i rushed down in a cab today to mount alvernia hospital. i didn't really know what time she was going into the operating theatres or where everyone was or anything. i just let some mysterious force take charge and lead me there. took the lift up to the 4th floor. i entered through the doors which separates the authorised personnal from the unauthorised ones i.e. me and saw my cousin sitting anxiously in a chair, wearing those green scrubs and the shower cap thingy on his head. the sight of an expectant father, minutes before he was about to see his first son being born into the world.

i had to wait outside though. his best friend was there. he flew all the way from australia to share in this moment. my cousin's mom sat next to me, chatting excitedly with my mother. i was armed with my video camera, hoping not to miss a thing. soon enough, the doors opened and out came my cousin in those same funny green scrubs, walking beside the doctor who was pushing little samuel in a little roller-cot. my cousin's face wore a smile of triumph and pride. who would've thought that this little boy would grow up to be a father today?

my aunty was bonkers by then. she was totally blown away by the sight of little samuel. she had only seen him for a few seconds for he had to be rushed off for tests and to be cleaned up. yet, she was gushing away about him to everyone on her phone, marvelling at his dimples, his curly hair, who he looked like, how cute he was, dot, dot, dot...

my cousin, the proud new father, he was still captivated by the awe of this experience. he kept recalling those moments, how he felt when he first got to hold his son, how samuel was able to respond to his name already, the way samuel put his little hand on his little ears when he hear the other babies crying in the nursery. his wife, she lay on her bed, with a tired but relieved and calm smile on her face. the triumphant heroine. i played the video back for her to see little samuel since she still hadn't really looked at him yet. she was too tired to really talk much but i could tell her heart was swelling with excitement and wonder...finally a face to the little creature who had been kicking her belly and swimming around in it for almost 9 months.

then all their close friends came in at one shot shortly after. i felt so touched by the whole situation. everyone coming together to celebrate the springing forth of a new life into the world, to be there for my cousin and his wife to share in this joyous moment with them...i found it so beautiful, the bustle of activity surrounding the birth of this teeny weeny little thing. i don't know how to describe it; i'm not eloquent enough. but they were truly some beautiful moments and i am in awe.

to sidetrack a bit, don't you think it must be such a big shock for a baby who has just been born into the world? all of a sudden, you see those bright lights, strange two-legged things walking around wearing weird things, doing weird things....was just imagining myself as little samuel.

life is made up a series of births and deaths. every moment, something is born, a new cell, a new job opportunity, a new friend, a new lover....every moment, something else dies....an old cell, resigning from a job, breaking up....

everything is so transient. but maybe that's what makes everything all the more beautiful. and perhaps we hold on to love in all these moments, since it's the only thing we can hold onto, the only permanent thing. we're just sojourning through this life, but on the way, it seems as though there's just so much to celebrate about and be thankful for...so much! true, there are also times for grieving. that's life i guess....there's a time for every purpose under heaven...