“Enough is enough!” That is what I wanted to tell Manny Pacquiao when he lost his fight with Yordenis Ugas Monday. Of course he did not really lose materially, because win or lose, he must have taken a purse of some $30 million home, and that is not peanuts in any language. But of course, to a champion of so many years, and undefeated at that, the money could not have mattered. And I am sure, his fans all over the world, like me, were all heartbroken.
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But there is a moral lesson for everyone in this case of Manny Pacquiao. It is that one must know one’s limits, and when to call a stop. No matter how strong, or confident one may be, there will always be a limit, and, in Manny’s case, someone who will prove stronger than you! I have been trying to watch as many reports and scenes on TV, but I have never seen mention of the age of Yordenis Ugas, his opponent. Isn’t there a limit to the pairing of fighters? I know Manny is now 43, what about Ugas?
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But look who’s talking about “limits”! Such talk is coming from someone who should have retired decades ago, but still pounding out a column everyday, and editing dozens of news items before deadline every night. I guess it is something that sticks in your mindset, and makes you believe you can still do it, even when well-meaning friends tell you to think of retirement and enjoy “your old age”. But I guess this is what I enjoy so, despite being in virtual quarantine for almost two years now, I cannot give up this “disease” I’ve been stricken with as early as my high school days.
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But let us move on to other countries and events, such as what is happening in Afghanistan, a very exotic and peaceful country before, whose people are now fleeing from the land of their birth, because a marauding neighbor, known as the Taliban, wants to take over its God-given gifts. Fortunately for their people, the United States has generously provided transport and shelter to all those willing, rather, anxious to flee, and so far, several planeloads of the natives have been taken out of their homeland before the Taliban could ravage it.
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But something good has come out during what had seemed to be miserable days, with the pandemic and all, with the news that there will be a rollback in oil prices today, and that is something we could be thankful for, after so many problems lately. So let us take advantage of this, because we do not know when, or if, a sudden increase will be sprung upon us oil consumers soon. And this commodity is not something we can hoard, we have to just “fill ‘er up” while the going is good, because, who knows, the next piece of news will report another increase!
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Meanwhile, life really goes on, no matter what problems, and tragedies, even, take place. Like that report the other day about American planes fetching and evacuating Afghans from their siege-torn country, and bring them to the U.S. Among the most interesting reports involving the evacuations is that a pregnant Afghan woman gave birth to a baby girl immediately after landing in the U.S. Wow! Instant citizenship for the little one! I am sure she will always be remembered for that. But what about her parents, will they be granted citizenship, too?
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A report also said that 13 U.S. airlines are providing transportation to the Afghanistans who want to leave their country. I wonder who will provide them both food and shelter upon arrival there? Well, America is wealthy enough to do that, but surely not for all the time, since it is unlikely that any one of them will want to return to Afghanistan! I doubt if any of those “evacuees” will still be thinking or singing “There’s no place like home”, after experiencing life in “the land of the free, and the home of the brave”!
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A report yesterday said that restos, and other eateries, are now open to those who have been vaccinated. So don’t forget to bring your vaccination card when you go out to ensure that you will be allowed in those dining places. But if you ask me, I’d say, why risk it? You may have been inoculated and so have your companions, but how can you be sure the staff serving you, and the other customers are “un-vaxed” and are still carriers of this dangerous virus? Why not stick to meals at home, until the “ALL CLEAR” signal is sounded? But there is also a saying that goes “Choose your own poison”.*
