Pei San, my sis-in-law emailed me Laurna’s Birthday Party Invite … Laurna will be turning 4 this mid Oct and her party will be held at McDonald. Laurna is the youngest of 3 sisters. My bro and Pei San have made it a point that the sisters would get their party at McD when they turned 4, it all started when Laura turned 4 3 years ago and the party for family and close friends were held there, then they had to communicate to the younger sisters that they would get theirs when they turned 4 too, to avoid any form of jealousy among the siblings. Last weekend when I spoke with Laurna over skype she said mommy will be writing and sending out invitation card for her party the following day, I reminded her that I would need to receive one, her second sis Lauren who is 5+, added that I could not attend even if they invite me!? ;(
I appreciate my family for making a point to celebrate each occasion together. From June to Dec each year, we celebrate 14 birthdays at home, an average of 2 per month. This year, my brother organized a BBQ birthday party at home for Judith and me – it was the week before I left for Houston and 2 week after I informed my family I have quit my job and will be taking up a Baking & Pastry Arts course with the culinary institute in Houston. Judith is my eldest niece, the eldest grandchild in our family. Her birthday and mine are celebrated together each year which kick-start all the birthday celebration every year. Her age difference and mine? We are 2 cycles apart. We were both born in the year of the rat. Soon after I arrived in Houston, it was Joel’s 7th birthday in mid July, Joel is Judith’s youngest brother. The USPS package I sent home went missing in transit, my first poor experience of the postal system in Houston. In August, it was my dad’s 69th birthday as well as my sis’s 39th, I sent all the cards home separately. In September, there were 3 birthdays at home – my bro-in-law’s 39th, my bro’s 38th, and Laura’s 7th birthday, again I sent 3 cards home in separate envelops.
BK took charge of all the presents for the children, usually I would be the one shopping for them. For Laura’s birthday, he skyped me that he prepared 3 presents, so that Lauren and Laurna would get a present too! Pei San emailed me the picture after and commented she loved those bags that BK bought for the girls and he had picked the perfect shape, size and colour for all 3 girls! Ha, I reminded BK he needs to continue to buy 3 presents for each of 3 sisters’ birthday, children remember acts they deemed unfair for a long time 
Lauren will be graduating this 1Nov – from kindergarten I will be missing her graduation ceremony. I have attended almost all of my 6 nieces’ and nephews’ yearly pre-school performances and graduation. I appreciate every occasion to bond with my family, and usually we would eat out togather or have the celebration at Chengam. Frankly I always enjoyed the pre-schoolers’ performance, it can be hilarious and full of laughter.
My family lives within 5 minutes of each other, but soon my sis, David and their 3 children will be moving further … to the other end of Yio Chu Kang Road, about 20min away. Come to think of the distance in Houston sense, they will still be living pretty close. Now we live a short walk from each other.
BK’s birthday falls on Halloween, he may be flying into Houston then enroute to Boston so that we can celebrate together, how nice. I told him I may need to work that evening, but it didn’t really matter. If he doesn’t fly Houston, he would attend Lauren’s graduation on 1 Nov, and my family will celebrate his birthday then. I was supposed to start my voluntary internship at Chef Dominique’s restaurant, still waiting for the existing intern to complete the hours which was further disrupted by Ike.
Friends asked me if I miss home, if I miss Singapore … I miss the get-together and celebrations at home, I miss the Man at home, … other than that, I love and cherish my time and experience in Houston.
