itsawomansworld

“If I can do anything in this time of my career, it’s to make it easier for girls who are growing up not to feel they have to wind up with someone to complete them. You know, I complete me. I’m just lucky that after I completed myself, I met someone who could tolerate me.”

-Sandra Bullock-
Actress

I don’t what it is about turning 27, but there must have been something bugging me within my subconscious because for sometime already this year, I found myself either genuinely mistaking my age…or…pausing to calculate how old I really am!

But now that I am 27, I don’t know why this was so. Because, the best part about turning 27? I can honestly AND confidently say that I am loved. And by such diverse group too! Not only did I have a birthday bash that knocked the ego out of me and forced me to take myself SO much less seriously, but I also had some quality time with my family in which everything went so superbly well, it was like being a member of the Stepford family. Honestly.

Allow me to explain.

First, the SURPRISE birthday bash held two days ago that was executed with such finesse, I am truly amazed until now that it worked! Especially seeing as how it involved:

(1) distracting me with MULTIPLE faux plans (four of them called me up each day leading up to the birthday bash to invite me out separately for a meal); and
(2) getting together two different circles of friends, which may have very well ballooned to even to bigger proportions since I understand invitations had even been opened to a much bigger crowd (as of now, I hazard a guess of about 30 ppl).

Of course, no good deed goes unrewarded – and as a result of the festivities, there would seem to be plenty of documented evidence of the lengths I can go to embarass myself (it is not lost on me that despite my attempts to remain anonymous, my pals have plastered my mug all over their blogs and Facebook), provided I am cheered on by the right people. Suffice it to say this evidence will come back to haunt me (and I suspect even my loved ones) one fine day. But on the flipside, I have to admit it gave me great source of laughter this morning. Going through the daily grind of life coupled with the limited time available with friends to unwind, I forgot how liberating it is to pull all the stops to poke fun at yourself – to take off that mask of seriousness, professionalism and rationality. Of course, it is always easier when you have friends who are equally eager to assume their fair share of the stupidity. The more, the merrier, no?

Balance is key though and for every ying, there is a yang. For every pyscho, age-regressing act, there is a sobering, age-appropriate event – in this case, it was dinner with my family. I was pleasantly surprised – not only did the restaurant we went to serve yummylicious and cheap food quickly, but conversation was light and smooth. It was like my parents, for just one night, was treating me like – dare I say it – an almost equal. Not once was there a comment about moving faster and climbing higher in life, nor was there any unsolicited advice given how to tackle certain life issues I had. It was just us chatting about life and how far we’ve come. Amazing.

And now for the special mentions of the eclectic bunch that made the fuzzy feeling inside of me all possible. Thanks to Sauron, ttyeo82 and also Kluangman and gf – who clearly knew owt of what they were getting into – for not running out of the restaurant in sheer horror of the traumatising luncheon. Hugs to shinsetsu11, Way of WenWay and Snake Eyes for documenting everything for posterity (and perhaps future blackmailing purposes, eh?)! More hugs to Ju for the awesome rendition of Womanizer and Boom Boom Pow (those were my faves) and chinkoon for making the appearance even after a long day at work. Thanks are also in order to Doctor Choo for being ‘patient’ with my fashionably late entrance and not an actual patient dying of hunger. Kisses to Wen of WenWay for the awesome cupcakes! And last but not least, huge fat kisses and enormous bear hugs to mad4manu for the awesome-st, paw-some-st planning! All your sweat, stress, blood (or threats of it if the secret slipped) and tears has made me feel immensely loved!

To Pink Shirt Girl, UncleLau, Dna and rambutanseed, love you oodles and oodles, for your calls and texts even though you are each miles and miles away, in different timezones. It truly means tonnes to me.

And also to my family who have banded together during the tougher times of 2009, you will likely never know how exactly how much you mean to me.

Know that all of you – Mom, Dad, Bro, my Mangkuks and my uni posse – have each in your own way made it a beautiful birthday to remember – one which I will probably never be able to adequately justify what it means to me but which I will treasure regardless. *^_^*  I’ve said it everywhere already, so it won’t hurt to do it again.

LOVE YAZ!!!

xoxoxo

I promise you – I get it.

Barack Obama
-Speech to Congress-
24 February 2009