What comes after the tears?

Regrets - many of us experienced that at different point of our lives. I just did! I didn't get to visit my cousin and say goodbye to him before he went home to be with the Lord.
As long as I can remember, growing up was always like 7 in e family, my parents, both my grandmas, my brother, me and my cousin! He stayed with us whenever he didn't have to travel, you see, he was a sailor. Childhood memories of him bringing us toys, clothings, accessories whenever he came back from a long trip always warm my heart. He loved music. In fact, it was because of his love of music that I started playing the piano. It all started when my mother and my uncle each bought a piano, even before I was conceived! Mum was hoping that after I was born, I would pick it up, as no one in the family was musically inclined, except my cousin Joseph. Whenever he was in town, piano practice became a chore! He would sit right next to me and forced me to practice. I remember the time when he wanted me to learn the song: The Maiden's Prayer, I cried, cos my fingers were not long enough to press all the octaves (I was only 9), so I had my neighbour to help me 'pull' and stretch my thumbs and pinkies apart everyday. Ouch! But the satisfaction was whenever I started playing the piano, my dad and cousin would close their eyes and enjoy the music! It was years later that I started loving music! And I have to thank my cousin for that! I am where I am today serving God because of this love of music! What a deep impact that was!
When we last visited him, he was already hallucinating, telling us that he was being locked and trapped inside the house. He wanted us to help him get out. But yet, he talked sense at times, especially everytime when we prayed for him. Before we left, he begged us to stay and keep him company. He told us he was lonely and afraid. He said he had no one beside him. His eyes were filled with plea. My heart ached! We had to leave!
What now? Now that he's gone? I wished I was there yesterday! I wished I knew he was going! I wished! But what now?
Well, after the natural process of grieving is over, we have to pick ourselves up and move on! Not that we want to forget him, but like one of my dear friend mentioned before,now we have to make everyday of our lives count! Making it worth! Making a difference! I want to impact someone else's life too, just like my cousin. At the end of the day, what would my life count for depends on how I live it now!

My Sister's Keeper - review

It's a little bit social and a little bit leukemia awareness.
I was very excited when I realised that there was going to be a movie on this popular novel by Jodi Picoult. The movie followed mostly closed to the original novel but added it's own twist at the end, I guess it was to make it more appealling to the movie-goers. Cameron Diaz played a very convincing role as a mother, one who would do anything to protect her child, although one wonders if one was in her shoes, would one have reacted the same way too? Conceiving another child for the sake of saving one seems a bit complex, intriguing and troubling. The climax of the movie started when Anna decided to sue her parents and wanted to have the legal rights to her own body as she was tired of always being put under the knife to help her sister. But it doesn't end there! Throughout the movie, you could see the inner struggles every family member went through as they learn to accept the different believes and opinions of each other. There were times of joy, sadness, pain, helplessness and even strength portrayed as the characters developed throughout the movie. The movie kept having flashbacks and one has to get used to and knowing when is the 'present' and when is the 'past'. On the whole, it was a good movie but not one that draws you emotionally and deeply. I would rate it as 3.5/5

What 'Friendship' means to me:

Came across some beautiful quotes about 'Friendship', something I treasure very much. To all my friends, this is for you:
1. A friend is one of the nicest things you can have, and one of the best things you can be. ~Douglas Pagels
2. Friendship isn't a big thing - it's a million little things. ~Author Unknown
3. The friend is the man who knows all about you, and still likes you. ~Elbert Hubbard, The Notebook, 1927
4. True friendship comes when silence between two people is comfortable. ~Dave Tyson Gentry
5. The language of friendship is not words but meanings. ~Henry David Thoreau
6. My friends are my estate ~Emily Dickinson
7. A friend is one who walks in when others walk out ~Walter Winchell