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M&M Time

24 Mar

It was a Thursday during the school holidays (for M2) last week and I dropped the girls off at the mall situated right in the heart of the city. They requested for a change in venue from our favorite malls for this outing to make it special and uninvited us. No parents allowed.

Prior to leaving home, M2 mentioned in passing that it was the end of the world. I feel for her. Her sister, possibly her best friend was leaving and they wanted this private time together.

I asked how come I was not included to which they replied it was an M&M time, and since I am not an ‘M’, I cannot join in. But I pointed out I was an ‘M’ too as in ‘Mommy’ but they insisted it does not count, I am not an original ‘M’. You just can’t have ‘M&M&M’ they chorused! It is only ‘M&M’ that is right.

So both M1 and M2 spent some quality time together. My eyes would well up with tears every time I think about it now. Sniff.

Both hubby and I met them later in the evening for dinner.

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Anxiety and Relief

23 Mar

It’s hard to drive when one has blurry puffy eyes. Thank goodness hubby was much stronger and did not shed freely at the farewell like me and M2. After we hugged M1 for the last time and said our goodbyes, there was much anxiety that followed the heavy heart. Until we hear from her only the anxiety went away and relief set in.

My neighbor saw us when we got home on Saturday night and called me. She insisted I should go over and have some wine, which turned out to be a good thing. Looking at my miserable state, she consoled me. At the same time, she welcomed me to this phase of life when the children would leave home for their tertiary education, gently reminding me she experienced this twice with her children and totally understands my emotions.

The wine helped dull the heavy ache and provided a good buzz to sleep. But I managed only four hours of uncomfortable rest. Anxiety.

By Sunday morning, we managed to Skype her when she was in transit at Incheon and again, at Narita; it was good to hear her voice. But we had to wait longer before we heard from her again when she did the final leg of the journey.

Her journey was approximately 24 hours of flying with the two transit stop-overs but not counting the time to clear immigrations and customs, followed by a 90-minute bus ride to campus. By the time she arrived at campus and checked into the dorm, it would be another good six hours added on to the journey. How tiring!

Last night, I tracked her aircraft on flightaware.com and was able to monitor the flight path and ETA. Amazing what technology can do these days. Thankful that she arrived safely and on schedule, and with both immigrations and customs cleared without a hitch, hubby and I can breathe easier. Relief.

M1’s life as a freshman at university officially has begun!

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I Need a Box of Tissues

21 Mar

Time flew by so fast, it’s heart wrenching. We have another hour before M1 goes through the gates. I started tearing when we left the house.

And sniffed all the way during the hour long journey to the airport. Every now and then, the dam would break. I really need a box of tissues!

The last time I cried this much was when I was reading David Baldacci’s One Summer novel. It is not so much of sadness but a sense of heaviness in the heart. Letting go is tough. Everyone tells me I have to accept it but it’s tough.

I can feel puffy eyes developing; definitely will have them by tomorrow if not by midnight when we go home.

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Last Day Together

20 Mar

Today is the last day for the family as a unit; come tomorrow M1 and Humphrey will leave for university. It has been an emotional week of sorts. Flashes of when I was leaving my parents dinosaur years ago crowded my thoughts and now, a sense of déjà vu, only that the situation is the reverse now – me as the parent and my child leaving.

The whole week had been packed with luncheons and dinners with friends and family. I have stopped standing on the scale and I think it has given up on me too.

I am so glad that this week is also the school holidays, so M2 was able to spend the precious week with M1. Come tomorrow, let us not be sad but be happy for the new and exciting life that awaits M1.

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I Shouldn’t Worry

19 Mar

There were several occasions M1 tells me she is, at times, worried about the impending journey and new life ahead. I would simply raise my eyebrow at her and share with her, my journey to college to make her feel better, and reiterated that I don’t think history would repeat itself. I mean, what are the chances of what I experienced recurring again, this time with my child? This aside, I am proud that she is following my footsteps in her journey towards higher education in the USA.

I traveled alone halfway across the globe to pursue my degree in Graphic Design. And when I arrived at the little airport in Flagstaff, Arizona, after clocking in more than 24 hours of travel, nobody from the university came to meet and greet me! Can you imagine the horror and fear I went through?

But I guess I was tired and numbed beyond belief from the long journey and did the most unthinkable thing ever, and it is something I tell my child constantly NOT to do.

I hitched a ride with two strangers and their dog in their pickup to town. Hold your wild imaginations, nothing bad happened! They were very nice to drop me off in a motel across campus and went on with their journey.

But do that now in this era, the consequences may turn out differently. Thank goodness, there is someone definitely meeting her. With the internet, repeated correspondence via email, she will be met at the airport, shown the way to board the bus and journey on to campus where someone else will greet her and settle her into life as a freshman at university. So no, I shouldn’t worry.

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Getting Humphrey Ready

13 Mar

Humphrey is so old that it has lost weight and its shine. No more the plump purple cow that it was during its heydays with me when I was in college, Humphrey needs a skin job to look good again and be ready for university with M1 this time around.

Over the years, the fabric on its body has faded and has become brittle. So much so, every now and then, I have to fix it up; I usually call this duty, giving Humphrey a skin grafting treatment. And because I couldn’t find a fabric that matched the original purple, I resorted to using hubby’s old Geoffrey Beene pink work shirt.

On top of this new outer look, we needed to plump him up as well for the journey. Similar to a lipocram treatment, I bought stuffing and stuffed him up to a nice plump huggable friend again. And with the whole body just about patched up, it’s quite safe then to say the new Humphrey is ready, inside and outside.

I have been kept busy doing the final few surgeries on Humphrey before they fly off together next week.

Humphrey looking good in a onesie!



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Here, Try This!

12 Mar

When you know you are leaving home for university, you tend to be on a roll to eat as many things as possible. Things that you never eat all this while in your whole life, suddenly pops up on the ‘To Eat’ list. Having said that, we have been going all out with M1 to eat to the hearts’ content; doing exactly as what my mom and dad did with me prior to my leaving, back in the dinosaur era. (I know, my scale cringes at me every time I walk into the bathroom). It’s a funny belief, then and now, that when one goes off to college, one will miss all the good food especially the home flavors.

So far we have checked off most of the local delicacies, along with some other Asian food. Yesterday, we feasted on Korean food and today, M1 goes off to enjoy a farewell meal with her friends. Days when there is nothing scheduled, we will just eat at home. But come Saturday, chicken rice ball is on the agenda, followed by Japanese food on Sunday. Next up, authentic Chinese cuisine on Tuesday with an aunt and cousin, followed by a home-cooked meal by my friends for her next Friday!

So much to eat, so little time left.



These are just the condiments!



Everything is here except the fish!



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Humphrey

10 Mar

What or who is Humphrey, you may ask? Well, when I first got it, I thought it was a hippo, hence the name Humphrey the Hippo. But after years of being associated as a hippo, I came to realize Humphrey is actually a cow. It came as a free gift with the purchase of a carton of milk from the supermarket, and it makes more sense for milk companies to give away cows rather than hippos with their milk products, no?

Humphrey has traveled the world much. It has been to Australia, college and the Big Apple with me. It also came along with us when we did our Great Adventure Roadtrip to the US back in 2012. A rather amusing moment when we were getting ready for inspection prior to boarding at HKIA. He was stashed in M1’s backpack and during security inspection, the officer dutifully unzipped the bag only to be taken aback when unexpectedly, a pair of huge unblinking eyes stared right back at him. Unable to hide his amusement, he grinned back at Humphrey’s big innocent eyes and cleared us.

We all love Humphrey, the confidante, the friend and equally a member of the family. Humphrey will accompany M1 to college.



Can you spot the purple Humphrey? Pic was during my college days.



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Of Chap Goh Meh and Birthday Dinners

9 Mar

Chinese New Year is officially over with Chap Goh Meh celebrated last Thursday; Chap Goh Meh being the 15th day of the Lunar New Year calendar. Mom insisted on feeding the family with a home-cooked meal during the gathering on Thursday, a workday instead of going out for the occasion.

It was a great time and the last time for M1 to savor the home cooking and cherish the times before she goes off to college. And as if this family time together was not enough, my sibling scheduled Sunday to meet again for yet another meal! He wanted to give her a farewell dinner and yesterday was the only window every family member could make it.

The dinner was fancy, at a restaurant in the heart of the city. We had fine Malay food which was really good. It’s not often we make this choice but I think it’s apt. It will be a flavor M1 will miss.

What was even more special was the dessert that came after the meal. M1’s cousin, K1, painstakingly stayed up until the wee hours of the morning the day before to bake it for her. Such love. It was supposed to be a farewell cake. However, when the cake was brought out, the restaurant automatically blared out the standard ‘Happy Birthday’ song! It was hilarious as we all sang along. Heheh…

Such good memories especially for M1. Time is moving too fast.





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The Preparations

6 Mar

Unlike the time when I was preparing to leave home for college, the preparations now for M1 are so much easier. With the computer and internet, we can find out just about everything we need to know about the city, the university and its requirements; we can also do everything online so nothing is amiss and on time. We also have the advantage to google up the street level to see the surrounding of her new place or map her walk from the dorm to class! Amazing. None of these available during my time of course as everything was via faxes, snail mail and college prospectus.

And back then, Mom and Dad did not accompany me on my journey simply because Mom said, they wouldn’t know how or what to do to help me. Going along would almost be like a blind leading the blind. But they had faith in me to cope and I did. 

Are we like my parents now and not accompanying M1 on her trip? Well, put it this way, all her needs are taken care of already by the university, what more can we do or offer? Furthermore in this era, I feel we would be suppressing her growth, her journey into adulthood if we went along just to ensure all is fine. She may experience some challenges along the way but didn’t we all? It’s all part of growing up.

Nonetheless, I take comfort of the fact that, unlike before, now with the availability of the mobile phone, we are constantly connected and will be updated 24×7, be it the journey itself or the new life she will lead; and this gives me (and hubby) the assurance that she will cope well. 

Honestly, I do have faith in the young adult that my M1 has grown up to be because if my parents had faith in me when I was at her age, I should be of the same for my child.

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