Having "Me" Time

Good friends are rare. Good friends who remain good friends decades later are even rarer.  Tonight I dedicate to my post to a friend whose birthday was a little over a week ago (AA) . It's a birthday I never forget and remember it every year for it falls close to Thanksgiving.  It's good for it also reminds us to be thankful of our dearest friends.  Every year we have a "celebration" that has become tradition for our cosy group of three close friends.  Yes, I remember meeting her first year of college.  It came out in one way or another with us helping each other out, going for our first dim sum together, spending time together and yes we 'clicked' right away.  You know when you get along with someone, like you know when you don't get along with someone.  We talked about everything. We talked about life, thoughts and everything that could be talked about. What I remember most is how she is always so happy, genuine, and so determined in everyth...

It's been two days since my good friend's birthday and believe me the words have just been flowing in and out of my mind in an endless stream that ebbs and flows.  There are so many things I want to say, so many things I want to write, yet having only 24 hours in a day, I could not quite fit everything in without fear of making myself collapse from exhaustion.  So here I am to write a birthday ode to a lovely friend who just celebrated her birthday two days ago.  You know who you are. You are always in my mind.  This is for you. I hope you like it. Good friends who are always there are few in number.  Good friends who've you known for over 20 years are even rarer.  Yes, can you believe it, I've known you for over 20 years. I've known you since my primary school days.  Time though isn't everything.  What's more important, is that throughout the roughly two decades we've known each other, you have remained the same sweet and gentle ...

September 7 is a special day for me.  It's special because on this day, one of my best friends was born.  You know who you are.  I've known you for almost fifteen years already and no matter how near or far, we are always the same.  Even though sometimes years have passed before we see another, when we meet it is exactly the same. We know each other inside out.  We know the good and the bad. College was where it all happened.  I loved my time there and of course being with good friend made it all better. Together we explored the city, tried out new eateries and cried on each other's shoulders.  I remember studying together in the library, hanging out in the lab (with me trying to help although I have no clue about robotics.  I did help put together a motor for a robot leg though!), buying lunch at food trucks, late night karaokes, or cooking dinners.   Her room was always where we hung out.  It was where everyone hu...

I dedicate tonight's post to my dear colleagues with whom I spend more time than I am at home.  Today I have to admit I was truly surprised and would like to say a big "Thank You" everyone for having planned, ordered, putting candles on the frozen ice cream, being there,  and singing happy birthday so loud I have to admit I was literally lost for words.  I really appreciate it.  Thank you everyone.  You make my day. I really was not expecting this for it was a Monday and everyone was busy, very busy, there are always a zillion things to do.  I imagined the whole cake thing would occur at a later more relaxed date.  Today's event was indeed a surprise that made my heart skip a beat.    I had presumed I was going up to the office to wish farewell to another colleague.  I am that gullible.  I believed it. You can imagine how surprised I was to  find myself walking into a room full of peopl...

July has come and vanished before my eyes as if it were a firefly.  It's my birthday month and now I am officially another year older.  (Hopefully a little wiser. )  Birthdays are one of those days you can't wait for to arrive when you are a child, get a little anxious when it gets to a turning point, (like when you turn 30 or move up another notch), yet there remains a certain childish feeling of happiness one cannot quite put into words.  Though it dissipates over time, hints of it remain in the system as if it were a glowing glittering firefly that never dies. Birthdays for me have always been one of those days to celebrate with friends and families.   Three decades on they still are but of course things have evolved. No more days of hot potato games, blowing out candles (that actually reflect your actual birthday), or  playing hide and seek.  Now it's dinners and lunches in restaurants surrounded by those who matter ...

This year I'm celebrating friendships and today is one of those special days for it is the Birthday of my lovely friend Dao.  Yes, we love her and we've known each other since the days when flourescent Body Shop T-shirts were in fashion together with the the L.A. Gear shoes.  Those were "must haves."  Those were the days of high bangs and oversized tees.  Now all that seems long gone, but our friendship remains and has evolved together with us. Our interests change, but still some things never change. I remember hanging out together at our school by the Church in the white and teal uniforms.  Eating lunch at the canteen and playing around with the drinks, hiding from the "Kapi" behind our textbooks and walking around Central Chidlom after school.   You were always happy and ready with a comment with everything from the heart. Then there was the time we went to your house.  I remember it like yesterday.  We had a great time playing aroun...

There are quite a few birthdays in April, those of colleagues, friends and very old friends.  One such birthday though was of another dear friend whom I've known since primary school. Fifth Grade to be exact.  Time flies by so fast, before you know it, its been over 20 years since we've known each other.  She lives in Canada now and so we don't get to meet her as often as we'd like and in our little high school reunions her absence is indeed missed.  You know who you are! Beaver! I remember it like it were yesterday.  Going to classes in our white and turquoisy navy bluish skirt.  I still don't know what you call that shade of blue we had for our school uniform, it is such a unique colour.  Together we had our little 'Anti-Kapi' club that if you knew what it was, you'd probably shake your heads and wonder how we could have been so young.  It was fun though nevertheless and certain stories will forever remain to be told and told again, like the s...