Today is my birthday. I was born a long time ago, it seems. I tried to recall what it was like to be 16, 21, 30, 36 and 40. Those are significant years of my life.
In 1978, I was a form 4 student of Belilios Public School in Hongkong. I had already known Cat, Kit and Kar for a few years. However, it was in that year that we became very close friends. The bonds lasted for a long while. Today, Cat and I are both in Ontario, Canada. Although being 320km apart --- she's in Toronto and I am in Sauble Beach, we are in frequent contact. In fact, she has promised me a home-made strawberry moss cake for my birthday this year.
In Hongkong, legal age is 21. I was in Hongkong Polytechnics, studying Social Work. Near my birthday, I went and had a total make-over. When I walked out of the salon, my hair no longer touched my shoulder blades. It fact, it was so short that I could not run my fingers through it. My image shocked all my friends. Since I didn't drink nore smoke, I needed to think of something really crazy to do to celebrate my reaching the age of majority.
It was living alone on Lamma Island. I had put away my guitar and my voice for a few years. I have always felt that I had a mission in this life, I am to bring peace and harmony to mankind. I found my way into mass media, because I thought that would help me accomplish my mission. How naive I was. After a recording artist contract with EMI(HK) and a children show host contract with TVB, I was completely disillioned. I gave up and became an "ordinary" 9 to 5 office girl. That only lasted for a couple of years until spring 1992. I felt suffocated. My voice could not be silenced anymore. I picked up my guitar again and started writing songs again. Music was the most important of my life until ...
In 1998, I became a mother for the first time. Our second child came along in 1999. Then boy number 3 was born in 2005. My doctor's first word to me was "your life will never be the same again." He was abolutely right.
My life hit rock bottom in 2002. Never thought that money was important, I learned the painful way that financial turmoil can really rock the foundation of a family. Fortunately, Gary and I both treasure the family. We stayed together and made it through the most difficult time --- going through bankruptcy. During hard times, we always said, "at least we have one another, and some good children."
Is this year going to be a signicant year? I don't get the feeling that it will be. I think it will be a transition to prepare for another major change in a couple years. My birthday wish? World peace and haromony between mankind and the Earth. I'm serious.
