Author Archives: memoriesandsuch

Poem: In Every Shade of Love

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February, often called the month of love, brings with it not just the celebration of romantic affection but a reminder of the many shades of love that colour our lives. While Valentine’s Day shines a spotlight on romance, this time of year can also be a beautiful reflection of the love that surrounds us in different forms—love for family, friends, our community, and even our roots. It’s a time to appreciate the quiet acts of care and kindness, the bonds that shape who we are, and the love that continues to grow within us and around us. As we step into this month, let us celebrate love in all its shades, for it is what binds us, lifts us, and fills our lives with meaning. Today’s poem captures this essence — reminding us that love goes beyond the romantic, touching every corner of our hearts.

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In Every Shade of Love

Love is a whisper, a shout, and a song,
An unspoken bond that carries us along.
It grows in the silence; it thrives in the light,
In every heart’s corner, love shines so bright.

It’s the warmth of a mother’s embrace at night,
A father’s quiet strength, steady and tight.
It’s the laughter shared among siblings and friends,
A love that endures, that never quite ends.

It’s the hands that lift you when you fall down,
The joy in a smile that chases a frown.
It’s the pride in your homeland, the place you belong,
The land that sings to you in its own song.

Love is in sacrifice, in moments of care,
In giving and sharing, in always being there.
It’s the solace you find in familiar sights,
The love for your roots is where your spirit ignites.

It’s the tenderness held in a passing glance,
In the heart’s secret language, in every chance.
It lives in the quiet; it roars in the wild,
From the love of a country to that of a child.

In every shade, from soft to bold,
Love is the treasure, the story untold.
For love is a bridge, a light from above.
Uniting our worlds in every shade of love.

In My Hands Today…

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Flowers of Fire: The Inside Story of South Korea’s Feminist Movement and What It Means for Women’s Rights Worldwide – Hawon Jung

Since the beginning of the #MeToo movement, tens of thousands of people in South Korea have taken to the street, and many more brave individuals took a stand, to end a decades-long abortion ban and bring down powerful men accused of sexual misconduct—including a popular presidential contender. South Korean feminists know that the revolution has been a long time coming, between battles against its own patriarchal society as well as challenging stereotypes of docile Asian women in the Western imagination.

Now, author Hawon Jung will show the rest of the world that these women are no delicate flowers—they are trailblazing flames. Flowers of Fire takes the reader into the trenches of this fight for equality, following along as South Korean activists march on the streets, navigate public and private spaces where spycam porn crimes are rampant, and share tips and tricks with each other as they learn how to protect themselves from harassment and how to push authorities to act.

Jung, the former Seoul correspondent for the AFP, draws on her on-the-ground reporting and interviews with many women who became activists and leaders, from the elite prosecutor who ignited the country’s #MeToo movement to the young women who led the war against non-consensual photography. Their stories, though long overlooked in the West, mirror realities that women across the world are all too familiar with: threats of defamation lawsuits to silence victims of assault, tech-based sexual abuse, and criminal justice systems where victims’ voices are often met with suspicion and abusers’ downfalls are met with sympathy. These are the issues at the heart of their #MeToo movement, and South Korean women have fought against them vigorously—and with extraordinary success. In Flowers of Fire, Jung illuminates the strength and tenacity of these women, too often sidelined in global conversations about feminism and gender equality.

 2025 Week 05 Update

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Welcome to the month of love, February! This week has been a very low key one for me, one because of the Lunar New Year holidays and also because I fell sick this week. BB brought home a cold from camp last week, infected GG and then it was my turn. Since I turned 50, it’s becoming harder to fight off sickness and infection. I guess its the double whammy of getting old and diabetes has made me more susceptible to infections. But I am a lot better now, so hopefully this coming week, I should be in full form. 

Today’s quote is from the English playwright, William Shakespeare, who needs no introduction. The essence of the quote suggests that disappointment and suffering often stem from our expectations. When we expect certain outcomes—whether from people, situations, or life itself—we set ourselves up for potential heartache if reality does not align with our hopes. This idea is particularly relevant in relationships, careers, and personal aspirations. Expectations are natural; they provide motivation, direction, and a sense of purpose. However, when expectations become rigid or unrealistic, they can lead to unnecessary suffering. For example, if someone expects their friends or loved ones to always behave a certain way, they may feel deep disappointment when those expectations are not met. Similarly, in professional settings, expecting rapid success without setbacks can lead to frustration and self-doubt when obstacles arise. This quote encourages us to practice acceptance and flexibility rather than rigid expectations. Instead of expecting life to unfold in a specific way, we can focus on appreciating the present moment and adapting to challenges as they come. By doing so, we reduce the likelihood of unnecessary heartache and cultivate a mindset of gratitude and resilience.

A practical way to apply this wisdom is through **mindfulness**—learning to let go of attachments to outcomes and embracing uncertainty. When we release the need for things to happen in a certain way, we open ourselves to new possibilities and experiences. Rather than being heartbroken over what didn’t happen, we can find joy in what is.  In conclusion, while hope and ambition are important, attaching happiness solely to expectations can lead to heartbreak. Instead, by embracing life’s uncertainties, we allow ourselves to grow, learn, and experience genuine contentment.

BB has been home this week, going out for some company events for a couple of days. I hope he enjoyed this break and will go back to camp tonight. GG is super busy with school, assignments, and projects, and even on days she is at home, I barely see her outside of coming out of her room to replenish her water bottle or for meals. Sometimes I need to force her to take a break, but I guess since she is old enough to know better now, I mostly just let her be.

That’s all from me this week. Stay positive, keep smiling, and enjoy February!

In My Hands Today…

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Never Saw Me Coming: How I Outsmarted the FBI and the Entire Banking System—and Pocketed $40 Million – Tanya Smith

Tanya Smith fancied herself a folk hero, a kind of Robin Hood, using her powers of persuasion to buck the system and help the poor and needy.

It started innocently enough, with calls to celebrities’ houses with her teenage twin sister. Soon, Tanya realised she could convince utility companies to amend the balances of her friends, relatives and neighbours, clearing their overdue electricity bills with a single phone call. Eventually, as she tested the limits and realized she could get past any gatekeeper, she started to want the actual money herself.

By the time she was 18, Tanya had ‘confiscated’ some $40 million in cash and commodities from US banks, using hacked wire transfers. It didn’t take long before the FBI was on her tail. But when interviewing her, they made clear that they were using her to get to the person actually running things – clearly, she wasn’t smart enough to do this on her own (Black people she was told, rob people, they don’t hack computers).

Thus began a cat and mouse game with the authorities that would drive her to unthinkable limits, breaking the hearts of her parents, putting Tanya’s life in jeopardy, and costing her custody of two children before finally sending her to Federal prison (where she escaped twice) with the longest sentence ever given for a white-collar crime.

In the spirit of true crime narratives like Catch Me If You Can, Molly’s Game, and Ben Mezrich’s Bringing Down the House, Never Saw Me Coming is a gripping caper, but it’s also the deeply personal journey of a young Black woman finding her way in a world that underestimated her brilliance.