This weekend, I am without the person who is normally attached to my hip. I am sad.

This is what he wrote for me recently for our anniversary, if that’s what you call it. We are so mundane. 4 years, who would have thought?

I’m going to miss his antics this weekend!

This, is clearly not an easy post for me to write. By rights, pun intended, it should be dead easy.
But how do you thank someone who’s not only loved you for the past four years, but sacrificed for you, believed in you, forgave you and put up with your worst baggage?

It’s not easy to do that. Not at all as there’s only so much that words can say.

Four years ago, I asked Keisha if she would be willing to share her life with me. I was nervous, indeed scared and had mulled over it for a week plus as I was never sure if any woman would want such a sheltered, nerdy, eccentric man into their life.

And she said yes, without a second thought. And it has changed my life forever.

I was drawn to Keisha by her strength of character, her faith in God and her resolve to live despite seemingly insurmountable odds; to rise above them and triumph.

For over the four years I’ve known her, she’s not let any obstacle get in her way.
I’ve seen her fight through one crippling affliction after another, be it creeping paralysis from a spinal injury to hearing loss due to a tumor.
And through it all, I’ve seen one thing. Keisha never gives up. She’s always focused forward, pressing on with her studies, with her life.
She gets her high school transcript, full of As. She gets into college, and despite the efforts of some parties to maliciously use her disability to discriminate against her, she makes it to get an Academic Excellence Award due to a sufficiently high GPA.
She believes in herself, and it rubs off on the people around her. That’s one of many, many reasons why I love her so, and why I blog about her and why I will not stop speaking about her.

She believes that with an education, you can unlock doors, and she has not given up on that.

Over the four years, I have also seen Keisha be selfless. While she’s suffering herself, she cares and looks out for others except herself. Not once has she begrudged me her time, love, care and advice. She’s always been there to point me in the right direction no matter how tedious or unpleasant it might be to her.
She’s always had the patience to look out for me and just give herself to me.

And not just me. I’ve seen the way she looks out for her younger siblings, how she’s always there for them. Caring, keeping an eye out, even fighting for them when need be. It’s moved me to love her more, seeing her for who she is.

Keisha, I’ll always love you. Here’s to four years together and hopefully a lifetime ahead.

From the old Blog

May. 13th, 2007 at 1:25 PM
Today, I wrote this poem dedicated to my mother for Mother’s Day, and I would like to share it with you all. There is a story in this poem, which I hope you all can see and dissect.

Beautiful is a day today,
in which sons and daughters
come together to express
love, kindness and respect.

For you have raised us since we were small,
and graced us with wisdom and strength,
to stand up, firm and tall.

So dearest mother, this is what I have to say:

In your womb you carried me for nine months
nurturing me, safe from harm.
preparing me for the long journey that is called life.

When I was ready, you set me upon the sea,
since then, many waves have shaken me,
nevertheless, you were there to comfort me,
in times of sorrow,
in times of hardship,
and times of fear.
So thank you mom for your love and generosity.

Our faces may look alike,
though our minds may always collide,
but despite all barriers involved,
you alone, have molded me into the person I am today.
For that I need to express my gratitude for your patience and understanding.

Soon, it will be time for me to leave,
and make my mark upon the world,
and this I will never forget,
how you love me with all your heart,
a cherished treasure which never will depart.

I love you more and more everyday Mommy, and Happy Mother’s Day

From the old blog

Beacon of Light

Profound is the message I am about to convey,
a stream of kindness poured forth today.
Meticulously, I have sought words to describe,
for a selfless spirit,
which so few abide.

A word to describe a fulfilled life,
free from blind materialistic strife.
With humility you tried to impart,
the compass that guides to His heart.

A word to describe a gracious soul,
generously, you offered your rice bowl.
For those abused, destitute and mistreated,
your gentle embrace told them that they were not defeated.

A word to describe God’s messenger,
a noble aid to many a passenger.
Bringing them forward to the Beacon of Light,
ending the reign of fear and the long dark night.

(c) Keisha Soma Petrus

I believe that the sun shines after the rain
I believe if you don’t get hurt you’ll never gain
I believe in not doing things the easy way
I believe that being selfish doesn’t pay

I believe in a second chance
I believe in a life long romance
I believe there is life after death
And standing up to a life of mess

I believe in love at first sight
I believe that revenge isn’t right
I believe that first impressions last
And there is nothing better then a good laugh

I believe that dreams

do come true, I believe there’s destiny for me and you,
I believe something good comes from something bad I believe everyone has one true love

I believe there’s destiny for me and you
I believe that good things come to those who wait
I believe love never arrives too late

I believe something good comes from something bad
I believe that for tears of happiness there are tears of sad
I believe everyone has a guardian angel
And the good you do will be rewarded well

I believe sometimes there is no explanation
I believe money can’t buy people’s affection
I believe you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone
I believe a new day arrives with every dawn

I believe a smile can be contagious
I believe in being very outrageous
I believe in living with no regrets
I believe that life is as good as it gets

I believe that God watches over us
I believe the little things are worth the fuss
I believe you have each friend for a reason
I believe you will get punished for treason

I believe that what comes first is family
I believe we should all live in harmony
I believe in making the most of a beautiful day
And it’s not the end until everything’s okay

I believe absence makes the heart grow fonder
I believe you will lose if you sit and wonder
I believe every experience teaches you a lesson
And nothing cures better then a drinking session

I believe everyone has one true love
I believe sometimes we need a little shove
I believe the whole world is a stage
I believe we only get better with age

I believe that to learn you have to live
I believe that to love someone you have to give
I believe one moment can change your life
And there’s still help when you’re in strife

I believe everyone has one true friend
I believe love helps a broken heart mend
I believe in the power of a song
And things will change before too long

I believe living is the best experience
I believe in not laughing at other people’s expense
I believe it’s hard to watch

a lover leave
And when they’re gone all you can do is breath

I believe to always look on the bright side
I believe that life is just one big ride
I believe when I die people will grieve
But it’s ok because I believe

by  Egyptian Heart

From: http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/i-believe-in-a-second-chance/

Home-schooling for DAJ kids

Story and photos by GEETHA KRISHNAN

PORING over his home-schooling books, M. Suresh James’ eyes light up.

He has discovered something new and is keen to share the information with his classmates. But class at the Desa Amal Jireh (Desa Charity Village or DAJ) in Broga near Semenyih is still in session, so Suresh, 17, waits patiently for the bell to ring.

The soft-spoken teenager, who aspires to be a Christian missionary, now has a chance at gaining quality education through a path less trodden. When he came to the home for underprivileged children a few years ago, he could barely read.

The home’s co-founder, Kamala Sinnadurai, said Suresh was never given a chance to educate himself because his mother neglected him and his siblings.

“His father had abandoned the family and Suresh was forced to look after an older sister’s children while she went out to work. He was already a teenager by then and had minimal schooling,” she shared.

“The home-schooling syllabus here is based on the Alpha and Omega system from the United States. It encourages students to study at their own pace. Every one is supplied with books and learning materials while self-assessments, year-end tests and field trips are part of the curriculum,” she added.

Currently, Suresh is in Grade 5, more or less equivalent to Standard Six. However, he is diligent and hopes to complete double grades in order to catch up with the rest.

Kamala said she toyed with the idea of home-schooling when she realised that many kids at the home were unable to read and write. Most had not attended school or were dropouts with a slim chance of being accepted into national schools.

From: http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2009/12/12/central/5272549&sec=central

Thank you YL for showing me this. Although tardily late, Malaysia has finally got some perspective — the Star has shed some light to the benefits of homeschooling.

So Alpha Omega has got some publicity eh? Like the kiddos above, I went through Alpha Omega but one difference, I went through the Academy and I have been a proud alumnae for nearly two years.

So what has homeschooling got that normal schooling doesn’t? LOTS….WELL AT LEAST OVER THE CURRENT MALAYSIAN SYLLABUS.

I learned to be self-disciplined and independent. I don’t need anyone to tell me to study. GOOD for university as there’s a lot of independent study.

I honed my writing skills from the Academy and got an appreciation for poetry through Alpha Omega Academy. Where there is lackluster grammar, I excel. The standards in the Malaysian system are too simplistic where English is concerned. Remember that English is the global medium of communication.

I got to learn some other language besides Malay. ¡ESPANOL, LA LENGUA HERMOSO! Although, I’ve forgotten most of it due to lack of practice, learning about other cultures broadened my horizons!

I do not plagiarize..as is the case of most Malaysian-produced students, God help them when they reach university, it’s a literary crime! I remember in grade 9, when I first joined the Academy, I nearly got kicked off the program for plagiarizing my physics project! I didn’t know any better at that time though, going through the Malaysian system for six years. It’s viewed as a major crime in America folks.

I got to excel at my own pace. Though I went through surgeries, I was able to catch up because of flexibility.

I’m used to high standards. AOA’s passing grade was 75 %. 80 is a C for cryin’ out loud! If you fail, you have to redo it to ensure mastery of every topic!

NO WAKING UP AT 6 A.M. Seriously, I can’t wake before the sun rises!

“I survived a war, did you know that? I survived a war where they put bodies into mass graves where there was once a playground. I survived the death of my family, my parents, my brothers and sisters. Then I survived the death of my wife and child when they starved to death in a refugee camp. I survived the loss of my country, of hearing my mother tongue spoken, of knowing what it feels like to have a place to call home. I survived. And I will survive the loss of my legs. If I have to, I’ll survive it. Ok? But Derek, there is always a way when things look like there’s no way. There’s a way to do the impossible, to survive the insurvivable. There’s always a way. And you, you and I have this in common. We’re inspired. In the face of the impossible, we’re inspired. So if I can offer one piece of advice to the world’s foremost neuro surgeon. Today if you become frightened instead become inspired. Ok, I’m ready now. Put me to sleep.” 

Grey’s Anatomy

Last week, I read about a 12 year-old aussie giving birth..I was like “When I was 12, I wanted to play with dolls, not have sex! This is beyond grotesque, this generation wants to grow up so fast! No way I was mentally and emotionally prepared for sex.” And yes, this ‘girl’ did it willingly with a 15 year-old boyfriend. Her m0m was apparently too permissive, allowing the boyfriend to have sex with her.

Any wonder why I was shocked when my then 5 year-old cousin, who is now 11, whispered in my ear that she has a boyfriend. My older cousin then commented that it was ‘normal’. GO FIGURE. The above is what happens. When I was 5, I HATED BOYS….It was girls rule and boys drool for me. To be utterly honest, I didn’t fully comprehend the mechanics 0f sex till I was 13, when I encountered my brother’s porn on the computer! I so vaguely remember my mom making JUST ONE conversation..that’s it! TO THIS DAY, I am still paranoid about the consequences and hence, I am just not quite ready.

I was so bloody relieved when my 11 year-old sister, asked for a barbie doll for Christmas, I can’t handle anything else!

My childhood, it seems, is comparatively more innocent. Has it all changed? Where do we draw the line on when it’s okay to have sex?

The youngest child ever to give birth I thought. But I found something different on the nternet, something that made my jaw drop.

“There are always some kinds of records that you just can’t believe. These cases are outside the borders of rational thinking. The youngest mother was a 5 year old Peruvian girl. I thought it’s just an other urban legend, but the images and the sources persuaded me. A five year old girl is not matured enough to give birth to a child. The absence of puberty, menstrual cycle, proper development of the uterus makes it impossible, but:

Her name was Lina Medina, a Peruvian girl from the Andean village of Ticrapo… Lina’s parents initially thought their daughter had a large abdominal tumor… but Lina was eventually transferred to a hospital in Lima, where she delivered a six-pound baby boy by Cesarean section on 14 May 1939. Lina’s father was temporarily jailed on suspicion of incest, but he was released for a lack of evidence and authorities were never ableto determine who fathered Lina’s child.”

From:http://scienceroll.com/2006/12/09/the-youngest-mother-ever/

I know, shocking right?

I am so glad I am not an adult earning money yet, since I have to buy EVERYONE presents..can you imagine…having to be so altruistic on Xmas. LOL. Just Kidding.

Nothing would make me smile more than being selfless, on the day on which you are suppose to be selfless.

I can’t stand shopping at so many places so I chose Midvalley as the spot for EVERYTHING. And since my spine is killing me these days, I was whisked around in a wheelchair by his truly. But really, I am never ever gonna go down an escalator on a wheelchair again!  Man,. I wonder how wheelchair-bound users do it. LOL. It was nice being pampered, but there’s A LOT of downsides too. I am glad I got to see a wheelchair-bound user’s perspective.

S0 we bought everything for my cousins and the helpers, and I gotta tell you, I was tempted to take my cousin’s present for myself…But HOLD, That’s not the spirit of xmas!

I have to remind myself that.

I love the present we got my little cuzzy, a burger-makin’ play-doh set…he can’t read yet so! Wish I was a kid again, where life was simple and fun! I ENVY HIM!

Believe it or not, I am yeeeeeendian and  in my 20 years of existence, I have not worn a sari…neither do I know HOW to tie a sari…I am that dumb to my culture and I am not proud of it…I’ve been too…well…westernized…haha…if that’s what one would call a word!

Well I say time for a change…how about I wear a sari for xmas? Wonder if I can pull it off?

You know, this is partly my mother’s fault. She knows how to wear one in all sorts of ways, and she hasn’t taught me. In fact, she’s a professional beautician and yet, her daughter is shit-on-dumb when it comes to things like make-up…I don’t even own a set..Why can’t she teach me????? Haha.

I’ve been to0 much of a carefree, tomboy all my life…I really wonder whether that’s due to my mom ignoring my girly side…hmm…time for a change.