Riana

I met up with Riana on the bus the other day. She was running to catch the bus as she was slightly late. As soon as she was seated, I asked her how she was and remarked that I havent seen her for a long time. She told me that she has been away to It@|y spending some time with her family. And since her daughter needed an operation due to an injury during a ski trip, she stayed home to drive her daughter to campus, as well as pysiotheraphy.

And she told me that while waiting for her daughter to finish class on campus, she roamed around in the University, reliving her days as a student. She already had a Masters in Economics and was lecturing for awhile before following her husband to the M|ddle E@st. Her love was for Economics and Antropology. And she told me that she talked to the people in the faculty and found out that she can do her Masters in Antropology next.

And she turns 61 this year.

"I just want to go back to do my Masters in Antropology. I would be doing it for my personal pleasure"

And I am so impressed. How many of us would have the interest, the energy and the dedication to study again at 61?

That bought me back to my days as an undergraduate in UofC. There were some older students in some of my classes. I talked to one of them who told me that he was doing his Degree in Literature because he wanted to prove to himself that he can do it.

I wonder what I would be doing when I am 60.

Then again Riana doesn't look or behave 60. She appears much younger and is often doing all sorts of things to make herself busy.

But next month she will be moving away and she told me that they are planning to retire in 3 years time. Thank you Riana. Its such a pleasure to know you. And I am inspired by your outlook in life.

Life is too short

What do I want to do or see before I pass on? Will I ever be prepared to face death or will death creep up on me?

I pondered on those questions after I heard about Ec's sister. She was in coma for a month, and just passed away last week at age 30. Did she know she was dying? They still don't know what caused her coma and are doing a postmortem.

As each day turn in a week, and weeks turn into months. I just get caught up in the rush of the day. Sleep seemed insuffiecient as the sun rises to another day. Will I get to prepare myself for that eventual day?

There are so many things I hope to achieve and I hope I get to grow old with him.

Ec is devastated as there are only two of them. He plans to fly back to Austr|@ after the autopsy report is released. His wife is away in Ir@n. Va told me that he doesn't want others to know or to call him about it.

Ec I wish you well. I am sure your sister's going is predestined by Fate.

Take care.

Waiting

First I counted the days. Then the hours. And now the minutes. The whole household was restless in anticipation of his return.

The weather was surreal all day. The day was covered in dust with a long sandstorm. And the night was covered in rain. With hail no less.

All waiting to greet him for his return.

Its only been a week since he has been gone but it felt too long. Ironically we only knew each other for the last decade. We grew up not knowing each other but somehow I don’t think I can live without him.

I can’t bear to be separated from him.

He almost cancelled the trip but I urged him to go. It would be good I thought. But I miss him so much, wanting to be on his side.

But my love also makes me fearful. What if I get left behind? What if he moves on? What will happen to me? Somehow, reading Elisa’s entry made it worst for me.

All I can do is to pray. Pray for his safe return. Pray for long fruitful lives together. Pray that we will always be happy and will grow together.

Sorry if I am mushy. 15 minutes to go and I’m counting the seconds.

Can’t wait to be in his arms again.

Welcome home honey. You’ve been sorely missed