Tuesday 28 October 2008

Dnafcnatgada: Only for the poetry

I've decided to share poems from my tweens to the now, right here. I'll try to resist the temptation to edit them prior to posting them. However, I shall also reserve the right to reproduce them in other media and edit, as I deem necessary. I learned much about writing while writing, over the years. The argument may be made about 'raw honesty'. But, there's something to be said for learning the right...well, on second thought (and you can tell I've started having second thoughts), we'll see.

Just about the time I'd started writing - poems, short stories, diarya-into-journal entries - I assumed the pseudonym "Dnafcnatgada". Lying in bed one night when I was about fourteen, it just came to me. Like, it was there for only me to take. And I took it. I still don't know what it means, and it still doesn't matter.

I use it only for the poetry.

Leafing through my (rather worn, yellowing and spineless) notebook tonight, I found this one I'd penned twenty years ago - give or take about two weeks. It's dated Saturday, October 15, 1988. Was I in love? I think so.

When I see you again

I came to see you today
And again, you were not at home.

When I see you again
I'm going to cry in your arms
'Cause I missed you so much.
And I'll tell you how much
I longed to see you.

But first
I will demand to know
Just where you were
And what you dared to place before me.
I would like to know
Just how much you value your time with me
How much you loathe the time without me.

But, after that
I will forgive you
As I always do.
When I see you again.

-Dnafcnatgada

Saturday 18 October 2008

New life: "Babies are a great way to start people."

Today, October 18, 2008 is a special, wonderful and blessed day! It's the birthday of the new baby in the family! Amazing!

Who would've thunk it? My sis and her husband became first-time parents today! New baby was born at 7:07pm (their time) weighing 6 lbs 6oz.

I'm an aunt! OK, so, writing it doesn't make it any more or less real.

We are filled with joy so intense, it undoubtedly overwhelms the (albeit, inkling of) anxiety that was, I imagine, secretly shared by all of us.

So, our mom and dad are grandparents for the first time. They are positively grinning, I tell ya!

In under fifteen minutes from the time sis went into the labour room, there were the cries. The sound of new life: "And you're slapping me, becaaause?" LOL!

My other sis said she, along with our other sis - do the math :) got a quick peek at the bundle of beauty. There she was looking around like, "Soooo, I'm here. Let me take this all in. Ahm, what do I do now?"

Sis said our mom came out beaming to announce that the new born looks so much like her (now exhausted) mother.

Of course, I've been in touch since they were on the way to the hospital. Thankfully, my sis has been facilitating (almost) step by step reports. I also talked to our dad who'd stayed home - a bit too nervous is my guess :)

I finally got to talk with the new mom. She related what she felt and what it felt like and how she felt and what she did and how many times she did it... I was just as excited to hear it.

Our mom was with her the whole time (hers was the hand she held), wiping her face and encouraging her throughout. Her hubby was taking the pics and vids.

Thank God, all is well. Mother and baby are doing fine, with baby now enjoying her first meal.

They've promised to send the pics and vids until I get to meet her. Hopefully, that's in another couple of months.

What's that quote? "Babies are a great way to start people."

True that!


Claudia
www.cyopro.com
www.twitter.com/cyopro

Wednesday 8 October 2008

Smile

Someone said something nice to me the other day. It was empowering, too.

She said, "You have leadership written all over you."

I smiled.

The annual kind.


Claudia
www.cyopro.com
www.twitter.com/cyopro