Dumplings over Flowers
The most famous person I know who prefers dumplings over flowers is Prince Charles. Just about every man who wants to change his old Toyota dreams of a sports car, or in today’s climate, a Tesla. Definitely flower over dumpling. So I salute Prince Charles for going against the grain. I believe very few red-blooded men, maybe none, would prefer Camilla over Diana. Even women question his choice.In practical life however, dumplings are very often superior to flowers. At least they fill the stomach. After all, surely we should value needs over wants, substance over appearance.Being of a practical bent of mind, I must admit that I would generally prefer dumplings. Flowers are beautiful, but their beauty is short lived. They are discarded unceremoniously a few days later.My elder daughter once gave me a spa experience in a Sentosa spa resort for a birthday present. I very much appreciated her gesture, but I found I could not relax to enjoy and luxuriate in the pampering, unlike the other ladies. In fact, I do not enjoy massages as a general rule. My friends tell me massages relieve them of aches and pains. What aches and pains? My friends say they feel so good and so relaxed after a massage. Me? I feel nothing!Having admitted to my rather plebeian preferences, I admit also to my occasional indulgences.I recently attended a concert by the Voices of Singapore’s Ladies Choir, called ‘Sounds of a Distant World’. It was special in that it was held in the old Pasir Panjang Power Station, which was built in the 1950s or 1960s. It is likely to be torn down soon. It is a large cavernous building, about 4 storeys in height. Beautiful lighting, and the ethereal and haunting ladies’ voices made it definitely a ‘flower’ moment. So although I am more a ‘dumpling’ person, I too appreciate the occasional ‘flower’ moment.In life, I guess we need both. Oftentimes dumplings over flowers. Sometimes, flowers over dumplings.
Dr Ling Sing Lin is a medical doctor by training. She worked in MOH HQ for many years, in policy making and administrative positions, until her retirement.