Just a few weeks ago, I was at home waiting for my parents
to arrive. Now, with only a few weeks left, they will be going back to
Malaysia.

This time my parents get to actually see a whole new season
during their visit to the USA. They?ve always been sorta concerned about the
weather. That?s understandable if you spent almost all of your lives in the
tropic. Cold weather is the major concern. They always plan their trip around
summer time. But this time, unplanned, they had to postponed their summer trip
to the fall. And it turned out to be a blessing for all of us, and for my
parents. When it’s cold, they’d stay home under the covers.

Right now, they are very excited about the changing colors
of the leaves, and for a change, a cooler weather.

Due to my new job, I haven?t been able to spend too much
time with my parents as I wish to. But last night I went out with my parents to
the beloved Costco. We spent over an hour
shopping. Mom bought a sweat shirt, some socks, and I bought some bottled water
and a roast chicken (the new mesquite chicken wings are GOOD!).

With just a few weeks more for parents to be here, I wish
they would stay until the end of the year and go back to Malaysia with me.

I took a day off yesterday, but woke up way before my regular work day.

It was another special day. The day that all of us have been waiting for.

My parents have finally here to visit again, from Malaysia.. They arrived 16 minutes early. They were already there when we got to the airport.

It was very nice seeing and hugging them both. My brother, Bruce and I are all enjoying their company.

Even though yesterday was a crazily busy day, getting to visit with my parents made it all worth while. I was completely giddy the whole four-hour class night. All my teacher noticed that.

I’m so happy.

I took a day off yesterday, but woke up way before my regular work day.

It was another special day. The day that all of us have been waiting for.

My parents have finally here to visit again, from Malaysia.. They arrived 16 minutes early. They were already there when we got to the airport.

It was very nice seeing and hugging them both. My brother, Bruce and I are all enjoying their company.

Even though yesterday was a crazily busy day, getting to visit with my parents made it all worth while. I was completely giddy the whole four-hour class night. All my teacher noticed that.

I’m so happy.

The next morning we woke up, cleaned up, and started to head up. Hiking up the trail that leads to this meadow that I have only heard from Bruce. I know it?s suppose to be pretty, but also could be a popular hangout for bugs. Kenny provided our sun block /bug repellant. Now we?re all ready.
Bruce was very excited to show us the meadow. Heading out the house he says something like, ?It?s an easy walk. About twenty minutes. You?ll like it.? He also kept reassuring me about the route that it will be okay. I guess my nervousness and the urban-country shock is kicking in. Even walking down the rocky driveway of the cabin seemed very scary.

Well, it wasn?t really twenty minutes. But we saw many beautiful plants and stream. But no, definitely not twenty minutes. We kept walking. Some spots were tougher than others. With the help of my inhaler, the walk isn?t too bad. The air is thinner up there, and I had asthma attack every single day.
Finally we came the meadow appeared. It?s almost like walking on a hallway, and now you?re at the entrance of the big auditorium or something. I get to see the meadow with my very own eyes. They are very beautiful. I don?t even think pictures are going to do any justice. The sound of the stream, the chirping of the birds, butterflies, the buffeting grass and wild flowers, and the calming brushing sound off of the trees were amazing. That in an instant, almost, almost too out my urban-country shock entirely. From then on, I knew I?m going to be okay here. Even some bugs look pretty. And I don?t usually like bugs other than lady bugs.

Took some pictures and video, enjoyed the moment, then we started head back down to the cabin. Much easier going downhill. According to Bruce, it?s suppose to be only twenty minutes going back from the meadow to the cabin. But seriously, after that repeated ?twenty minutes? guesstimate going up to the meadow, the ?twenty minute? estimation has now become a joke. A running joke that accompanied us until the very end of the Colorado trip. Now, going anywhere is only twenty minutes.
So, after about twenty minutes (wink wink), we are back to the cabin.

Bruce wanted to show the swing that?s behind the cabin. It was a short walk, and I mean it?s way less than twenty minutes. I had fun swinging, but my favorite thing is to be able to dangle on this funky branch of a tree. That?s another sign of me getting more accustomed to the environment.

But most fun of all, is the rafting trip that we were about to take the next day. That, I was a little scared.

(to be continued…)

Bruce has been wanting to take me to the cabin for a long time. This cabin that only lived in my head as a place in the forest, somewhere in Colorado. I know it?s pretty, I know it?s relaxing, and I know it is nice, but I have never realized where it is on the map. Not even until the day I left Kansas City for the cabin.

After trying to get a lot of my vacation-week?s work done for my vacation. I finally came home. Bruce has already packed all my stuff that I have laid out on the floor in the library room. In about an hour later, we?re heading out to pick up Kenny and Jeff. We?ve always enjoyed the company of Kenny and Jeff, but this would be our first road trip together, and was it a blast having them with us!

We spent a night in Wichita at Bruce?s mom?s. The next morning, we met up with Lisa and starting to head west. Lisa is the connection to the cabin. She knows the owners of the cabin, and has been kind enough to open her invitation to me, Jeff, and Kenny.

A few things in my head on the way there. How am I going to cope with this OUTDOOR ADVENTURE. I am not a very adventurous type, and I have been so used to the urban living that I don?t really even think about going into the woods. Will there be cell phone coverage at the cabin? How do I check my emails? Where is this place actually. Is the place going to match up with Bruce?s descriptions?

Well, after many hours of driving, I mean, MANY hours of driving. I think it took us about 11-12 hours from Wichita. Of course, we took it slow. Stopped as needed, for food or bathroom breaks. And of course enjoying the company of our friends. We stopped to look at a beautiful train bridge, picked up gypsum rocks, check out guys on the way, especially that one cutie at a Pizza Hut, where we stopped for lunch.

There is so much to write about this trip that I can?t simply put it in words in one entry. But I?m sure cute guys won?t just appear in this entry alone. There are so many of them.

Anyway, we finally got into Trinidad. First stop was Wal-mart. Bought our groceries and stopped at Sonic for a late dinner and pressed on to the cabin. The town got smaller and smaller as we get closer to the cabin. It was rainy, dark, and the road was rough. Lisa was driving, thank goodness. Jeff, Kenny, and Bruce are in Bruce?s Escape, and Lisa and I were in her truck. Lisa kept telling me that the mountains are right there hidden by the darkness of night and heavy clouds. I have to say, I was a little scared. Excited, but struggling to get used to being in the nature. I checked my cell phone, dang! It?s analog roam. After a 15-minute rough ride (well, it?s just dirt and gravel, but it?s relatively rough for my first introduction to the nature after so many years in the cities) we arrived at the cabin. Very cute. And it has everything inside, a microwave oven, stove, fridge, fireplace, and of course electricity and running water. Well I knew all that, but it?s still nice to see them.

We made the bed, put away a few things and went to bed.

The next morning, my adventure begins. Hiking, whitewater rafting, climbing into a waterfall. Will write about it soon.

Bruce is very observant. Even more so when it comes to trains.

Yesterday evening, walking out from one of our favorite restaurants, Stroud?s (fried chicken!), he spotted a truck. He quickly told me that the steam train is in town. I know very little about train. But through Bruce, it is getting more exciting than I ever thought it would be.

At home, he quickly went to the internet, and found out that it is indeed south of Kansas City. Perhaps the next morning, it will be in town.

I got up to work as usual. Stepping out from the shower, Bruce told me the train is very close to us. So, on the way out, we grabbed our video camera and head to the nearest railroad crossing. It was exciting for me, even though I have no clue what am I waiting for. I know it?s steam train, and it is the largest operating steam train in the world.

So, when we got there, there were three cars alongside the track, within safe distance of course. We found a good spot. Bruce chatted with another train watcher. Suddenly, those people across the track started to get excited. ?Here? it is, here it is.? said one of them. Then we started hear the railroad crossing gate bells. Gate?s coming down. And the whistling of the train is getting closer and closer. Then this huge locomotive came by. It was big. The train engineer waved at us. I felt like a kid again. And then, before I can take a closer look at the locomotive, whoosh, it?s already way north of us.
Bruce showed me the video he captured on our camera. It was really nice. But the nicest thing is to be able to do this with him.

Last Wednesday, we lost Shadow.
On Thursday, Bruce bought a Japanese Maple tree to be planted in Shadow’s memory.

Last weekend was a great weekend for gardening. It wasn’t sunny. Not very humid. It was just very comfortable. We put the tree in, and I went to the rose bush and clipped all the blossoms and set them on top of the mulch where the Japanese Maple tree went in.

It made me feel good. Other than hundreds of Shadow’s pictures, now I can look out in the backyard, and think of Shadow.

Monday morning, I had a dream. One of those weird dreams where you know that you’re dreaming. Shadow came to visit. I saw him fluffing himself. He looked healthy. His regular big and round bright eyes. I was confused, because I knew that Shadow are no longer here. But in my dream, I felt relieved that he’s recovered. He came into my arms, rubbed against my face, and purred. Just like how he always did. I quickly called for Bruce, telling him that Shadow came back to visit. He purred so loudly. I even asked Bruce if he could hear him.

Then I woke up. Bruce was still asleep. It was almost six in the morning. I thought to myself, what a nice dream. Perhaps Shadow wanted to check on me and Bruce, making sure that we know he’s all well now. Perhaps he did visit. Perhaps he’s our new angel. A fluffy black angel of our own.

Today we lost Shadow to feline leukemia.

But I know exactly where he is right now–with me forever.

“Chah-dow-ping-ping-poot. Dow-p’ut-ting boy boy. Verd-verd. Daddy sayang.” (He always liked it when I talked to him like this.)

Yesterday was a good day.
It is nice to hear from your friend that things are great. Especially after knowing that they have gone through some struggles.
I have never thought of analyzing my happiness, but yesterday it just hit me that the kind of happiness I’m feeling for him, is very different from those of my own.
Nevertheless, it seems so strong. Just different.
But I love that feeling.

I am confident in saying that I’m usually a happy person.
However, once in a very long while, I just hit the bottom. Sometimes with more apparent reasons, and sometimes not at all.
Yesterday was one of those “how did I get this low” day.
Perhaps it’s stress at work, perhaps it’s school, perhaps it’s the weather, perhaps it’s my allergy. Or perhaps it’s everything combined.
How great could your day be if it started with a million different jobs at work. And ended up with a cup of water pouring over your laptop computer. I’m happy to say that, it appears to be in working order. Thank goodness!

But best of all, I realize how great people around you will try to make you feel better. Even though, when your’e down, you’re down. Nevertheless, knowing that someone’s there for you is a wonderful thing.

I’m glad this morning I woke up with Bruce laying a blanket over me, because I was cold. And his kiss goodbye. My day will definitely be much better than yesterday.