26. Yes 26. It's also 2005. I'm still coping. Or perhaps not. It probably hasn't quite sunk in yet. So this year I decided to stay. No escaping to random island/ beach resort/ pool with plenty of deck chairs/ the cocoon called home. This year I was intent on making a memory of it. That's right. Here. I wore red sequinned shoes. And lots of Marc Jacobs' Blush. And a smile when they fucked up my table booking (I'll deal with Gabriel later). The ones who came: Wei (for playing host when I couldn't split myself into 3). Meiyin (birthdays are never the same without you). Yiling & Oliver (about bloody time). Laurel (hair fairy). Mavis (even though you don't drink or smoke). Michelle (newly found long-lost cousin). Pat & man. Duane & Charles (for telling me I look pretty at much-needed times). Sara. Mikey (for making your way here en-route to London). Val (praying that I stay safe since 14). Mom & Dad. Elvin. Marilyne & man. Jackie. Bao & woman. Bryant (naturally. I'm your Friday girl) and friends. Nic. Jeff & Haley. And the ones who remembered, and called: Harry (while I writhe in pain for that NY christmas), Andrew (for that random piece of Brett & Bernard trivia), Pam, Woon, D (I bet you just wanted to tell me you have a new girlfriend), Felicity. The parents who fed me lamp chops, dim sum, catfish and green mango salad. I felt very special this year. Thank you. *muah*
Fulfillment. Yes. Like Godiva chocolates and DHL jumbo boxes filled with next year's lingerie range.
Happiness. Yes. Like lying, groggy from beer and watermelon balls, on mom's sand-dusted 15 year old beach towel.
Fortune. Yes. That I have those who endow me with such richness of heart and soul.