When I left home a little over a year ago, I knew I signed up for an irrevocable change in my life. Drastic or otherwise, major or minor, it was entirely dependent on the choices I made along the way to cope with the new chapter and the perspective that I chose to look from.
One of the things I found to be most difficult was leaving some of my dearest and closest friends and along with it, the friendships that have been tried and tested, bonds that were strengthened and rooted and relationships that had bloomed and flourished over time.
And so, it began. The journey, the great expedition, the fresh chapter...
I marvel at the speed by which Time travels; swift, silent and steady.
In that time, I knew that with every call and in every text, when this friend of mine said that she missed me and that I am thought of, it was real. It was from the heart and never merely a matter of lip service, like it was the customary and polite thing to say after not seeing the person for a couple of months.
I was sure of it because I was constantly asked for the date of my return, ensued by plans to meet up and really catch up; even if it was just for a short few hours over a cup of chamomile tea (for me) and green tea frap (for her).
I saw the excitement in her eyes when we see each other. I feel it when she embraces me with hugs. I hear it in her voice when she speaks. It's unmistakable. And, it makes my heart melt to a puddle of happy juice.
Five hours ago, she picked me up from my home and we set off for dinner to celebrate (yes, and the celebration continues) my belated birthday.
One of the things I found to be most difficult was leaving some of my dearest and closest friends and along with it, the friendships that have been tried and tested, bonds that were strengthened and rooted and relationships that had bloomed and flourished over time.
And so, it began. The journey, the great expedition, the fresh chapter...
I marvel at the speed by which Time travels; swift, silent and steady.
In that time, I knew that with every call and in every text, when this friend of mine said that she missed me and that I am thought of, it was real. It was from the heart and never merely a matter of lip service, like it was the customary and polite thing to say after not seeing the person for a couple of months.
I was sure of it because I was constantly asked for the date of my return, ensued by plans to meet up and really catch up; even if it was just for a short few hours over a cup of chamomile tea (for me) and green tea frap (for her).
I saw the excitement in her eyes when we see each other. I feel it when she embraces me with hugs. I hear it in her voice when she speaks. It's unmistakable. And, it makes my heart melt to a puddle of happy juice.
Five hours ago, she picked me up from my home and we set off for dinner to celebrate (yes, and the celebration continues) my belated birthday.
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| Italiannies, Gurney Paragon. |
What we ordered to share:
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| Classic Pizza |
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| Shrimp Fra Diablo |
We were so stuffed to the brim that it took heaps of coaxing and A LOT of willpower to move out from our seats and do some walking to burn off all those calories that we had just ingested.
We were itching for some dessert and we gave in to our cravings. Someone once told me (or rather she used that line on me every single time we were to consume something immensely sinful and not exercise it off after), "You only live once."
It must have been then, when I was off to the loo, that this (very sneaky) friend of mine decided to slip a package into my handbag for me - a birthday gift on top of the dinner treat. I only knew of the package much later.
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| THANK YOU (x 1,000,000) for the gift. I LOVE IT! |
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My dearest Annie,
As I'm writing this now, my eyes are still a little watery and my cheeks have red splotches on them. I cried and I'm still sniffling a little.
I cried because of your extraordinary generosity. I'm crying because I am reminded again tonight that lives are worth sowing into, specifically yours. Not because of the gift and treat, but the heart behind the gift and treat. A sincere heart, a genuine attitude.
I don't know what I've ever done to deserve such kindness and love and I've finally understood that it has nothing to do with me, you are His gift to me; one that I am most thankful for after my family.
Love you more than I can say and with all my heart,
Melissa.
After we parked, I stepped out of the car and was enraptured by the gorgeous slithering of subdued pastel colours colliding in the sky.
No filter necessary.
At the top of my head, I thought the celebration was over already. I mean, sure, I have a couple or more dates with my friends when I'm back in KL but it wasn't meant to be, you know... big. (I like low-key. I'm good with it and it suits me well.)
I was surprised with tonight's belated birthday celebration. We had Japanese (which I LOVE!), cake AND presents.
I was surprised with tonight's belated birthday celebration. We had Japanese (which I LOVE!), cake AND presents.
With all my heart, THANK YOU - Uncle Vive and Aunty Sathy, Uncle BA and Aunty Jessie.
Much much love...
I turned 23 exactly four days ago.
It wasn't the best of birthdays (no birthday
extravaganza and the whole shebang and I'll get to why in a little bit) but
I've come to find that this year's was the most meaningful and treasured
birthdays I've celebrated thus far.
I spent time with my beautiful friend five days before and I was rewarded, spiritually and emotionally. The gifts were
incredibly lovely (If you're reading this, Jie, you sure have a knack for
gift-giving!) but our sharing and heart-to-heart, I'll remember it for life.
Days passed and before I knew it, it was April 12th
already.
My bestest friend called me at the stroke of
midnight (it's fast becoming a tradition for the both of us) and the streams of
texts, Whatsapp and LINE messages began pouring in all through the day.
Note #1: To all of you reading this post who have
posted on my wall, dropped me a text or called (from as far as NZ and Aus),
THANK YOU so very much. I am overwhelmed by your kind words that I made it a priority (in spite of my tight schedule and long day) to personally reply
a word (or two) of thanks to each and every one of you. My heart is SO thankful
and blessed in knowing that I am loved, remembered and thought of.
While all of that was going on, I was up to my eyeballs with assignments. I dragged my feet to bed at 4am and was up by 7am. I
was stuck in uni till 12.30pm and immediately after, I was on the way to meet with Tinki Talks
for our (my FIRST ever) mani and pedi session.
A couple of hours and with pretty, cuticle-free
nails to boot, wiggle and show off, I got home, dashed in for a quick shower and was out of the house in
30mins to attend Vision Casting night for the worship team at church. There was
no better way to unwind after nights of minimal sleep. It was a true treat to
spend my birthday in a House surrounded by people who love the Lord and are all
gearing up for the one thing that I am most passionate about, worship.
Deelle and I met at 10pm at a nearby food joint,
ordered our dinner and had our usual tete-a-tete. It was then when I could finally breathe, like a normal person should, after a clockwork day.
After we were done, she handed me my present with a card and in it was a handwritten note. At the end of it was a Post-Script: "Don't cry on this paper, words will smudge." She knows me, a little too well at times, but she's right; I would have shed tears if I was reading it alone in my bedroom instead of hers, with her eyeing my every move and twitch like a hawk.
After we were done, she handed me my present with a card and in it was a handwritten note. At the end of it was a Post-Script: "Don't cry on this paper, words will smudge." She knows me, a little too well at times, but she's right; I would have shed tears if I was reading it alone in my bedroom instead of hers, with her eyeing my every move and twitch like a hawk.
Note #2: M'love, the bond that we have forged over
the years, I think that the appropriate term for it is 'soul sisters'. You're
better than Maccas' chips, red velvet cupcakes, pan mee and USJ9 banana leaf rice
put together. All my love...
...............
Special note #3: To my parentals, Angeline, Tua Koo and Say Koo,
I have never doubted God in His choices for my life because He gave me His best when I was born: He placed me in your care. Thank you for making sure that your heart is a home that I am always welcomed into. I love all of you.
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| Molten chocolate cake :: Sinfully luscious. |
Special note #4: Ping, thank you for the cake
earlier today, delivered right to my door step. You warmed my heart with your
thoughtfulness and love. Hugs.
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| Green tea cheesecake from Ritz Cake House, one of my go-to places for the best cakes on the island. |
Sunny side up with smoked cheese and a drizzle of chilli sauce for breakfast. Breakfast of champions.
I'm huffing, puffing and extremely annoyed about alternating between canvassing ideas for my soundscape assignment (due Friday!), trying to write an academic piece and analyzing an obituary article for an e-tutorial later tonight.
Particularly with the first one. I'd rather do 10 laps around the park than do foley recording, piece them together and go bonkers with editing. And, it is common knowledge that I despise exercise.
I decided to do a little pick-me-up, for the sake of my brain cells and as a mini treat for Chatty Lass.
Ten minutes later at Photoshop and I present to you the new header for Chatty Lass...
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Now, back to frying my brain cells...
Particularly with the first one. I'd rather do 10 laps around the park than do foley recording, piece them together and go bonkers with editing. And, it is common knowledge that I despise exercise.
I decided to do a little pick-me-up, for the sake of my brain cells and as a mini treat for Chatty Lass.
Ten minutes later at Photoshop and I present to you the new header for Chatty Lass...
Inspired by {this} post.
Now, back to frying my brain cells...
Miniature stuff (notice that I said stuff and not people) are adorable. All of 'em.
Not so convinced? Just check out the Mini Chips Ahoy Go-Paks that I got while grocery-shopping last week.
Not so convinced? Just check out the Mini Chips Ahoy Go-Paks that I got while grocery-shopping last week.
Yes, I buy stuff just because of their cuteness factor.
"All I have seen teaches me trust The Creator for all I have not seen."
(Ralph Waldo Emerson)
:: Celebrated it with the new House that I am finally settling in (after letting go) and am calling Home ::
I was in bed pretty late that night, was up by 5.45am and in church by 7am for warm-ups and sound check.
As I was worshiping with the team, I was reminded very clearly and distinctively of the quote I wrote below.
Before the waterworks could go on full blast, I jabbed in the stopper (for vanity's sake - I didn't want my mascara to smear. The tube may say waterproof but clearly, it hasn't seen my flood of tears).
#Greater days ahead.
Late in March, my beautiful friend and myself had a quick catch-up in between services and she realised that she would not be around to celebrate my birthday with me this year. We did the next best thing - We agreed to have an earlier birthday dinner date.
March wrapped up and soon enough, last Saturday was upon us; the day for our girly night out.
She knows me well and it is as if we have been friends for the longest time, although it has only been a year since I first met her.
We had dinner at a delightful cafe, where the food was scrumptious and the conversations were meaningful, encouraging and honest.
The dinner treat alone would have been more than enough. However, I was spoilt rotten that night (or rather, this year). I was lavished with presents as well as polaroids of our night out.
March wrapped up and soon enough, last Saturday was upon us; the day for our girly night out.
She knows me well and it is as if we have been friends for the longest time, although it has only been a year since I first met her.
We had dinner at a delightful cafe, where the food was scrumptious and the conversations were meaningful, encouraging and honest.
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| L to R, top to bottom: Mushroom soup with garlic bread (not pictured), Aglio olio, Cajun chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy, Apple crumble with vanilla ice-cream (Complimentary from the owner when he learned that the night's dinner was an early birthday celebration for me). |
The dinner treat alone would have been more than enough. However, I was spoilt rotten that night (or rather, this year). I was lavished with presents as well as polaroids of our night out.
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Dearest Vicky (Jie),
Thank you, thank you and thank you again - For your love, care, generosity, thoughtfulness and encouragement.
The past few weeks have been trying and I could not have been more blessed with an encouraging mentor and understanding friend. You are truly a blessing and gift from above.
My birthday this year was made a lot more special and very much sweeter because I spent it with you.
So much love,
Melissa (Mei).
Because HE lives, we can face tomorrow - with hope and dreams. #Easter
