28-06-12

Maybe it’s because I’m a storyteller, or maybe it shows that I’m an intrinsically relational person or maybe it’s both; I have this thing within me that keeps wanting to let someone know about the exciting times that I’ve been going through for the past few days.

Phew! It has been quite hard to take it all in.

Moving in and sorting out my apartment in Kampar has been almost ridiculously pleasurable for me. Yes, my mind tells me that moving house, cleaning and unpacking are mundane exercises, but even as I mop the floor, rearrange furniture and stack my books on the bookrack, I feel a little tingle: This is my life that I’m building now, and this is my home as an independent adult.

It has taken a while. Since the age of 14, I’ve been living away from home but was ever a dependent.

Sure, we’re made to be relational beings who need companionship and therefore, we’ll never be fully independent. However, there is a time when a man can say that he is coming into his own, and I wonder if this is it.

Don’t get me wrong, I think I am silly and childish in more than just a few ways, but that won’t stop me from trying to be the man I have to be.

As ye olde Catholic brothers would say, it’s time to Ora Et Labora! 

Next Chapter

You know what, my elder sister had her wedding recently :)

The Car Weareth Its Drapes

I am obviously very happy that my sister is married, and a welcome bonus is that I think I had a great time learning more about my own family, particularly my dad. This is because we have had some important guests who are my dad's friends from his university days - the Horrells from England.

David Horrell speaking at the wedding with my Third Uncle as interpreter.

David and Margaret Horrell are a bit older than my dad; they already had kids when my dad was studying architecture in Canterbury. It being their first time in Malaysia, it's also my first time meeting them. I'm glad then that we've spent more than week together now travelling to Penang, Singapore and of course Melaka. 

My dad is really pulling out all the stops for them, and no surprise, for they have been great friends. In fact, he confesses that they've had a great impact on him during those formative years as a young adult. As I continue to hang around them and talk here and there, I sorta understand why (and how).

We all have our own stories, and my dad's seems quite a humdinger thus far. After all, it's got my mom and the rest of us in it (eheh)

My sister's looks like it's going to be a really good one too. I like my brother-in-law and his family a lot. They arrived in Malaysia about a week before the wedding (they're from the US). Naturally, my brother (no law) and I had to play our part as hosts so, like with the Horrells, had the benefit of spending quality time with them too.

From Left: Ricardo, Maria, Diego, Sister, Mum, Dad, Uncle Phillip Lim

The Castros are not only good fun but I think a very good family. If things work out and my sister is going to move her life over to California, I can imagine that will be some life :)

All in all, I think it has been a holiday well spent; learning more about my father's story and celebrating my sister's commencement into a new chapter of her's.

Even so, I'm beginning to feel some restlessness of my own. We all have our own stories, and I reckon I have much more to write on mine. 

I just hope that it'll be a good one, with bits in it that you can tell people on different occasions, whether they're feeling down and a need some lifting or if they just want a good laugh, or even for the kids' bedtime story. Better still, maybe I can write something that can inspire people.

Or at least teach them to beware low hanging beams

It's time for me to get on with things, and get on with the writing. Whisper it if you may, but I'm feeling fairly assured and confident about what lies ahead. Sure, things might get rough but a good story needs some conflict and drama, don't you think?

What's more (and you might poo poo me for saying this), there's another Hand besides mine that holds the pen, and it's Him who lays down the paths where I cannot see, and establishes my way. I cannot hope for a good story apart from Him.

*Photo credits to Grismond Tien and Jensen Chen