just minishorts.

Close friends would agree that I am not the kind of person who lavishes heaps of praises that would boost one's ego. When friends fall too too far down a pit of trash, and if a bucket of cold water is what it takes to make that fallen friend float up again, I would pour the water in. Ten buckets, if that's what it takes.

I belong to that group of people who will not appreciate empty promises, flowery sweet talk and other types of words or actions, said just to make someone feel good. Making you feel good is not my idea of being a friend. You need to know I GENUINELY CARE.

I think it is ALSO because I'm not able to provide time and money to be with troubled mates all the time. So when I see you, and if my opinions are fresh, I'll speak my mind, yes. And if I think you're wrong, you'll get it. I expect the same of my friends, and fortunately, they're almost all like me. When I fell, April was there to shout at me, and sometimes, her words were harsh, but they were good. Medicine that's good for you aren't ever sweet you know, the bitterest pills are the best ones to cure the ailment. When I flopped, Mei was there to point out to me, 'You shouldn't do this lah.'

And Elaine would go, 'OMG babes, what on earth are you thinking?'

A long time ago, a very close friend who is now too far away for every day meet ups, had to slap me just to stop me from wailing too much about a broken relationship. I had resorted to making up stories just to make myself feel good, but instead of feeling good, I found myself getting more and more entrenched in a sea of wallowing self-pity. That slap hurt like hell, but it woke me up and had a great deal of effect in my later choices for life.

I call myself lucky that I have friends who are good for me. You know, a varsity senior told me that friends are reflective of the character you are. I've been through many sets of cliques since young, and fallen out with friends who later became mere acquaintances, because those empty phrases and blind support never did serve the purpose of helping me brave through life. And because of course, the way one's friends behave and show support will speak volumes for one's character, I take extra care in making sure my friends do not make fools out of themselves.

The ones I'm close to share my darkest secrets, and they are there because they have never been afraid to give me their two sen, and I am grateful for them.

This post is dedicated to Yuh Shan, Rooban, Boon Leong, April, Elaine, Nicholas, Xian Wei, Calvin, Michelle, Theresa, Yet Lin, Edwin, Carmen, Vivien, SPOT!, Edrei, Mabel, Vincent, and finally of course, Eric who has always been the first to reprimand me whenever I make a wrong move.

Today's strip that came in my Bloglines feed reminded me again why I love Calvin and Hobbes, so very much.

Click on image to view larger version.

So, you still think you're big? Really? Hah.

I don't want to sound like I'm preaching, but you know this already, because we've been there for each other everytime things like this happens. You say the same to me, and I say the same to you, except, in between tear-stained visions, sometimes the mind gets clouded, and we forget the very sense of what it means to be really sensible.

And so I tell you, a line that you must have overheard too many hundreds of times since yesterday, 'A partnership takes two people, and when just one person decides to give up, there really isn't any point in going on anymore.'

Even if it hurts. Even if the hurt threatens to tear you apart. Even if it makes you feel as if you are the lousiest piece of shit in the world. EVEN IF you want to throw it all away and give up.

…

No one is worth THAT many buckets of tears. No matter how fantastic it was before, it's now past, and there's just no point reminiscing the memories. They serve no purpose now, except to tell you and remind you that those are moments in time past where you slipped and fell, and for you to recall what NOT to do so that you will not suffer the same pain again.

Right now, you have all the time in the world to regain yourself, and to rediscover your own value, something that you never really did the last time. I think it's a blessing in disguise. A woman is truly ready to walk into a lifelong relationship when she realizes she doesn't really need the man to survive. I think she's ready when she knows that she's independent, and able to cope with life alone, but chooses to commit to a relationship only because she enjoys and looks forward to a lifetime of partnership when she is still fully capable of making it through life alone.

So take your time.

It is really, extremely difficult to remain celibate until marriage. Values are dying, and hormones are raging, and this option sometimes borders on becoming impossible.

BUT I MUST PERSEVERE. I MUST.

This is actually a very, very personal post, but I just had to have it categorised under (S)he. Because I'm terribly elated.

After months, even years of lamenting the problem of having to face that stupidly pestering question, 'When are you getting married ah?', today, justice is finally served.

Eric called me during lunch a while ago to complain about him having to face that question. 'I get it a lot lah now, everyone is asking me when am I getting married.'

HAH! I TOLD YOU SO. Padan you punya muka. Heh!