Well, 2012 happened two months ago. I neglected to wish you happy new year, not of my own volition, which would be classified as "uncouth" behaviour, but certainly one of ineluctability. I must confess that 2012 started on a hard-pressed entry (as if my life has ever been idle); notwithstanding, I dismiss any claims of denial to own up with the least amount of excuses and justification. Without further ado, I say HAPPY NEW YEAR to all my amazing fans who by the sound and spelling of my full name - hasten their fingertips to the edge of their computers to GOOGLE. Without a doubt, jubilation surmount any pre-existing fears magnetized by popularity as your visits hiked from 2,000 last year to 4,000 this month. Thank you so much! Please come again for you can rest assure that there will be at least one fresh new critical thinking every month.
Be aware, you can search all the indexes and databases for VPF but you will not find me on social media. I respect the streaming forces behind facebook, friendsters, myspace, hi5, twitter and yelp (to name but a few), it is just not my cup of tea. I manage and maintain two blogs, and my company websites (EV Research, the Journal of Internal Displacement and EV Research Learning Institute) - that's already a "body full" - if you know what I mean. Somehow, I finally managed to fall for the TWITTER - not for personal use but for my company. Now, my challenge is getting a small fraction of Justin Bieber's 17 million fans to engage with the intellectually stimulating ideas I post. Believe me, this is not a petition, but a fact:-)! However, you are free to interpret it your way (as you always do).
So, I have completely deviated from my topic. As an "academic freak" I have been taught to always make sure that my ideas are coherent and in line with the topic's objective. Also, without completely derailing, good writers have the compunction of deciphering a "hook" at the onset of translating their thoughts into "New York Times Best Sellers". Not so fast, I'm not there yet! However, cognizant of the fact that I have not "spoken" with you since the beginning of this year, I reasoned it would be effectual to digress just a little. Enough with my detractors - let's get on with it!
It so happened on February 16th during my class, a student notified everyone of the AAAS conference which was taking place for the first time in 30 years outside of the US in Vancouver's own Convention Centre. I was kind of encouraged to attend but I had initially planned to catch up with the numerous back piled of work I had on my to-do list. Then, the next day, I got a confirmation from a good friend of mine - it was another invitation to the AAAS Annual Meeting. You know what? The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 13:1 "In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established". Thus, I reprogrammed my mind to attend the Plenary Section: Science is Not Enough, mainly because of Hans Rosling.
I am utterly intrigued by this genius' ability to translate complex scientific statistical facts into the most "laywoman" understanding (note: not "trivial" but "understandable"). I thought to myself, what opportunity to meet such great mind. I made my way down to the Convention Centre well in time to register and get seated in a hall filled with close to 2,000 people. After the event, I was not disappointed! You want to know how? At the end of the event, I manoeuvred my way to the stage only to give Hans Rosling a BIG HUG since there was no other way I could have expressed my ecstasy. And I did!
The excitement is not over yet! My friends and I kept the discussion going, only to find ourselves at a sumptuous Thai restaurant by the end of the evening. With great laughs, provocative thoughts and occasional flirts with waiters and waitresses, it was 10pm. The last order call was made and it was time to say good bye to Feb 18th 2012, never to see this day again. We said our goodbyes and I hopped on the Canada Line as quickly as I could to get home. In few minutes, I am at the Marine Drive Station anxiously tearing and opening every orifice to find my bus pass as the connecting bus approaches. While, I was frantically searching, my phone rings with an "unknown" number. I immediately rejected the call because I simply don't pick up calls from "unidentified" callers. In split second, it rang again. Well, earnestly I'm not a phone person, my phone doesn't ring for days, my only rationale was, someone has found my bus pass. My instinct was right!
Here is where the "serendipitous stroke" comes in. This lady (whom I later called my ANGEL) calls from the airport, she's just hopped on the train and there she finds my bus pass on the seat she was going to sit on. Luckily for me, I always write my name and phone number on the back, that's how she was able to get a hold of me. BUT here is the best part - I nearly boarded the bus because I could have easily explained to the driver that I just couldn't find my pass and most likely he would have let me on - partly because it's late and I'm a female. This much I know of Vancouver bus drivers (KUDOS!!!). But I didn't, and my ANGEL called just in the nick of time and within minutes we arranged to meet on the platform of Marine Drive Station as the train headed North. I ran upstairs, cold and shivery, yet patiently waited for her train to arrive.
Ta ta ta dum dum dum da da da her train finally arrives. She's on the second car in her beautiful white winter jacket as she had instructed. I stretched out my hand as the doors slide opened and reached out for my pass. I jumped, laughed and blew kisses at her as the doors glided. I kept waving at her as her beautiful smile and gesture vanished slowly into the dark underground tunnel. This same angelic image is etched on my memory forever even as I playback the scenario in my mind this moment. Later I would connect with her to express more gratitude. Not because I couldn't buy another tickets for the remainder of the 11 days in the month, but because I have come to value (not obsessed with vanity) everything I own in life. Unlike some who may have wealth handed down to them; I have to work for everything I've ever known to own in life. So, it means a lot to be responsible and take very good care of whatever I own. Nevertheless, in instances like these, when my human nature gets the better part of me, I am ever so grateful for ANGELS.
The same happened to my Sister-in-Law over the Christmas holidays when she and my two beautiful nieces were visiting from California. So excited to take the skyride up to Grouse Mountain to play in the snow with the girls, she forgot her phone on the bus. Can you believe it? Yes, we picked up her phone in tact, 3 days after from Translink Lost and Found? Vancouver has its bouts like any city across the globe, but sometimes I want to say, it is the most expensive city in North America but with honourable people!
