Hope

And so today we shall enter Part 2 of the 'Decision'.. I was told that the submission would be done today..

Let's pray that it does, shall we..

Ah.. I am hopeful...

So hopeful..

I cannot deny that at the same time, I am scared.

But what's scarier than not trying at all, and left wondering for your whole life, right?..

And so, today, we shall focus on  'Hope' instead...

Over and Over- Puff Johnson

I have not heard this wonderful song in a very long time. When I first saw the the movie' First Wives Club' and heard this soundtrack, I love it. It became my pep-up song during that time when I need some 'kicking'..

Today I feel like being reminded of how far I have come since I heard first this song.. And to celebrate it..

 

~.~

So you stood there on the corner
With your suitcase in your hand
Ready to quit this place
There were just too many people
With too little left to lose
You were just one more face
But you weren't born to give up easy
You weren't raised to just lie down

And you saw the sun that rises up for more
Over and over
You watch the wave that wears away the shore
Over and over again
And if there's any justice in this world
Gotta keep fighting on
Over and over

They say God always forgives us
But can we forgive ourselves
If we let our hope die
Cause if passion is a weakness
And silence is a strength
Who's gonna hear the cry?

So we gotta climb the highest mountain
We gotta shout for all to hear

And we'll see the sun that rises up for more
Over and over and over
And we'll feel the wave that wears away the shore
Over and over and over again
And if there's any justice in this world
Gotta keep moving on
Over and over
You gotta keep fighting on
Over and over
(All that we dream)
All that we dream can come to be
All that we lost we'll find if we
Just strike the match
And fan the flame
We'll build a blaze
That lights the way

We'll be the sun that rises up for more
Over and over
We'll be the wave that wears away the shore
Over and over again
And if there's any justice in this world
You gotta keep moving on
Over and over
Gotta keep fighting on

We'll be the star that rises up
Over and over
Over and over and over and over
'Cause if there's any justice in this world
You gotta keep moving on
Over and over
You gotta keep moving on
You gotta keep fighting on
Over and over

Over and over again

Highlight of my Gawai 2012

So our Gawai 2012 festival has ended. And what a celebration it was! Most of our family members do not live in the longhouse per se, so just being there, and observing the activities during gawai it self have always been a treat.

My cousin  who always took it upon himself every year to organise and coordinate events and activities involving the longhouse folks around this time, had always been more than happy with the response so far. However this year, he was not too happy with the response he was getting and made it clear.

In show of support for his effort, the younger ones  (cousins) decided to jump in and participate in Kumang and Keling competition.

Since I no longer belong in the 'maiden' bracket, I no longer qualify. But hey,  we must support our cousin, no?.. Here are some pictures taken during the preparation.

Here's me with one of my younger maiden cousin who participated in the competition; getting her all pretty up in her costume.. We both had problem try to get the coin belt hooked.{Thanks to  my inexperience in sorting out what goes where}. But after much perseverance on my part and holding her breaths for the umpteeth of time without fainting and being extremely patient with my cluelessness, on her part; we succeeded.{Yay!}

Now this is how the expert does it.. My grandma and my younger sister..

My nephew outgrew his shyness this year and said he wanted to participated too.. So one of his uncles helped him get ready.   What's a war hero without their tattoo, eh? Check out my nephew's tattoo.. He wanted one too, as he was inspired by an orginal he saw on one of his many uncles. So my cousin tattooed (gel-linered, to be precise) him..

Here's the young man with another contestant. There were only the two of them in this category, so no prize in guessing who won. :D

The line up of contestant and winners.

My nephew, cousins, sister and her friend..

Aah.. And here is the highlight of my gawai this year.. My lovely angels and their equally lovely family came for a visit.

I am still reeling from disbelief from this visit. I would only come back to the longhouse, once a year and mostly during gawai. To have my angels visit me during gawai and to have dinner on a table that my late grandfather built was so surreal. One of them and her family even stayed a night..

Thank you , my lovely angels, for making time to visit me...  Let's make this a tradition, shall we... :)