈子，也感到是一种无比的幸福的人。

会难吗？那么，你，愿意吗？

it's about remembering the best and walking away from the temptation.

Marriage is not about never socialising with your friends again,

it's about remembering your commitment to somebody to be there at the end of the day.

Marriage is not about never being disappointed again,

it's about remembering that the person comes as a whole package.

Marriage is not about never having arguments and fights again,

it's about remembering that the person is worth it.

Seriously. Over-the-tops mushiness at that sort of age was most goosebumps-inducing. Overt actions in conveying the little packages of love and concern.

Imagine that - even for a self-professed helpless romantic, the conversations, tones and actions were sending chills of discomfort all over my nervous system.