Day 6

1. Had lunch with more old friends. This seems to be reunion season. Again I had another chance to get some good food and laugh hard with old friends. I know there have been many, as the previous posts will prove, but I know I'll appreciate this "catch up time" even more when the year goes on and my friends are back in their offices halfway across the world.

2. Realized I know the perfect couple. Today I was chatting with a friend who was talking about how she married the right person and how they complement each other from finances to raising kids to leading the family. I know you read about such couples in books or magazine features but I really know one such couple! Its nice to know people like this when everyone is looking for the practical mate or a practical realationship thus, live an ordinary ho-hum life. Its nice to know that you can do things differently and it is very possible becuase I have the friends who've proven it.

3. Met bigtime photojournalists who shared their stories and gave me tips. I wrote about this in an earlier post. Back then I just thought I was meeting someone who was educated abroad but today I met photojournalists who work for international agencies-- people who contribute to NY Times and TIME! This was a story fest! I met 2 locals and one foreigner who each had their stories and tips for me. They even complimented my photos! Now these are the mentors I've been looking for!

4. Heard a really nice story from a really successful guy. The guy who introduced me to these photojournalists is a very successful guy in his field of photography. He shoots magazine covers and famous models. But what amazed me is his life story and how God continues to write it for him. He was married for years, spearated for a couple of years, and got an annulment. While the annulment was pending and he way separated, someone from his industry brought him to a church where he became very active and made peace with God and asked God to run his life for him. He went back home to his family, asked his wife and kids for forgiveness, committed himself to the family, slept in a seperate room for a while, courted his wife all over again, and now the family is back together. After he put God in his life, he says that his business just skyrocketed. And he says that he believes that the reason for that is God equipping him to be a better provider for his family. He credits God for all the success he's enjoying. I used to admire this guy for his pictures. Now I admire him for so much more. I'm so happy to have heard his story.

5. The line was fast at the place where I was paying bills. I'm not a very patient person when it comes to lines. I don't like getting pushed or nudged or seeing people trying to cut lines. But today I think I came in with a more peaceful state that I actually didn't mind the length of the line I was just happy listening to the radio music clashing with the basketball game on the TV mounted on the wall. Again I think, maybe the lines have always been this fast or this slow but I wonder if I was just as peaceful and worry-free as today.