Since the day a girlfriend gave me "ADOI!" in 1989, I have had a strong connection with Kit Leee, now known as Antares. Fast forward to 2008, I started blogging and bumped into Antares' Magick River and was hooked. Through the months, I got to know Antares better via commenting in each other's blogs.
Many of you should know by now that Antares is now in Sungei Buloh hospital fighting malaria. Last I heard, he is getting better even though he is still in a critical condition. He has been put on the ventilator and dialysis machine as his kidneys have failed due to the attack of malaria and other parasites.
Antares is a very dear friend to me. At a time when all else seemed to crash to pieces around me, he was there sms'ing me throughout a gruelling time, generating energy, hope and courage through the air. When my younger boy started writing his story Blakely's Journey to Noblicle, Antares took the trouble to analyze and to give a very expert critique of my 10 year old boy's writing and sent it to him via email. When my husband was ill, Antares showed concern and spoke words of encouragement. He even sent me his music albums by post long before we met!
When I suffered from fear and discouragement, disappointment and when I stopped writing in the middle of this year and merely reposted motivational stuff and jokes, he left a short and meaningful comment in my blog telling me how he missed hearing my voice in my writings and that made me begin to write again.
As mentioned by Walski in HIS POST, today is exactly a year since I saw Antares.
On December 27th, I had a small birthday bash and Antares, Walski was with my family and a few close friends eating and connecting. Such a beautiful time we shared.
On Christmas Eve this year, I called Antares' home and mobile and wondered why no one picked up. I thought perhaps that he had gone away. Little did I know that he was ill until I saw the update in Art Harun's Facebook status and in Uncle Zorro's blog.
Since that time, I have not been the same. My blood pressure has shot up sky high. My last bp reading today was 155/105 and I am more than worried about him, holding back the tears. I wish I could go to Sungei Buloh Hospital to see him but cannot due to certain commitments and circumstances beyond my control. All I can do is to pray for him and hope that the rest of you out there will also lift up a prayer to the heavens, to whichever God that you believe in - that our dear Antares can be healed.
We all know what Antares stands for. His love for Mother Earth, truth and justice, his fantastic abilities in writing, music, singing, art etc. are truly amazing and to me, he is a real inspiration.
I believe Antares is a warrior, a fighter - and whichever realm he may be in now, I know he will fight back and survive....You have to, dearest Antares! We are comrades-in-arms!
The battle is NOT over and we need you to be there with us, guiding us, pushing us, even scolding us and inspiring us to be more than who we are....just as you are more than we could ever imagine...
Antares has blessed me in so many ways that I would need a lot of time to wax lyrical about him and what he means to me.
For all the ways you have inspired me, had faith in me, encouraged me, Antares, this poem is my humble offering of love and gratitude to you for all and who you are to me.
ANTARES – This One’s For You!
Antares is his name,
A play of words is his favorite game.
The Alchemist of Words is he,
Master with words, he writes most entertainingly.
A sage, writer, savant and more,
A visit to his blog is simply revelations galore.
Creative, sensitive, visionary and expressive,
For Antares, no dream can ever be that elusive.
A mind that thinks, a soul that feels,
When he sings, your head then reels.
And when his fingers on the keyboard play,
You sit at his feet to listen as your body begins to sway.
My mentor, buddy, store-house of wisdom is he,
From now till forever, best pals I hope we will always be.
Thank you Antares…for being a constant source of inspiration and motivation, for your words of wisdom spoken with such dedication and a zeal for life. Thanks for always being there for me….YOU ARE A REAL BUDDY!
Thanks for everything, dearest Antares!!! May God heal you and bless you and yours richly! GET WELL SOON!!! YOU WILL COME OUT VICTORIOUS FROM THIS BATTLE!!!
Huilu Wherever we are, let's offer our sincerest prayers for Antares' speedy recovery.
Believe me, our earnest prayers will not go unanswered!