On 26 November 1986 a sleepy and lazy baby girl was born in Queen Elizabeth's Hospital, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. Her weight was 3.5kg and she was 2 weeks overdue.
She turns 19 today.
As I look back and reflect the past one year of my life, I realized that I'm not the same person I was before. I've changed, and the transformation is overwhelming. Throughout the year I've experienced wonderful feelings of joy and companionship. I've learnt harsh lessons that forced me to grow up and be mature. I laughed, I cried, I loved and I've tried to suppress and eventually eliminate hatred. I remembered meaningful conversations during late night suppers. I remembered overwhelming support from close friends during moments of trials and tribulations. I've learnt never to judge a book by its cover, and that sometimes things can't be what they used to be. I've learnt how to give up and let go. I've learnt to let things be instead of trying to change what I can't. With the death of Eunice Lee, I've learnt that life can be so fragile and unexpected. You may be born with a lot of potential but it doesn't mean that you'll live long enough to achieve the full measure of your life. I've learnt to be grateful for each passing day. I'm thankful for these 19 years and for everyone that has been apart of my journey through life.
Thank you God for a year full of love, grace, forgiveness, blessings, joy and peace. I need Your strength to help me continue living, as I am weak without You. I pray for wisdom and maturity beyond my years so that I may be wise in everything that I do. I pray for the ability and the will to love others as You have loved me. I pray that Your peace and grace will rule in my heart, so that my faith in You will not be shattered. My life is surrendered to You, my Lord, the one who gives me hope and bestowed me with undying love.
Thank you Mom and Dad for always putting me, my brother and my sister first in everything you do. Thanks Mom for the countless prayers and words of wisdom and the 'sermons' that you forced me to listen every night before I sleep. Thanks Dad for being my banker when I'm broke and my personal chauffer, especially when I'm in college. Thanks Dad for the novel (Dragon Lady by Stearling Seagrave) and I promise that I won't use Dowager Empress Tzu Hsi's tactics on you.
Thank you bro and sis, just for being alive. Your presence eases my boredom. I would have been such a spoilt and lonely person without both of you.
Thank you Sing Ho, Prisca, Enn Ruu, Zest, Jen Jin, Siew Sian, Anisha, Wang Xin, Sakinah, Xin Ci, Debbie, Muhin, Wee Chin, Raymond Seek, Woan Yee, Karen, Nam Yen, Tuck Hon... (and those that I've failed to mention.. my fault) for your kind wishes, SMSes, testimonials and such.. Thank you Aik Win for the card and the poem in the SMS.. hahaha.. If I've said it before, I'll say it again.. I love it dear. =) Thanks a million. Thanks again to Karen and Zest for lunch in Vientnamese Kitchen. Thanks again to Woan Yee for the time spent shopping with me in Sungei Wang. If I've failed to mention you.. I'm really sorry.. my memory is getting from bad to worse. A big sorry to my former classmates for not attending the BBQ at Ah Liow's place. I don't intend to be the one to spread the flu.
Oh yeah...
Thanks Mr. Warren for the book. I'm pretty sure its not for my birthday but I didn't get to thank you properly. Hahaha..I finished reading it that day itself. =)
It feels good to be young and knowing that you have at least 10 more years to feel young. When I hit 30, I will probably need to start using anti-ageing creams.
