Coolcat's Jottings

SMS snippets

Me to family member: What's your identity card number? I need it in order to nominate you as my travel insurance beneficiary.

Family member to me: [IC Number]. Hope I don't get anything out of it.

Isn't it true and strangely ironic that the people you want to bequeath your possessions to are the ones that prefer to have you still with them than all the money in the world?

After 14 days of nail biting, gnashing teeth and sleepless nights, my leave is finally approved!!!

A lot of people prayed for me. And I mean a LOT. Thanks for all your prayers, support and concern. It really made a difference.

It was a weird time, making travel plans and booking hotels and stuff and having the 'Leave Not Approved' message blaring at the back of my mind. I'm grateful for MF and bezzie who planned everything to a T and kept the momentum going. They never did entertain the thought of me not being able to go although I was quite close to thinking so.

If anything, going through this has taught me (yet again!) of not taking things for granted. And that nothing good comes easy.

Been tagged by Rapunzel. To my surprise, some of the songs are actually quite apt.

Soundtrack of Your Life - If your life was to be made into a movie, what would the soundtrack be? (Or something to that effect.)

So, here's how it works:

1. Open your library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, etc)
2. Put it on shuffle.
3. Press play.
4. For every question, type the song that's playing.
5. When you go to a new question, press the next button.
6. Don't lie

Opening Credits:
Barenaked Ladies - Sound of Your Voice
(Ok, not a bad start)

Waking Up:
Liz Phair - Count on My Love
(Hmmmm...)

First Day At School:
Star Wars IV - Forest Battle
(Tell me about it.)

Falling In Love:
Star Wars I - Anakin's Theme
(Oh deary me. Destined to doom before it even began)

Fight song:
Liz Phair - Somebody's Miracle
(I really have no comments for this)

Breaking Up:
Star Wars V - Hans Solo and Princess Leia
(Huh?? This must be the part where he got frozen by Jabba the Hut.)

Prom:
Barenaked Ladies - Maybe You Are Right
(Right about what? Wait a minute. Does it even matter as long as you. are. right?)

Life's OK:
Star Wars IV - The Throne Room Finale
(Ummmm ok. It DOES make sense if you look at it from this perspective - Everyone who's been to the resident throne room (toilet) can safely say that life's ok if your bowel movements are in tip-top condition).

Mental breakdown:
Star Wars V - The Imperial March
(Darth Vader's theme song - imagine him breathing down your neck. That will make anyone's nerves fried. )

Driving:
Liz Phair - Got My Own Thing
(Oh ya baby, I got my own wheels, my own ride, my own thing. Uh huh...)

Flashback:
Barenaked Ladies - Beautiful
(Yep, mom did say that I was born beautiful. And that I am beautiful. I hope to grow old as beautiful as her.)

Getting Back Together:
Star Wars IV - Princess Leia
(Ya mar, she got separated when Hans Solo was frozen. So when he was defrosted (or de-metal-ed), they were reunited lor)

Wedding:
Taylor Swift - Mary's Song
(Wow... how very very appropriate! Childhood sweethearts falling in love, got married and growing old with each other.)

Birth of Child:
Liz Phair - Closer To You
(Oso appropriate. A child does bring parents closer to each other)

Final Battle:
Star Wars 1 - Duel of the Fates
(Wah, so ngam wan!)

Death Scene:
Star Wars 1 - The Flag Parade
(Ok. If you are a dignitary or in the army and you die, what gets draped on your coffin? Exactly. Would be nice to have one of those on mine )

Funeral Song:
Heartland - I Loved Her First
(Adoi, supposed to be the song a father sings to his daughter at her wedding, not funeral. But in the spirit of all things appropriate, it's a father's love song about letting go of his daughter to a new chapter of her life. In this case, it's death.)

End Credits:
Taylor Swift - Stay Beautiful
(What a nice ending to this list!)

I tag my beloved cell members both near and far!

Was at the airport to send Amanda off. The airport is a bittersweet place. A trip there could signify new beginnings. As with all new beginnings, it comes hand in hand with the closing of the old chapter of one's life.

Her parents fought very hard to keep their tears in check. As did her pesky younger brother. He kept yelling, "With you gone, I'll be the king of the house! Hurray! I'm going to terrorise your room!" But his eyes reddened occasionally and he quietly dabbed away a few tears when he thought no one was looking.

The family has sacrificed a lot for the sake of their only daughter and were jubilant that she's now been given a golden opportunity to further her studies overseas. Still, saying goodbye is never easy.

As I watched Amanda waving at us before walking away confidently from us, I remembered how happy I was to leave everything I know behind to embrace the exciting chapter of studying in Australia. Nary a tear was in my eyes. My parents would be heaving sighs of relief with me gone, I was sure. Little did I know that my mom and two siblings cried after I disappeared happily from their sight.

And now I wonder how it would be to be on the other side of the story. Growing up, I kept telling my folks to chill and to let us be free to go and make our own choices in life. Would I be able to let go of my own offspring easily when they are ready to spread their wings and fly?

Looking at Amanda's parents' red eyes, I have a sneaky suspicion that when my turn comes, it wouldn't be as easy as I once thought it would be.

[IMG]http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y255/coolcatalyst/curls10.jpg[/IMG]

O loaded curls, release your store
Of warmth and scent, as once before
The tingling hair did, lights and darks
Outbreaking into fairy sparks...

~ Robert Browning

Image credits: J