......or was it? Oh well, let me just ask Dale b/c he's older than me and besides, he'll be 49 very, very soon hahaha. Hey, at least I am being honest about his age and save you time from guessing. I have decided to make this post quite different from the ritual paragraphs with punctuations and marks and since I am blessed with "two scores" plus two more........I think I have the very motivation to put into writings my "42 reasons" why I must be grateful. So, are you all ready? Here it goes.....

1. I am the 1st child, "firstborn" is what I called it.
2. Was born July 1st, forty two years ago.
3. Reared by two great parents, a mom who's a HS grad & a dad who never finished grade school. Am I embarrass of the fact? NAY!
4. Grew up with three sisters in a home that's not grand BUT it's "ours".
5. Never experienced to have a brother BUT "God" bestowed me a son. How great is that?
6. Witnessed our dining table with scarce food on it, but we were always healthy and well fed.
7. While other kids our age go without on Christmas day, me & my sisters always had new clothes to wear to church on that day.
8. It was a jubilation for a kid like me, at the time, to realize we had "electricity". Some neighbors to this day, are still on an "oil lamp".
9. Had our first black & white television set when I was in 6th grade. Whew! that was really a BIG deal hahaha.
10. Renting never crossed my parents mind, so we all grew up in the home that belongs to us.
11. First to experience being in front of a crowd when I was in 1st grade to lead the National Anthem. I thought that was cool!
12. My 1st grade teacher was my father's 1st grade teacher hahaha.
13. I was an honor student during my grade school years. I don't brag about it. I think the word "smart" isn't for me to claim, IT'S for the people to say.
14. I was gifted with courage and never been a "timid" type. I am a sales girl right from the very beginning.
15. I sold a lot of candies to classmates & schoolmates during my years in grade school.
16. I am a business-minded gal and had the first taste of it when I traded in some bubblegums for 20 sheets of writing paper in 2nd grade hahaha. I should be working for NYSE today.
17. I am somebody to beat in Math in HS. My report card is something every parent wish to see.
18. I was a class rep during my 1st & 2nd year in HS for end-of-the year activities.
19. I'm in a band as a drummer from 3rd to 4th year.
20. I went to Vocational School for a year and graduated with Typewriting & Stenography cert.
21. Finished college with a Bachelor degree in Elem Ed.
22. Has experience about dealing with fifth graders.
23. Been to Singapore and lived there for six years.
24. Spent a week of nothing but fun at Malaysia's "Genting Highlands".
25. I've seen Brunei Darussalam.
26. I've experienced life in Hong Kong. Good food, great views, and everything in between hahaha.
27. I learned some of the languages (Tamil, Mandarin, Malay, & Cantonese), learned how to cook their cuisines as well as adapting to their customs & traditions.
28. Let me add Seoul, South Korea to the list.
29. Being exposed to countries sooo progressive changed my life and my perspectives.
30. How I look now and how I carry myself didn't just happened overnight. Moreover, living in America has nothing to do with it. I am who I am years before I met my dear Dale.
31. OK, it's getting more interesting now that I am closing in to the period of "no return". It took 4yrs for my husband and I to get married. That's a lot of years of thinking hahaha.
32. That "once-in-a-lifetime" decision could either brings "misery" or "happiness". Fortunately, I am very happy and much contented.
33. Finally tied the knot and exchanged our vows July 15, almost 12yrs ago.
34. I don't believed in "COHABITATION", so we never practiced the so- called......."TRY IT B4 U BUY IT" promo hahaha. He bought it first and then tried afterwards, which is the best way to go.
35. I never spent a dime on our wedding. Dale foot the bill on everything.
36. Dale's never been married before, so I am his first wife. "Original wife" is what his side of the family called it. Oh my! that's an honor.
37. The following year our precious son, Josef, was born. Jann came almost 4yrs later.
38. These two kids really brought so much joy to our lives. Children, as we know it, makes every married woman's life complete. I would feel empty inside without my kids.
39. Having a bright child is always been my dream. God responded by giving me two brilliant ones. One boy and the other, girl!
40. Both of them are honor students, so I am entitled to claim........"Proud Mom Of An Honor Students".
41. Though I'm already have a degree on me, adding one more won't harm me at all. So, Dale sent me to school to be a nurse.
42. At present, I am a Nursing student. Back then, I believed that "Those Who Care Teach" but now I am here to say that "Those Who Teach Care". I used to teach but very soon I'll be caring a pt.

That's all for today. Thanks a lot for reading but much more for holding. I know some readers out there has a "jealous heart" and gets so "envious" in a heart beat. I can't help I got 42 reasons to be grateful. If you can't stand them, that's your problem and not mine. As the saying goes.......if you can't handle your neighbor talking about "burglar" and "robber", YOU SHOULDN'T MARRY A THIEF". That's all there is to it !!!