Decade-ance

I grew up in the LKY two-child policy era with one other older brother, 5 years my senior, who refused to do anything remotely girlish with me. In retrospect, the only 2 activities that I remember being involved with him are riding bicycles (including dare devil stunts on the 2-wheeler that makes planking and owling look like child's play) and wrestling.

Yes. Wrestling.

The part he loves best was body-slamming me, WWF style, into my parents bed.



To some point, I enjoyed the mid-air stunts he subjected me to but oh-how-I-longed for a sister. Someone to play dolls with, cuddle up to and generally be pampered.

Enter Hazdianiza Halim- a neighbour, childhood buddy, sleepover mate, best friend. I still have somewhere a picture of us (and her little sister, Hazfarisha, a cherubic 1 year old at that time) with my favourite miniature castle with its little King, Queen, Horsemen etc.. I love that picture- our personalities shine through most memorably in it: Haz with her devil-may-care grin, me with a reserved smile. Even through all these years and life's ups and downs, we have remained the best of friends.

Someone wrote on FB that "a sister is a part of childhood that stays with you forever", I can't agree more to this description that befits our 3 decade of friendship.

To my handpicked 'sister', happy happy birthday and may God allow us to grow old and fat together over more decades with salmon gravlax and San Pellegrino. *muacks*