two days before my 29th birthday, i found out i had a 7cm fibroid in my uterus that required surgical removal.
the doctor delivered the diagnosis very matter-of-factly, to which i asked, in a state of heightened fear, “what does that mean?”
i learned that they were common (20% of women have it) and mostly benign, but with a fibroid of my size, it was better to have it removed.
this year spelt out a lot of health issues and medical matters for me, especially when i moved to Singapore. and my trip to KL this time, while largely was to spend my birthday here, was also partially to handle a bunch of medical-related stuff (e.g. health check-ups and vaccinations).
needless to say my hypochondriac ass had been pretty stressed out from all this for the past few months. but this year, i was determined not to let my anxiety ruin my birthday for me, which is why i am choosing instead to focus on the things i am immensely grateful for.
the day before my birthday, i found myself waking up at 6am to hike a hill in Port Dickson with the G3 gang. it was only upon arrival at our destination that i realised i had been here 2 years ago with my ex. but by the time we descended from our climb, my past memories associated with Tanjong Tuan and Bukit Batu Putih had already been overwritten by fresh memories of hiking with my friends of 11 years.
that same night, my same friends of 11 years indulged in my wish to visit bamboo hills for the first time despite how bourgeoise the place was. i always, always have fun with the gang, no matter how long we are apart.
on my birthday, i spent the morning doing a blood test, before going for a spin class at Club Aloha. Club Aloha felt so nostalgic to me the moment i arrived, having attended weekly classes there for almost half a year with Amber when i was still working in KL last year.
i spinned (span?) with Rumin and Wilson that day. it’s kind of funny how my core memories of spinning with Rumin are always associated with specific occasions; my birthday, Rumin’s birthday, and the day after my breakup. but i had the most amazing spin session i had in a long time that day and you might be wondering, amazing how? given that i spin regularly in Singapore anyway.
well, amazing because it reminded me of how different the classes in Singapore were compared to here. classes in Singapore often felt more serious, solemn and deadpan. very no-nonsense vibe. but my class at Club Aloha that day felt warm, familiar and inviting. just like how the whole of KL felt to me. and i never really realised the contrast until i was back.
we had my favourite ramen ever at Kanbe for lunch after that, after which Rumin lit a candle on a peach strudel at Kenny Hills and i fell into a food coma after.
three hours later i geared myself for more food again as i had dinner plans with Lionel, Yenny and Ee Kien, who surprised me with a cake at the end. and then the night ended with bingsu with Vic at Aftermeal while he relished my recounts of the ridiculous stories/experiences i had in Singapore.
a day after my birthday was a workday, but i had to get some vaccinations done in town so i bribed Wilson with a free meal in exchange for a temporary chauffeur now that i was car-less and had to make multiple stops within my lunch break.
so that afternoon saw me getting jabbed with Gardasil-9 on my left arm and Twinrix on my right while having my 3rd ever favourite food (bak kut teh being my 1st and Kanbe ramen being my 2nd) – mazesoba at Menya Hanabi.
the remote workday was punctured by my Irish boss (and a very reluctant Marco) singing a birthday song to me over a Teams meeting before we started talking about regulatory compliance policies. honestly it felt like the most bizarre thing to have happened in my job so far.
for dinner i met with uni friends i hadn’t met in ages (even though ironically we never failed to hang out almost every other week when we were in uni) and it reminded me of younger, carefree times (especially since this group of 30s is always trying to remind me i’m getting closer to their age bracket) but also made me feel the contrasting difference between our lives and priorities now compared to then.
the second day after my birthday was spent with my ex-colleagues and ex-bosses from the law firm i worked at previously, and it is always so nostalgic to return to Publika where i had spent three full years working at to see familiar faces welcome me back with so much warmth, even though i was no longer a colleague. there was no longer any obligation for these people to continue to want to see me, other than the affirming reason that these people now see me as their friend.
i had lunch with them and then worked, amazingly, from the office as if i had never left. it felt crazy. i felt grateful.
after work, i went spinning with Amber, getting Boost juice after and visiting Ales, once again just like old days, settling into the comfortable routine that i had a mere 6 months ago.
i met up with Rumin and Qiujing for dinner and desserts three days after my birthday, and i woke up on the fourth day after my birthday with covid.
it was an extremely conflicting situation to be in, being sick in someone else’s house, and then having to meet up with my parents and elderly relatives the day after for a 5-day 4-night short trip to Ipoh. but long story short, i masked up, kept my distance, spammed medication and recovered rather speedily without (touches wood) passing the virus on to anyone else. at the end of the trip, we had a mini all-in-one celebration for father’s day, mother’s day and my birthday.
i could not have asked for a warmer and more fulfilling start to the last year of my 20s. i know i basically strongarmed my friends to spend my birthday week with me in KL but i am grateful for everyone who has showed up and showered me with attention. it really made me believe in the magic that was my friends. thank you.
michelle teoh 