The Kite Runner

"For you, a thousand times over."

Whether for emphasis or sheer forgetfulness or maybe stubbornness, I tend to repeat things I’ve said and done.

But what if you can help it? Would you still do it a thousand times over?

My brother asked me what that line from Khaled Hosseini's The Kite Runner meant? He read the book and watched the movie. I haven’t done either until that time.

I got a copy of the movie from Helen before she left for school in the Lion City. But I didn’t get to see the movie until this year. I should’ve watched it way before.

I gave my brother a piece of my mind on what that line meant to me.

Amir and Hassan are best of friends who love to have “kite fights”. In one scene, Amir tells Hassan to go run the kite, to which Hassan shouts back "For you, a thousand times over".

The line speaks volumes of the relationship between these two friends.

And for me, it has taken a new meaning. Kudos to all the kite runners of this world who can say.....

"For you, a thousand times over." And expect nothing in return.

Casting Crowns

It is so easy to give in to nonchalance with equal indifference. And just as I was about to give in to apathy and wander in the valley of bitterness, Itunes randomly picked these lyrics (from Casting Crowns' Who Am I?) to spew out in perfect timing as if talking to me.

Who am I?

That the bright and morning star,

Would choose to light the way,

For my ever wondering heart.

Not because of who I am.

But because of what you've done.

Not because of what I've done.

But because of who you are.

I am a flower quickly fading,

Here today and gone tomorrow.

A wave tossed in the ocean,

A vapor in the wind.

Still you hear me when I'm calling,

Lord you catch me when I'm falling,

And you told me who I am.

I am yours.

Who am I?

That the voice that calm the sea,

Would call out through the rain,

And calm the storm in me.

A song that reminds me who I am and reminds me that whatever storm is within me, can be the same (or less intense) turbulence troubling other people around me too. But each person has a different way of processing his or her own struggles. And in moments where I sometimes rely on myself or others, God picks me up and makes realize my true value.

Anonymous

After a while you learn the subtle difference
between holding a hand and chaining a soul.
And you learn that love doesn't mean security,
And you begin to learn that kisses aren't contracts
And presents aren't promises.
And you begin to accept your defeats with your head up and your eyes open.
With the grace of maturity, not the grief of a child.
And you learn to build all your roads on today
because tomorrow’s ground is too uncertain for plans,
And futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight.
After a while you learn that even sunshine burns if you get too much.
So you plant your own garden and decorate your own soul,
Instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.
And you learn that you really can endure...
That you really are strong
And that you really do have worth.
And you learn and learn and learn....
With every goodbye you learn.

Of Running and Eating

Adidas King of the Road's tagline this year is "Because every runner is different". So true not only in the race, but in life as well. And yet despite these differences, a motley of personalities manage to get along. It just takes some effort and patience though. And everything in life, not just running, needs that extra effort and patience. (Serious mode stops here.)

Anyway, this year's KOTR wasn't as well-organized as the others, but it offered a lot of interesting sidelights. Not to mention that the singlet is screaming "Look how yellow I am". Some runners had funny lines written on their backs. Some had pretty serious "bumper lines". Everybody seemed to be on high spirits today. I even heard one runner looking for his Yaya to ask for the time. That put a smile in my face which stayed 'til the finish line.

Running today was a wonderful opportunity to bond with running buddies Shing, Sarah and Jufel.

back of famished runners

Running made us all famished. So it was quite a treat when Jufel and I chanced upon a new food choice in Food Choices. Go Greek! just opened last week in Glorietta. And I think today is a a beginning of a beautiful friendship between Go Greek! and I. Here's a sampler of what they have to offer at very reasonable prices.

Gyros Platter at P155

Kebab (what's left of it anyway) at P95

I'm now looking forward to the next fun run and my next Go Greek! visit. And both are definitely going to happen very soon.

How to Save a Life (by The Fray)

Step one you say we need to talk

He walks you say sit down it's just a talk

He smiles politely back at you

You stare politely right on through

Some sort of window to your right

As he goes left and you stay right

Between the lines of fear and blame

And you begin to wonder why you came

Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend

Somewhere along in the bitterness

And would I have stayed up with you all night

Had I known how to save a life

Let him know that you know best

Cause after all you do know best

Try to slip past his defense

Without granting innocence

Lay down a list of what is wrong

The things you've told him all along

And I pray to God he hears you

Hang in There

I know I had my own share of dealing with changes of late. I'm just thankful that in time, things have become clearer and made more sense.

Now, seeing major changes happen to people who matter a great deal to me and knowing I can't do anything but watch and listen helplessly is disturbing. I know the type of change I've dealt are small-time compared to theirs. So I can't imagine how heart- breaking this may be for them.

But I guess there are some things that are beyond our reach. Even if we stretch our limitations just to grab 'em. Some things just slip through our fingers and it's not because our fingers are slippery. No amount of anti-slip support can make this one stick.

So hang in there, you can weather these aches because I know you as a friend whose quiet strength far outweighs mine.


Note: Published with permission from the recipient.

2.0

It has been two years since that fateful day in Glorietta when I fortunately got the "g2 pala" SMS belatedly.

For some strange reason, I was unusually calm immediately after the incident. The emotions just flowed a few days after. Sobrang delayed reaction.

But it took a while before I got the courage to go back to the mall.

After some time, I summoned enough guts to step into Glorietta again.

Now, I can casually walk into the mall like nothing ever really happened.

In time, all becomes a part of the past and yet still so much a part of us.

Whenever, I see the covered-up part of the mall, I remember to be thankful to Him who kept us out of harm's way that day.

On October 19, 2009, as I walked the corridor of GB5 and saw the watch store covered by a cloth, I was praying that let this be just an ordinary day at the mall.

Come to think of it, it's probably the safest place to be today.

  the commotion after