My 62nd Birthday Cake
It was already 01.25 am this morning before I hit my bed, when I wrote a short message on my Facebook wall to thank all my FB friends who wrote their “Happy Birthday” messages yesterday, 1st June. Likewise, there were also never ending calls and SMSs from my friends extending their congratulations to me on the occasion of my 62nd birthday.
“Congratulations on your birthday, another bonus year for you,” yelled my friend Datuk TJ as I came out from Church early yesterday morning. He was more enthusiastic than me when he said, “in actual fact everyday is a bonus for us”. I certainly agree with him who himself is much older than me and has already experienced the benefits of those “everyday bonus”.
Indeed, I am now 62 but to me they are only numbers. My predominant wish is, of course, to score bigger numbers. With God's grace coupled with good wishes and the prayers from my close friends and from my spiritual director, Rev. Fr. Michael Modoit (I received his SMS early in the morning to wish me and wrote in his message that he would pray for me that morning itself), I am proud of my nephew for remembering me in alter of God. I am confident that scoring additional numbers is not beyond my dream – to be able to see the reality of 2020 projection that Malaysia would become a developed country by then. I have to caution myself though to reduce my intake of ‘Talak’, a potent alcoholic drink when taken indiscriminately.
For the record, I would like to reproduce a birthday sms message from my good friend, Justin and my reply to him as well:-
SMS from Justin:-
“I BELIEVE 2DAY IS AN AUSPICIOUS DAY FOR YOU.
MAY YOU EXPERIENCE THE EXTRA-ORDINARY PEACE, JOY AND GRACE THAT COMES FROM THE HEART OF GOD, CONTINUED GOOD HEALTH, SUCCESS AND GOD'S PRESENCE ALWAYS.
MY FAMILY JOINS ME IN WISHING YOU MANY HAPPY RETURNS OF THE DAY.”
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY."
My reply to Justin:-
“Yes, today is an auspicious day for both of us since my birthday falls on your Saint's Day. I am just wondering why I chose my namesake as his Saint's Day (St. Sylvester’s) falls on 31st December. It is about 7 months later than my actual birthday today. May be I am just the opposite of St. Sylvester, if I may interpret it wrongly. Anyway thank you for your kind words. God bless.”
No elaborate birthday celebration for me this time. My wife and daughter however threw a small party attended by my children and their wives, nephews, nieces and close friends to witness me blowing my 6 big candles and two small ones. I was expecting 62 candles altogether but my daughter told me to count the 6 big candles. How naive I was!
As usual, the party was not over until everybody decided to call it a night at around 01.00am. Only then I could turn on my computer to write my message in the Facebook.
Some photos taken during the party on the evening of 1st June, 2009.
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Happy Birthday to you Sylvester. Belated though but never too late. Having travelled 62 years of life journey is indeed an incredible achievement. I'm sure many would envy you for having achieved such a milestone in life (that includes me).
ReplyDeleteGiven your present well being, I'm sure 70 years would easily be within your reach. I remember you telling me that 'when you achieved 60, you look forward to achieving 70'. Surely you are on your way to achieving that. We must praise the Good Lord for giving you good health, safety, extra-ordinary peace, happiness & joy within you and your family. That makes a whole lot of difference. May the Good Lord continue to shower you with excellent health, happiness, joy and wisdom for many more years to come. My family & I take this opportunity to wish you ' a Happy belated birthday to you' and may the Lord bless you always.
DJJG & family.