Mismatched values

From a young age, my mom has been an avid gemstone and jewellery collector. I think this came about because grandma died when my mom was three and she inherited grandma's jewellery collection. Mom told me that whenever she felt sad or lonely (she was sent away to stay with my great-grandparents because grandpa didn't know how to singlehandedly bring up a child), she would open up the jewellery box and finger the items there. I have to say that grandma had some amazing jewellery. Some were pure bling, like two diamond tennis bracelets, each consisting of a row of 1 carat diamonds. Some were more personal items like her gold hairpin in intricate Chinese design that she used for securing her long hair in a bun. That started mom's fascination with jewellery, and over the past fifty years she has collected a jewellery collection to rival that of grandma's.

I have been the lucky receipient of her obsession. There is the rare colombian emerald ring acquired in the 1960s when she was in England, which apparently is now impossible to get hold of or only if one is willing to fork out crazy sums for it. There is the regal looking tanzanite pendant flanked by double rows of diamonds in the preferred setting by European jewellers. And there is the "canary" fancy yellow diamond ring with the sweetest heart shaped diamonds on both sides of the diamond that makes my heart tingle that little bit when I set my eyes on it. I hardly ever wear any of this jewellery, preferring to keep them at the bank, but these gifts have also piqued my interest for gemstones. A little bit. What's more important to me though is that these gifts represent mom and her younger days, when her passion would drive her to travel across continents in the hunt for loose gems or vintage pieces. Each time she passed me one of those pieces, she would tell me of that particular trip she took to acquire it. Whenever I look at the jewellery, I am reminded of the various stories she told me.

So there, I think I have been spoilt jewellery wise. I'm kind of embarrassed by it. This evening a friend was telling me how another friend's husband was getting that friend a diamond ring that cost XX thousand as a present for giving birth to their first child. I realize how mismatched my values are when it comes to jewellery. Just last month, I did not hesistate to spend one and a half times more of that amount to replace a single earring I had lost six months ago. Like mom, I had justified it with the line "gemstones last two lifetimes". Golly, I sure know how to come up with excuses. Heheheh.

Chinese rulez!!

Kungfu Panda rawks. Well, maybe not quite "rawks" level, but it was one entertaining 90 mins. I love how Hollywood has adapted funny Stephen Chow/Jackie Chan/Kungfu Hong Kong movies and paid tribute to how wonderfully entertaining those movies are without being too cliche. They have also managed to turn what could have easily degenerated into a Hollywood B-movie storyline and made it a refreshingly cute and fun computer-generated film. I do wonder perhaps some of the subtle nuances that are familiar to audiences like myself might be missed by those audiences who aren't as exposed to Chinese slap-stick.

I liked it. A lot. I can't remember the last time I giggled so much.

And, the good news is.....

Well, the results are out. I have degenerative spinal disc disease.

After hmm-ing and ahh-ing at my MRI pics and magnifying certain areas, doc turned to me beaming and said "The good news is that you don't need surgery!" I breathed a sigh of relief. Then, he pulled out my MRI pics again, and pointed to the lowest spinal disc. "See that disc has lost some of its filling and is a lot flatter than the other discs" doc said while pointing to the row of discs pictured next to my spine. I could see that it wasn't only flatter, it was black! Of course I had to ask why it was black. Apparently when the disc loses its "spongy" material, it appears a lot darker on the MRI. And this loss of sponge was giving me my aches as there was less support. Doc also pointed to how I had a diffuse disc bulge that could explain the hump on my lower back. The spinal discs are suppose to seat flush to the spine and not protrude on it, but well, mine was different. He didn't think it was of much concern though. The only hint of worry I detected was when he muttered that it was quite unusual for a girl my age to already have a degenerative disc.

So, I got myself a course of physiotherapy and an offer of some super strong painkillers, which I declined. I mean, there is pain, but it's really not that bad.... (Then again, it's a well known fact that we women are much better at bearing pain than men. I can so imagine a man groaning and writhing in pain. All my boyfriends laid in bed when they got their wisdom teeth pulled. I had to get my jaw chipped to remove my wisdom tooth that was embedded there while on local anesthetic and I still managed to go about my activities immediately after.) I also got myself an open appointment for the next two years. He packed me off with a "You're okay as long as the disc doesn't collapse and you get shooting pain going through your thighs". Seriously.... What does that mean? That I should be expecting a surgery within the next two years? Good grief. I guess I should be happy and thank my lucky stars that at this little moment I am all good to go and not think about what the future might bring. Hmm, the world could end tomorrow and this might never ever become an issue.