I am generally an anti-social person when it comes to my birthday. I do not like to make a big fuss of it. I’m also not terribly excited about getting one year closer to 30 – a psychological age barrier for myself. It’s not that I am afraid I will have accomlished little by 30, I am more afraid that I will lose my drive by then. But today was simply about living in the present.

I received well wishes from my brother and mother, and had a relaxing conversation with my brother in particular. Mother always wants to send me money on birthdays (don’t all chinese mothers?), but I really have no need for the gift. I am very appreciative of the gesture and birthdays are always an occasion to thank my mother!

When it comes to friends, I do know of many people, but I am most appreciative of my close friends. I had a scheduled dinner treat with Jimmy. It’s been far too long since we sat down for a heart to heart talk. Like the good friends that we are, we pick up where we left off as if no time has passed. We talked candidly about everything there could be to talk about, the past, the present and the future. (More about our journey back to the past soon!). Catherine is also another friend who always remembers my birthday. Some years, she will send an email, or a text message, this year we talked on the phone briefly while Jimmy and I just finished dinner. It’s always great to hear from a dear friend!

Jimmy really took me on a journey to his past. As you know, I live around the Warden / Steeles area currently. Jimmy showed me that he used to live around the same area with his cousins during his first time in North America. He had went to Milliken Mills Public School for his grade 8 education! He showed me the first basketball court where he started learning basketball, and also where he had his first summer job!

Later, we went to a nearby basketball court to shoot some hoops. There was very good lighting and the ground was damp from the rain, but our old basketball from Waterloo did not get even the slightest wet. The hoop and court were very nice and very soon we were hearing the sweet sound of the swooshing net. We shot around for another hour, all the while still chatting about everything that we could think of. Call me nostalgic, but basketball has changed me from a shy guy to a more outgoing person, as did Jimmy according to his stories. There was no better way I could write an ending to my birthday. I will treasure these memories!