In the last posting I focused on the tears I shed…those tears were but the rain to the growing flower. Now it is time for the sunshine…. friendship and family. During the rainy days I usually forget how blessed I am in that arena although not in the usual sense. For example, I have an unusual relationship with my parents; there is definitely love but terms of expression are unusual. And the negotiation of those terms in mild terms has been as difficult as America’s admission of going into recession.

I derailed so let me get back to the point. This year I learnt that with friends the sun can shine even in the rain resulting in something beautiful….a rainbow! I am thus grateful to my friends for tolerating me even when I pushed them away. I know some of you don’t necessarily think I give as much as I take (well except for Tjontjo but then again you are family not friend) since I tend not to apply context – or rather because I honestly believe that things said either as a joke or when one is drunk hold some truth in them. I cannot defend my beliefs nor justify them without visiting the past and as all know nothing much is gained by reflecting back on what we cannot change; only the future counts :-).

In a nutshell, without my friends and family this past year would not be worth a lot. I have grown a lot especially in fighting you ;-). Barns because I spent the large part of my time with you, I fought with you the most but as you have suggested the true measure of any relationship can simply be measured by how much the other party is willing to fight with you and for you in making the relationship work. (Caution: Barns is not as intelligent as it may sound :-P) So Barns I am sorry if I have been a pain and I hope you will be getting me Louis XIII !

To end, even when I felt alone I knew you were all there rooting for me all the way. Thank you and God bless <3 <3 <3