21 Years Alive

It's today, it's today
It's finally here
Too far, too long
Now finally, too near

Years ago, to this very day
A simpleton was born
Not too far away

The time has come
The time to pass
The 21st year
The very last

Oh youth has still so much to say
But that which is here
Will not wait another day!

---

Hurrah for absolutely mind-blowing, awesomely-weird, badly-written, riddle-like poems to kick-start 21 years alive!!! (And lets not forget the over-use of the ever helpful dash[-])

As over-rated as it is, everyone goes through it at a point in their lives. Or rather a date in their lives. And now it's my turn. Oh horror, oh shame. Oh darn I'm so far away from the people who've known me all my life.... So much for getting my head pushed into cake. (Seriously, you know I'm joking about the cake part, right? Right? Oh dear.)

Now, if I were surrounded by those said people, a blog about my birthday would not have survived it's initial round of thanks. And most of you would have turned away by then. But then again, I would have had serious fun. Can't have the whole cake dear, you'll get a stomach ache. In a rhetorical way.

So to start of, I want to thank my parents for conceiving me and my mum for eventually giving birth to me, for bringing me up in a home I could be happy in, for all the spoils and scolding, for the lectures and nurtures and for being who you are. I really hope the relationship between you both will strengthen, even in this day and age as I believe what you have always told me; that it is never too late to change.

My dearly departed, unacquainted, paternal parents whom married despite their communication barrier and which grandfather traveled all the way from China. My lovely and well missed maternal grandparents who were half the hand of bringing my brother and I up to be who we are now. I hope you both are well. Grandma, I hope you are still fit enough to potter around your garden though I wish you'd find time to relax more. Grandpa, and I mean this is the best way possible, 4D is not the answer.

My brother, Daryl, the best in the world I could wish for. You always been there for me (partially because I'm always tagging alongside your shadow). Thanks for sticking up for me, for helping me grow, for giving me a shove through my emo years. Mostly for putting up with my tantrums, my tears, my maniacal laughter and sad humor. For being who you are and able to stand by me since you were a year old, I have endless gratitude to you.

To my smaller brother, Dylan, it is nothing new that you've been a pain in the rear since I don't know when. But then again, with pain we grow. I've always known that I have a temperament. Horrible as it is, if you weren't around, it probably would have grown into something unmanageable. I'm glad that I have at least someone to coddle a little, and hope to goodness that you will get through that phase you are going through now.

To my aunts and uncles, thanks for all the great times. May they keep on rolling. Disagreements or not, we are still family. I know I have little right to say this but, keep in touch. To my cousins on my moms side, Wei Soon, Chuen, Charlene, Joshua, Joel, Samuel, Caleb, little Nathan. The elder ones I'm happy to have spent my childhood with, the youngsters I hope and wish for all the best. May we meet again soon enough.
My cousins on my dads side, I'm very sorry I don't remember a lot of you, haven't met a few. Jie Hwan San, Jie Hsu San, Jie Amy, Wei Ling, Fiona, Cindy, Ivan, Edwin, Victor, Sharon, Wendy. I know there are so many more. To those I've have the opportunity to know over again in Melbourne, thank you so much for taking care of me, even when I was like a stranger to you. Of course not to forget the other halves of the couples Yih Seng Koko, Eugene, Andre, Leo, you are all good in your own way.

To my friends all the way from primary; Marina, Sally, Crystal, Justin, Satya and Sathya, Razin and Rashad, Padma, Jun Ching, Farahiyah, Farah Munji, Joel,... too many more to remember. Secondary school; Esther, Belvinder, Josephine, Amy, Raymond, TBK, Satpal, everyone in Science 1 and 2. People who left. People who came back. Friends who packed lunches with me. Everyone whom I had to collect money from during those five years. Yeah, I took your money cause I care *evil grin*
You have all played a part in who I am now. I remember falling a sleep in class in standard 2. I remember eating food during recess under the mango tree because the canteen was too far. I remember the poor kedongdong tree being de-leafed. I remember teachers, not their names. I remember the BCG jab, man that hurt. I remember my mothers challenge, and the teacher telling me I got straight A's for UPSR. I remember Farah crying.
I remember being afraid of meeting new people in secondary. I remember forgetting Jo's name. I remember fun. I remember pride. I remember crying after receiving my PMR results. I remember changing classes, increasing friends. I remember getting to know the twins more. I remember our unhappiness at being unable to create our class magazine. I remember Browser. I remember SPM. Sweaty palms and cold feelings. Ideas, theories, memos, swirling in our head. Additional math on my birthday. The rush of warmth at the final call of the paper. Dreaded moments before the slip. Disappointment, relief, humble pride roiled into one feeling of receiving the results.

I was reminded of the awesome party we won from faking a paper in Form 2. The Cyclone lives on! With weird comics backing it up :)

Many of you know little about what happened during my 3 years at college. I was my first step out of my seemingly large comfort zone. I met people, learned new things. Found happy moments, sad episodes, all wiped a way in a blink, only to come rushing back stronger than the wave it was. 3 years of endurance, one of hope, one of stability, and one overwhelmed. I've become sharper, more refined in a way that I cannot express how glad I am to have those who still stand around me.

In my seven months in Melbourne, I have found a plaster for my wound. I have found something else to include in the scrapbook of my life. I have found a secret. I have found that I cannot repay what I have been shown, but I hope in the very least I'm doing my part for the life and living of someone else. I want to start by giving thanks.
Thank you for reading this far. For those of you not mentioned, I am terribly sorry for not having the best of memories. It might seem a little anti-climax at this point, but I am still alive so this experience will still go on. It's all about me, all about you.

I live, I learn, I love.

I am 21.

-D-