Apocalypse Now

It's a wonder I am still alive, and the world still functions as usual. The heat in the afternoon was stuff from post-apocalyptic films, the kind that destroys all but a few survivors, hunting and scavenging like Robinson Crusoe, everyday a drama.

I myself would be one of the cast, bitching and arguing with the lead character, impatient with the unbearable situation, decided to act alone and soon become a manifestation of supporting-role stupidity by falling off the ridge/stumbling into a horde of zombies/being consumed by a vortex of sharks.

Fortunately,  by nightfall, the heat has lessened and I was able to think more clearly. We watched a couple of episodes of Grand Design and Country Life on BBC, and talked about our retirement plan, musing over possible location, like Taichung or Chang-Hua.

I had a headache almost all day, felt better only after dinner. They say office coffee addicts often feel nauseous during weekends. I definitely need to go out and resupply my stock first thing tomorrow.

Chapter 1, Earth Human Survival Guide

(ver. Taiwan, a tiny island situated somewhere near a rock and a pair of very sharp scissors)

1. You don't need this guide if you are under 40.

2. Once you are 40, prepare to go through at least two, most likely a series of of crises.

3. 1st thing you should know in dealing with these crises, is that you need much, much more than a job, a wife, and multiple cats to get through.

4. 2nd thing you should know, is that you don't need to drink, be an alcoholic, do drugs, be a drug addict, or even beat your wife, to feel in-crisis.

5. OK, now that we had a basic understanding, here we go: to survive more than 40 years, on this petty island in this great big world, you will need:

a. a (big) family,

OR

b. (a bunch of) friends,

OR

c. an obsession,

OR

d. a (strong) sense of being needed.

(to be continued)