21st

Hello, my readers! First of all, my many apologies for going MIA. I know it's been quite a long time since my last post. I have been pretty busy with classes and work. (Of course also a little lazy.. hehe..) Also, the short series "The city girl and the kampung boy" is not turning out well. Very unfortunately. I am still working on it, so stay put, okay? I hope I can get it done soon. Again, plenty, plenty apologies. I promise I will try to blog regularly about anything and everything.

21. The magic age has arrived for me. I just celebrated my 21st birthday a couple of days ago. (Thank you in advance for your wishes! #syoksendiri xD) So now, I can drink, gamble, own a property, get married, vote and do anything I want legally. For I am a legal adult now. Let me tell you a little bit about my adventures leading up to my birthday. I promise you, stick with me until the end of the post and you will have the most hilarious and amusing time of your life. (Okay. Probably not the MOST hilarious and amusing time of your life. But still... Stick with me. You won't get bored. Promise! xD)

It started off with my first solo trip to Singapore. I was and still am on semester break and decided to take a break (Oh hey! Is this consider a pun? If it is then I will say "pun intended!"! xP) from all my responsibilities here and fly off to Singapore for a short vacation. Much to my surprise, my parents actually gave me permission to fly there alone. Probably because my second sister and cousins are there. So, Singapore, here I come! It was a week before my 21st birthday.

My dear cousin sister Sophia remembered my birthday. According to her, I told her once and she remember it. God knows when I told her, LOL. Anyways, the day before I was due to fly back, we spent the day in Sentosa Island and towards the evening, we went to the beach. It was beautiful. My sister, Eunice, Sophia and I were also sort of waiting for my cousin brothers Sean and Xuan Hong, cousin brother-in-law, Zhi Yu and brother-in-law, Chee Kit, to arrive. When they did, they brought a cake along to surprise me. So, yes, they sang "Happy Birthday" to me at the beach. Awesome, right? The "awesomest" part is yet to come.

After they finish singing, they asked me to pick the cherries off the cake with my mouth. I was confused. Why? They shrugged it off, saying it is a tradition. I, being too innocent and naive, believed them and I really started picking the cherries off the cake. Xuan Hong took away my camera and bag, saying it will be easier for me finish my task. Okay, fine. I was rather grateful for his consideration. Even thanked him. Finally, when I was picking off the last cherry, Chee Kit and Xuan Hong pushed my head into the cake. So, that's their motive for wanting me to pick the cherries off the cake with my mouth. Surprise, surprise! Everyone laughed. Me, I was mortified and shocked but accepted it all, thinking it was the end of my prank. Heh. Right. So NOT the end.

They took photos with me and all that. Suddenly, Xuan Hong asked me to remove my spectacles and close my eyes. This time, I had a bad feeling. I was like, please don't throw me into the sea. I don't have a change of clothing. Of course Xuan Hong and Chee Kit did just that. I got pretty wet. The best part? Sean told me that he actually wanted to bring along a change of clothing for me. But somehow, don't know why, he didn't. So, I have to spend the rest of the night walking around dripping wet. I do have awesome cousins, don't I? After I came back from Singapore, I found out it was my eldest sister that gave them the permission to prank me like that. All because I told her that I wanted a memorable and unforgettable 21st birthday. Well, it seems I got what I wished for. Just not exactly the way I wanted it to be. But I will definitely be able to look back to this day and laugh about it for my whole long life. =)

Getting my head slapped into the cake.

That's my early birthday celebration in Singapore. My actual birthday arrived. It was rather tame compare to the wildness I experienced in Singapore. I went window shopping and lunch with a university close friend, Sovkar and dinner with my family. There were also the usual birthday wishes from friends on Facebook and Whatsapp. Of course I got some teasing from some uncles in church, telling me it's time to find a boyfriend and settle down. No way I am going to tie myself in a relationship this soon. All in all, it was pretty simple and quiet.

I don't have a big party where many people showed up with gifts like some people do, as shown on their Facebook. There wasn't a huge cake for me. No balloons. No flowers. Nothing. But what I had was more than enough. Close friends and family to celebrate with me. A small simple cake with my family. People taking the time to wish me happy birthday. 

I remember being a little upset initially when I learned that my family don't really want to throw a party for me. I mean, I am going to be 21! Coming of age and all. Both my sisters had a 21st birthday party. Why not me? But now, I learnt a very valuable lesson. Love and care can be shown in different ways. Throwing a party for me and many people showing up doesn't necessarily means I am loved. Sure, tons of people can come for my party. BUT do I really know them all? Do I have a close and personal relationship with them? Are they showing up just for the food and for the sake of showing up? Do they really love and care for me? Maybe some do. But there might be some that don't.

I think my celebration of my 21st birthday was perfect and wonderful. I spent it with the people that really, truly love me, care for me and accept me for who I am. No doubt about that. Why be upset about not having a birthday party? Why be depressed about not having 50 or 100 people on the guest list? I wouldn't trade or change anything. I might not have 100 people to invite. But I do have 10 very close, very intimate people to be with. (Metaphorically speaking, of course. =D) 

Count the blessings that I have. Look at the things that I possessed. Life can be so much brighter and happier when I learn to be grateful for what I have and not wishing for what others have. God is fair and gracious to me and I intend to remember that from now onwards. I already have more than enough. What more can I wish for? I mustn't be greedy for greed can be one of my destruction, my downfall. I am content. I am joyous. I am grateful. Thank God for my life. Thank God for everything.

So, now, I am a legal adult. Of course I will be wise and responsible. (And sometimes a tab bit mischievous and naughty. Oh, what is life without some adventure and rebelliousness? haha..) The world is waiting for me to explore and I intend to do just that. Explore and have some adventure. And, of course, live life to the fullest. =)