significance of my 35th

late last month i turned 35. i was in vegas with my folks when it happened, and if it wasn't for the multiple bday greetings on facebook and the numerous emails, calls and texts, it would have been just another day. i was surprised at how wonderful it felt to be remembered on my bday, and it made me thankful for all the people in my life who've blessed me with their kindness, love and generosity. i felt warm all over that day...and not just coz of the vegas heat! upon returning from vegas, my mom made a great korean dinner and nick came over with the BEST french macarons outside of Paris! everything was simple, meaningful, and intimate...a great bday.

as happy as i was however, i felt there was something missing. something out of place. there was one thing i really wanted, and since it wasn't meant to be, i just sort of tried to enjoy my 35th and not think of that one thing. i didn't want that one thing to negate all the other wonderful things that were occurring on that day. see, that one "thing" was my sister. as much as i loved being with my parents, i felt a huge hole in my heart bcoz my whole family wasn't with me...my sister and broinlaw were still in nc and couldn't make it out. i feel so stupid as i write this, coz i realize a 30-something woman normally would not make a big deal of this. but it was different for me...i just really really wished my sister was there to help celebrate. i don't know if it's coz we live so far apart, or if its coz she wasn't able to be with me for my other milestone bday [my 30th] or if it's just coz i'm weird and altogether way too emotional/sappy. whatever the reason, for me, my 35th was incomplete without her.

fast-forward one week. it's labor day wkend. and i'm stuck at home finalizing a ministry project and in desperate need of a capblast. my sister michelle said she had sent my gift and that i would need to pick it up from susan. susan agrees to meet me and eman at my favorite baskin-robbins so that she can deliver my gift and so that i can get my capblast. so we drive over, i get my beloved blast, and guess what my gift turned out to be? MY SISTER!!! =D i was ecstatic! i immediately grabbed her and started tearing. hands down, that was the BEST surprise/gift i've EVER received. i remember thinking, "wow, my sister's so pretty and smart and conniving...she's AWESOME!!" =D

the rest of the wkend flew by fast. really really fast. TOO fast. but i dare say it was the best wkend of my life to date. i got to spend it all with my sister! we got to experience so much together...we went to the Hollywood Bowl [poor thing, she was so jet-lagged and tired that nite!] and had awesome Portos chocolate raspberry cake in honor of her 29th bday [her bday is just a few days after mine] while enjoying the music, then the next day we got a massage and enjoyed the spa at Burke Williams, then had a late lunch at Equator, then got dolled up for a surprise bday dinner at Celestinos [again, a huge THANKS to everyone who came!] the day after that we went to church together, had lunch at Firefly after service with Susan [who was michelle's co-conspirator in planning the whole surprise visit], went shopping, and then ended our wkend together with the most amazing meal at Maison Akira to celebrate michelle's bday. we would have done more [eaten more] if we had more time together, but i guess that just means we have more to look forward to on her next visit. =) i know it's silly, but after we dropped her off at the airport the following morning, i cried the entire way home. i must be losing my edge. at 35, i'm getting soft. =\

i used to always think that i would not make it to see my 35th bday. i don't know why. but i really thought i'd die before then. [i can share this now that it's obviously been disproven.] so maybe the significance of my 35 has something to do with the fact that i made it. but more than that, for me, the significance is that i not only made it, but that i got to share it with my sister. i wish i could adequately describe why, but it's hard. i wish i could express sisterhood. i don't know what it's like to have a brother but i will forever be grateful for my sister. my life would be so empty without her. i mean, my life would be so empty without a lot of ppl, but especially my sister. when we lose our parents, it will be my sister that remains of my first family. when i think back to my childhood, the memories that stand out the most are the ones with my sister. when i think about ppl i cannot live without, my sister immediately pops to my mind. i've prayed a lot of prayers so far in my life, but the most fervent ones all have to do with my sister..."please God, keep her safe, keep her healthy, just keep her." the significance of a sister is profound. the significance of my sister is everlasting. i don't believe that i deserve her, but i am thankful for her, and will happily take her as the gift that she is. and she was, for my 35th, the most significant gift.

  

<-- my sister Michelle...isn't she so pretty? =)