I have been lucky to have a few coworkers around the world who I call friends. Just like any family, there are also those who I would rather not know or deal with but am always cordial, nice and respectful of when I must deal with them.
One of the people who I am grateful to know and blessed to consider a friend works in the accounting department at our corporate office. Since our first meeting almost 6 years ago she is always happy to see me, inquires how I am doing and those in my life I love. She used to send me lots of jokes until I said “too many” and now they are few and far in between!
Two weeks ago while in the States, I stopped by her office to say hello and would have had to be blind to miss the fact she must love purple. Purple dress, purple jewelery, purple shoes, purple flowers and a purple lai! Not usually one to be funny with words, not sure I managed when commenting on how she must have gotten “laid”. Lame, huh? She busted me for not blogging and must admit she is the inspiration on the last few blogs and the updates trying to make to my site, what an rush to know someone actually reads my little piece of the internet!
My purple lady, thanks for your love, friendship and encouragement. You are always a ray of sunshine and a delight to see. Hope you won a few dollars at the casino! I will be back in a few weeks, see you soon!
The phrases Stop and smell the roses, Take it easy, Don’t work too hard are all ones I have said to someone or have had someone say to me. It is nice to take it easy once in awhile, but if I had to choose I would rather be busy. Not busy with just work but busy with life. At a couple of different points in my life I spent too much time drinking and not enough time living; I have spent too much time working and not enough time with my friends or partner; I have spent too much time traveling for work and not enough time establishing any roots; I have spent too much time doing unproductive and unhealthy things. I often wondered where the days and weeks went while I was busy but busy doing much of nothing. I realized today that I hadn’t thought about my blog or our new website in weeks. Why? Because I have been busy living and enjoying life. No need to bore with details but life is good, this year awesome and we still have half a year to go!
Often when leaving a restaurant, hopping out of a taxi or walking out of shop I hear Man Zou which in English translates to Walk Slow and means much the same as take it easy. Yet another example of no matter how different our cultures may be the are just as similar. Whatever your plans this weekend or rest of the month, remember to walk slow and stop and smell the roses because life is too short and full of too many opportunities to create memories to wonder where the time went.
We spent Saturday taking two of my colleagues from India and the USA shopping. About 6 hours worth of shopping…Was a fun day and we bought several gifts for my family for our upcoming trip to the US. But my feet were tired and my arms were sore from carrying so many bags.
We capped the day off by joining some coworkers from our local office and having a great Mexican dinner. Then we hit a couple of the local pubs. I am so fortunate to work with such great people and being able to share the most important thing in my life, Peyton, with them.
I am not known for my singing voice. In fact, I am probably more well known for avoiding the microphone when it is passed my way or attempts at forcing into my hands. Sometimes I am able to gracefully get out of singing anything. Other times I relent and don’t take it personally when everyone seems to have to go to the bathroom while I am singing.
Saturday night was different. We went to the, not so good but at least it is a gay bar, bar near our house and met some friends for what was going to be an early night. A few English songs exist but it is not so common for anyone to sing them. Since one of our friends sang a couple of songs in English and someone we didn’t know sang one I asked Pei Lin to sing a song with me. It was the least I could do since they were only singing English because I was there. We ended up singing a few sings and had a great time.
Not sure the owner appreciated it though, by the time we finished we were the only ones there besides the help.
