There's No Place Like Home.

I come from such a tiny island that, when a plane that I’m on is close enough to allow me to see the ground of wherever it is that I’m about to land, I get completely overwhelmed (and in the case of Dubai, absolutely terrified) at the sight of such a huge area.  My silent panic attack has never once been noticed by airline staff or any other passengers around me.  Even when I’m traveling with family.  This lasts until my flight has landed.

Or for the next six months or so.

But still, I enjoy walking through cities in the middle of the day, just for the joy of getting lost and finding my way back, on my own.  While I’m there… Right? 

Then one night sometime later, I find my plane approaching the familiar lights of home and I can see the ocean surrounding the little island that I love.

And I breathe normally again. 

<3 

“‘You’re gonna catch a cold from the ice inside your soul.’ Are you kidding me?? ‘The ice inside your bowl’ rhymes too - and sounds just as stupid. This song has no business being on the radio.”

—	Ai, my friends.

“Tell her I’m not going to chase her. Do I LOOK like I can chase anyone around? I’m FAT!!”

—	The Bestie.

Trish Interrupted

• Mona:I still have your DVDs. And Trish ran away from the group home and came knocking on my door. So we watched Girl Interrupted.
• Abrit:You watched WHAT?!? With Trish??
• Maria:Don't let Trish watch Girl Interrupted, are you on crack?? You let her watch that and she'll think it's autobiographical. Next thing you know you'll find her under her bed with a bunch of chicken carcasses!

27November2012 (12:05pm)

Mid-day dreary and still not up-to-par, I’m outside at work and a butterfly lands on my upturned wrist, for just a few moments.

For a full minute after, I smiled my first smile of the day.

I write about her, TO her, every single day.

I think about her all the time.

I wait and hope that I’ll get a reply, 

That she’ll write

That she’ll call

Show up

SHOW me her love.

Sometimes

She surprises me

Sometimes 

I know just why I love her 

So much

Most times, 

I sit here

Waiting

Waiting

Hoping

For the silence 

To come alive

With her smile.

“We’re making you soup. Come on over.”

Chicken kadu with steel-cut oats and every veggie under the tropical sun - and rice, of course. Lemon china fina’ denne’ even. For Ellie, the fams and me. Every ingredient in the pot had a specific intended nutritional purpose - just because I’m not feeling well today.

And dad even pulled out his super-secret stash of lemon-lime soda for us.

I LOVE these people. Only partly because of how well they love me.