It's That Time Of The Year Again

This time though...it's only Sabine who doesn't have it.

Anissa's coughing.

I have a bad cold which turned worse last night just right before I went to sleep (and today my throat started to itch).

DH's cold is even worse than mine plus he had chills late in the evening.

Hayyyyy...I am totally hating this weather!

Happy Birthday, Baby Bro!

First of all...he's not a baby anymore. He's 38 yrs old today. Only 2 years younger, so when we were growing up we were like a cat and dog, constantly fighting over the littlest things. The one fight that stands out in my memory to this day is the one over my diary, which he secretly opened and read. But I caught him in the act and I was so angry, I dragged him by the hair outside of the room to the other end of the 2nd floor of our home. Poor guy had to deal with a sore scalp for days!

He was Mama's Boy, I was Daddy's Girl so there was really no competition. I guess it was the small age gap that made us so angry at each other most of the time. But when it was time to join forces, oh boy! We were the team to beat! All of our birthdays were celebrated jointly because we share the same birth month. In a lot of our childhood photos, we were even dressed alike. Whether he looked more like a girl, or I looked more like a boy, I don't know. But we were always mistaken for twins! In college, my friends called us the WONDER TWINS even!

I can go on an on about the kind of brother he's been to me. He's my favorite, of course hahahaha! Do I have a choice??? He's my only sibling! I can no longer live up to the kind of lifestyle he has. But I feel proud because people tell me how good he is at what he does.

But seriously this year on his birthday I am so so happy to see him happy and I know that things can only get better. I see it in his eyes and I feel it in my over-protective bones.

HAPPY 38th BIRTHDAY, BOMBITO!!!
You may be pushing 40 yourself but you'll always be my baby brother
(tell that to the girls who are constantly around you hahaha!)
LOVE YOU TO DEATH!!!

16 Days To Go!

I'm counting down the days 'til I turn 40!

Same time last year, I remember having a conversation with Jin about not wanting to celebrate my birthday. She asked me why and I said it's probably because I never really skipped a year without holding a big party for family and friends. If it wasn't a party, it was a night out, still with a big group. I guess I just got tired of all that fussing over my birthday. Not that a birthday isn't a big deal. It's a blessing and I haven't stopped thinking of birthdays that way, really. Jin, on the other hand, had not been celebrating hers so last year she decided to do otherwise.

It's really a matter of preference. This year for my 40th, my stand is the same. No big celebrations. All I want to do is celebrate with family and that's it. In my group, I'm the fourth to turn 40 this year. The other three all had quiet celebrations too. So I'm kinda glad that none of them will question my decision to stay quiet myself.

Earlier, I was chatting with Chiqui, another longtime friend and groupmate. She reminded me that my birthday's coming up and I said oh yes, I know I'm turning 40 very soon but I don't really feel like celebrating in a big way. She first kidded me about being in denial about my age and tha'ts probably why I don't feel like throwing a party haha! But later on, she said she understands. She's a bit younger but has been feeling the same way for a few years now everytime her birthday comes. She made me realize something...

We really are getting older. Priorities have changed. Years ago, it would have been friends first --- ALWAYS. I remember how, on several of my birthdays, I'd have dinner with my family first but I'd be rushing off to be with friends soon after that. My parents must have felt so bad that I wanted to be with other people more! Today, obviously the tables have been turned. I'd rather be with my family on my birthday.

She's absolutely right. We're at that age where family comes first. Our friends are mature enough to understand this and secure enough to know that friendships are based on more important things.

Another year older, another year wiser.