Happy Birthday To Me

Another year passed….another year older, hopefully wiser….

Just came back from yumcha with the gang and waiting to greet me was wifey….she gave me a BIG kiss and a hug coupled with the wishes of “Happy Birthday”…yup, today is my birthday..

I like to spend low keyed birthdays..nothing fancy...dinner with the family will do. The difference about my birthday year is I get to blog about it and my parents.

Parents who sent me to La Salle primary and parents who said nothing when they knew I was playing truant during Form 6 at Maxwell Secondary. Parents who bust their butts off trying to give me a good education for a good head start in life…parents who were kept apart because of our financial situation due to the economic downturn in the 80s.

We were staying in KL but my Dad had to be in Penang because his Salesman position ( he was 3M Malaysia’s GM before he got retrenced ) entails that he be in charge of the Northern Area. He rented a RM200 per month room in Ayer Itam and sent back RM500 for our expenses here. Till today I still don’t know how in the world he could survive with Rm100 left in his pocket….thanks Dad.

Mom would be slogging like mad giving daily tuition lessons. She would be rushing home from Jesus Caritas Kindergarden like a mad woman where she was teaching pre school ( still is ) to prepare our lunch. We would come back, gobbled lunch and hit the sack without even a simple thank you. The tuition crowd will start coming in about 3.30 pm everyday and would last till about 8.30 pm. In between the chaos, Mom would find time to prepare our dinner and check on our school work.



Both Mom’s and Dad’s income would then go towards sustaining the monthly household expenses. I remembered a year where Mom cried because she did not have any extra money to buy new clothes for us for CNY…she didn’t even have any money for Ang Pows…..I secretly cried in my room for 2 nights.

I am glad that my siblings and I have been through the hard times as it has taught us to “Hang Tough” and "Dig In" but how I wished that my parents didn’t go through it because of us. I have made a vow that I will NEVER, EVER let my parents OR my family go thru the shit again….no matter what.

Today being my birthday is nothing great…without my parents there is no Jamie or my brothers. My birthday wishes every year is automatically dedicated to my parents and siblings albeit an extra addition for my family this past few years.

Thank you for being great parents, thank you for giving me the chance to be in this world, thank you for all the sufferings that you guys had to endure and thank you for giving me the chance to be your son.

The most importantly is…..a million sorries if I have hurt you guys at any point in time……

You guys are the greatest…I dedicate this and all future birthdays that I may have to my parents....THANK YOU…


2 every1 his/her OWN…………………..

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