Another birthday ( 2009)

Ahhhh....another year passed by and I am getting 'wiser' by the minute. Allah is most kind and merciful to me - I am given a rich, peaceful life and good health. I am able to do what I want to do, with His Blessing, of course - thus, another birthday. I wonder sometimes how many more birthdays in good health will I have to celebrate? Only HE has the answer, meanwhile life has to go on. Syukur Alahamdullillah!


Since 1 November 09 (Sunday) was for attending Haj briefing by TM Tours and Travel in City Villa Hotel, KL, Maz arranged for the family members to have birthday lunch at Sheraton Hotel , KL on 31 Oct 09. Hazri was in PD attending a workshop, so, Ika, Justin, Maz, Izrin and Haidi were there. At 4.00 pm Jin Kim and Sharipah invited me to have high tea at One Utama. Bloated with dimsum, I wondered how I could cope with another stuffing but thanks God, Sharipah called to cancel because Jin was held up in Bentong.


At the briefing I met Sofiah Hamid and husband Omar who are in the same Haj package. I have not met nor kept in touch with them for such a long time. Sofiah used to be my best friend since university days but grew apart due to family involvement and going separate ways since we retired. Having 9 grandchildren is not a small matter and I bet she was on her toes most times though they're not living with her. Anyhow, I am still excited at the prospect of being a first-time grandma next year in April.


Thank you Amalia for taking the trouble to pay me a visit in PD and to wish me Happy birthday on Monday 2 November. Most thanks to Najidah who picked Amalia at KLIA and drove to PD to see me, with goodies. It was really good seeing Amalia again after a long time.




Najidah, I just love the birthday card you gave me and I thought it was such a brilliant idea. Your caring and love made you collect and gather all your friends' wishes for me and turned it into a beautiful card. I'll treasure it forever, kept safe in my file in Arkib Negara.



















And to all my ex-students and friends who sent messages through the card, phone calls, emails, SMS, birthday cards and YM, thank you a million times. It's nice to know that I am still in your hearts!!














I received a FWD email from a friend and here it is, with a little bit of editing. I enjoyed reading this piece which aptly describes me and my feeling. Please enjoy it.

I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging.

I can choose to read or play on the computer until the wee hours in the morning and sleep until noon. I can dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of joget or dondang sayang or the tunes of the 60s and 70s. And if at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love.....I will!!!!!

I will walk the beach in tight suit stretched over a bulging body and I will jump into the waves screaming with abandon, if I choose, in spite of amused and pitying glances from the young onlookers. They too will get old!

I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as well forgetten. And I eventually remember the important things.

Sure, over the years, my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or even a beloved cat gets hit by the car? But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and never know the joy of being imperfect.

I am so blessed to live long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn gray.

As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself anymore. I have earned the right to be wrong.

I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying what will be. I am free to be ME.


I am not counting the years I have lived so far but the memories that I have and the blessings I have enjoyed.
May all of you have happy and memorable birthdays too.