I personally like pigs, though I don’t have one as a pet. My colleagues seem to have deep fondness over them too. ‘David the Pig’, a label on my water bottle I use at work, unduly awarded to me by my senior. A sign of affection I suppose, or defection. No doubt Pauline, with more than a dozen pig-gurines in her office stands tall as the ‘Swine-Idol-Enthusiast Champion’. And now, the whole world is talking about pigs. Or rather, ‘Zhu’ in Chinese. WHO is having bi-daily updates on them, Channel News Asia has hourly articles about all pigs around the world, and there’s even a website tributed to them (Check out www.swineflu.sg). So let’s talk about pigs.

I love pigs pork. I love to eat pork. It’s succulent to it’s core in Bak Kut Teh, exceptionally tasty in Balestier (freaking overcharged those buggers). I cannot imagine should Singapore stop imports of pork! The Malaysian Government recently froze the approval of permits on porky-product imports, Egypt is on a killing spree (bloody Martyrs), and Singaporeans are going for buffets. Buffets of all sorts, Chocolate buffets, Vegetarian buffets, Porridge buffets, Pork buffets? I can never stand buffets, people eat and binge, drink and pee. I guess the idea of having an NG tube and a urinary catheter doesn’t seem too appealing as a source for continuous feeding and eliminating. No, i’m not making sense. However, there is a point to what i’m saying and i’m getting to it. I just need time to think what i’m trying to say.

With the advent increase in Pandemic Alert level here has caused many inconveniences. But it never fails to amaze me how accomodating people can be. Hong Kong shuts a hotel with more than 300 people in it, and they say they’re enjoying Australian liqour and chocolates. Travellers are on house arrest and they seem to be happy of the forced leave. But if it was me, i’d go crazy! I cannot be controlled nor can I allow my life be dictated. I have choices to make and I tend to make them wisely. By far, I have not regretted on most decisions made. Though I do hate myself for being enticed into buying a facial cream that promises perfect complexion and flawless cheeks. Pig brain.

We make decisions everyday in our line of work. And we’re trained to do so promptly, accurately, and assertively. The decisions we make involve lives, lives of others in our hands. Critical Thinking Skills, if I recall correctly, is what they call it in Nursing School. How we assess situations and identify needed interventions in emergencies, carrying out required and immediate actions in reviving an asystole. Sounds interesting, no? It’s not, it’s stressful. But we need to do it, no matter what.

Decisions are hard to make. It’s even harder when the decision you make affects others. Your family, your colleagues, the society at large. Yet, most times the decision our superiors make are meant for the benefit of all. The Republic quarantines all 300 of them to curtail imminent transmissions of the flu, the Egyptians foresees the likelihood of pig-to-human infections justifying  the slaughter. So there must be a reason for everything you decide, a reason that proves benefits outweighing limitations.

This reason, should and must be communicated well.

So to all pig lovers out there. Choose wisely, should you or should you not have Bak Kut Teh for dinner tonight.

Updated - I stress again, I will eat Bak Kut Teh if I want to even if there’s a pig-flu outbreak. I’m no pre-schooler.