One Hundred Twenty-Fourth Entry

You never realize how meaningful your personal relationships are until they are gone or almost gone. It shouldn't be this way. I take all my relationships for granted, when I really should cherish and preserve them.

When people leave your life, you reflect: some memories happy, some sad.

When I found out about Dayni, I was very upset. It was shocking at first, and I somewhat thought it was a distasteful joke. But as the details came to me, I was sad. I was worried. How could anyone entertain these thoughts? Why would anyone think of doing this?

I thought about our years in Middle School, High School, and after. She used to call me "Tall-ee" because I was tall in Middle School. She always gives me a hug whenever we see each other. She is always very straight forward and doesn't beat around the bush. I love that about her. Her infectious laugh always makes me laugh. She is truly a great person and a joy to be around. She always likes to try new things. Our trip to Calistoga and the Petrified Forest was very fun. I love Dayni.

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When Mylinh called me today at work, I knew it would be the last time I would speak to her for a while. She called me to say goodbye. She told me she will always love me. I told her that I would always love her. We cried.

Right now she is waiting at LAX for her flight to Vietnam. And I'm sitting here, reflecting. I remembered all her idiosyncracies. The same ones that drove me nuts, I find myself missing. I miss her voice, her scent. I miss the incessant 80s music in her car. I miss her laugh and smile. I miss her cooking. And I miss her reaction when she messes up her cooking. I miss her late night calls. I love Mylinh.

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Jen is right. I should tell everyone that I love them. Because I do. I love all of my friends. I never say it, but it's true.

Jen is right. I should stop sweating the small stuff. It isn't worth it. Life is too important to worry about wrinkled clothes and shiny shoes.

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Thanks for listening.