Hello Old Friends!

Hello old friends,

It's been great catching up with you. It's not a chiche to say that old friends can always reconnect when they meet again.

I met up with my oldest friend who is still in contact with me. It's been 25 years of knowing her. We baked cakes when we were 11 years old, hoping to practice for 6 months before giving a cake to our fathers on their birthdays. I finally asked her if she found out why all our cakes stuck to the pan. I got the answer.

I spent an hour chatting in the carpark with my secondary school partner after our 3 hour dinner. She said meeting up 4 times got better each time. We talked about her marriage, life, work, but beyond that, it was about her fears, hopes and feelings. We exchanged more than 100 hand written mails in our high school days.

I bumped into my good old friend having dinner with her husband. This time, her husband joined us and I noticed he's different now- sweeter and more tender to her. I was happy for her. We went shopping, talked about the old times, opened our private thoughts till 4am in the morning. That was how it was in after uni days. We talked so much that it was devastating when the teleco started per minute fixed line billing.

I met the tribe. If there is a happy gas equivalent, it's with the tribe. They make me laugh even though we were colleagues for 2-4 years, and I've left them for 6 years. If there were silly memories, it's mostly with the tribe.

I met a friend who worked, travelled, and shared a single bed with me. We are of different faiths but it never stopped us from knowing each other well. She's been my partner in crime for so many things because we complement each other well in the 'doing' aspect of things.

I also resumed the unofficial mothering mentorship with my first mummy friend. We did the school runs together, just to make use of the free time to catch up. My first glimpse of motherhood was when I was the regular fixture in her house 10 years ago.

I'm glad that sometime long ago, I gave someone a chance to know me. I am more blessed that long ago, someone also gave me a chance to know them... and till this day, we are still giving.

Is love a...

Is love a conviction or decision?

Which one are you?

This few days have been quite refreshing. I indulged in all things me and girly.

I've done a Bridget Jones tonight, deliberating making a trip to get 2 seasons of Sex and the City, and one large tub of Chocolate Indulgence Connoisseur Ice Cream. Of course I donned on my pink lamb patterned flannel PJs to add to the mood.

I needed to feel happy being me again, and being me is getting happy over a lot of little things in life. I went to check out a new walking path in the neighbourhood in the rain, found out that the nearest dvd shop has since closed, I went to a few post offices to get my mails sorted, I visited my concierge- who is ever so nice and friendly, listened to a few amazing sermons, read the bible, looked at my friend's photos, rang a friend who attended church with me back from Singapore who is on MC, cooked chicken soup for dinner, and when it all adds up, I am feeling happy and contented.

I just sat through 5 episodes of SATC. From a sociological perspective, I really liked the way SATC  throws some uncanny observations of women and society. Everyone can more or less identify themselves as 1 of them, or a cross of 2. I am probably very similar to Carrie in our perspectives on romance. Some of the things she said in season 2 make me laugh, because I believe I said the same things before.

Tomorrow I will take a walk and have coffee in a nice little cafe. The soy latte there is pretty yummy.

A little speechless...

I was catching up with him again, looking at the recent pictures of his mission trip with his daughter.

The wife and him are people I admire and love very much. At a glance, he looks like your typical soccer-loving, speaks your mind, scold the driver who cut in front of your sort of person. He doesn't earn top dollars, and doesn't live a out-of-this-world lifestyle.

Recently, he was told that his company is closing. He was about to lose his job of 10 over years.

He's got 2 kids and a wife to feed. Yet he brought his 11 year old daughter to Batam for a mission trip. She's the youngest there, and is already a good helper in the few trips they've taken. He also does the prison ministry with the church on some weeks.

I asked him if he was worried about the job. I'm sure he is from time to time. His actions sure doesn't show it.

How do people sail through all these and still remain unselfish? Isn't it time to retreat, consolidate your army, and put yourself before the rest? He's still faithfully looking for jobs, and God has been his provider.

I think I remembered why I admired him despite that rough edge he has. Together with his wife, they have been one of the most consistently loving, selfless and patient people I have came to experience. They gave me a glimpse of Christ-likeness.

All these while I was taking time to think about how I can make my life a little better, happier etc...

"Each of you should look not only to your interests, but also to the interests of others" (Philippians 2:4)