@cinemaniacx

Coming home to an empty living room of a COVID-stricken house is the opposite of how I’ve spent my past birthdays being surrounded by the people I love. In fact, I haven’t really been feeling it in the weeks leading up to this day; I struggled at work and then completely lost my shit when COVID took down four people in my household including my momma whom I tried so hard to shield the last two years. I’m still testing negative but who knows it may just be a matter of time before I get it too. There was a flurry of pivoting; plans were cancelled and I repurposed my freed up time hunting down medicine and food for the family, keeping the house tidy so it doesn’t look as apocalyptic as it feels, catching up on deadlines I missed and being left alone with my thoughts for longer than I’m comfortable with. Permit your basic friend to now quote a *snort* Rolling Stones song: “You can’t always get what you want; But if you try sometime you might find… you get what you need.” No better time to be reminded to stay calm, carry on and keep showing up for the people and the things you care about. To be grateful that we're still OK and that I have easy access to most needs. And to never forget that I have people in my life who are so determined to extend a helping hand that they’d push themselves into my orbit even though I closed off because I was sad. So, thank you for the cakes, chats, thoughtful gifts, treats, birthday messages, wishes and offers of help - they feel like hugs from afar. The living room is still empty but my life is full as ever in the ways that matter most. And here are the receipts! Happy birthday, Didi. One year wiser, hopefully? #ThisIs41 #DidiBirthday2022 #LoveInTheTimeOfCorona #Birthday #SingaporeILoveYou #fwenz #love #foodgram #foodporn #yummy #SGeats #steak #cake #coconutshake #coffee #tea #sgig #igsg