Celebrating a Milestone birthday
Last Sunday was a milestone birthday for me.
I had dinner at a nice British (but also a touch of Asian fusion) restaurant/lounge with several of my favorite girlfriends in Hong Kong. We had spinach salad, clam and mussels, suckling pig with apple sauce, duck breast with red wine reduction, and seabass.
Then 30 other close friends joined us for countdown champagne and cake in the terrace afterwards. People were having a really good time meeting new people and some were surprised with the diversity of friends I have - from fashion, to media, to law, to business (I even have a banking lawyer who’s my scuba diving classmate), to theatre, to music, to just plain good old-fashion party pals.
It was a wonderful birthday party. I was grinning from ear to ear all night, and it wasn’t just because of the champagne.
On Sunday, I took mom to have dim sum at our favorite chinese restaurant, then we went shopping (got 2 pairs of Steve Maddens and a sparkling top from Mango), then hot-potted at home for dinner. It was a good plan, cause I was pretty brain dead.
Then rest of the night was spent talking on the phone till dawn with some friends over in NYC and Toronto. This is definitely a milestone birthday for me. I’m not youngling anymore, even though I still eat fast food and drink too much. But now it’s different, the hangovers and junk food hit me harder than ever, takes me longer to recover. I can feel my age, more so as the days go by. And there is definitely a distinct physical and psychological changes since a decade ago:
1. Gravity is at work
2. An all nighter is now a mission impossible, and when I do have sleep deprivation — I creep myself out seeing deep lines of fatigue around my eyes and my skin.
3. It takes alot more to make me happy
4. I can’t walk out of my apartment without make up;
5. I find myself hugging and cooing over cute babies.
But there also the wonders of gaining experiences.
1. I’m a lot less confused about the world, and so much more comfortable in my own skin.
2. I’m far more confident and softer…
3. I have grown a thicker skin and I’m not afraid to negotiate, and at the same time, I don’t have the need to bust balls (all the time) in order to get what I want.
4. I’ve learned to choose my friends wiser, and even more importantly, learn to determine and handle a given situation better than ever.
5. My emotional well-being is a lot more stable, I have less sad days and more happy days.
6. I’m making my own money, and enjoy my time being a woman.
So I’ve finally recognized the true meaning of birthday celebrations — we learn as we grow, figure out how we’ve changed through the year and celebrate it. Say adieu to the old self we shed and thank those who have helped you grow.
Thank you for being here, for being part of my life. More importantly, thank you for your continuous love and support.
kisses,
CK
March 17th, 2009 at 7:06 pm
Happy birthday, and well done on growing and appreciating your own development.
Also, congratulations on finding a British restaurant abroad. I’ve never seen a restaurant serving “British” food outside of the UK (pubs serving meat and chips don’t count).
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Thanks Simon. I can understand why people say if only I knew what I know now when I was 18. LOL
The british restaurant was a bit of a surprise for me. But it makes sense for an old colonial chinese building in hong kong to be taken over by a british pub. It’s almost eloquent. If you ever come here, I’ll take you there. For sure.
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March 17th, 2009 at 11:37 pm
Late Happy Birthday greetings! Making your own money is a definite plus to getting older!;)
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Yeah. I can understand why people would hate to go BACK to school… but the thoughts of making MORE money afterwards makes it worthwhile… I guess.
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March 19th, 2009 at 5:43 pm
Bilated Happy birthday wishes ! British restaurant looks very peaceful and cool. You have selected a good place to celebrate your great day.Have a Great life !!
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March 19th, 2009 at 6:55 pm
Happy Belated Birthday! It is amazing how much more we grow to understand and appreciate certain things as we age gracefully.:)
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Oh dear - I was only accepting the fact that I’m no longer a youngling… I didn’t realize I have to “grow old GRACEFULLY”… Aaaaaaaaarggggggh!!!
Ok, I’ll be graceful.
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March 20th, 2009 at 9:15 pm
Ok. Ok. LOL!
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March 21st, 2009 at 12:28 pm
You’re only as old as you feel, at least that’s what I told myself through my 30s. When I hit my 40s, it became even more apparently.
Gaahhhhh, I’ve got to get back to the gym.
Happy, happy belated birthday, girl. I think the best is yet to come…
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I have another group of friends who are in their late 30s to late 40s… I’m the baby in this crew. I mentioned to the tai-tais (the wives) that I’m feeling my age, and they said, oh just you wait, when you hit 40, that’s when it all comes crashing.
I’m scared.
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March 23rd, 2009 at 11:52 am
Happy Birthday! I hope you’re adjusting well. It gets better, I gotta say. I don’t like the age spots associated with the 40s, but I do like being more comfortable in my own skin than I was in my 20s and 30s.
Sounds like you had a FABULOUS time.
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March 27th, 2009 at 12:59 am
Hey girlfriend! Happy Belated! I think I wished you a Happy B-Day on FB though. Then again, this post-pregnancy brain has made me think I’ve done several things already when I haven’t. LOL!
Sounds like you had a blast. LOVE how you know how to enjoy life and live to the fullest. Sounds like your life right now is the basis for shows like Sex and the City and Gossip Girl. Love it!!
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