I had put this off for the longest time.

A tribute to the little gem, Rene.

I thought I had a relatively interesting conversation over MSN today, when someone mentioned that I could actually look so sweet apart from my ‘sex siren and aloof’ image in the pictures I took with Rene.

I had always wanted to blog about how happy I am to see everything is picking up for Eileen with the birth of Rene, as she moves on to another phase in life.

Gone were the days when we would head down to Mambo nights at Zouk together.

She hasn’t had it easy.

Eileen’s mother, still hasn’t got a clue that her daughter is already married, and had given birth to an adorable baby daughter.

Eileen’s mother is dead against Eileen’s relationship with Dave, cos she always thought her daughter deserves someone better, someone richer, so that she could milk more money from her daughter.

So much so that lots of pressure was put on Eileen to move on, instead of sticking to Dave.

Eileen held on to the relationship, and even married the man she loves, in a hush hush registration.

Things weren’t rosy to begin with, and I had seen how she grit her teeth through bad times and good. She, taught me what it was to forgive.

It was also during my depression, she shared with me how she coped. Perhaps because, she knew how hard it was, and thus, she always stayed around, offering me the support I needed.

Reading back my archive for 2004, most entries have traces of her name, and how she looked after me with that maternal trait in her, during the darkest hours of my life.

It wasn’t easy, but she was around.

I would say Eileen and I are actually very different. We have very different social circle, and our paths in life are destined to be very different with our different expectations, beliefs and temperaments.

I remember the days when Dave would coach me how to air brush the bike models, and how they would patiently welcome me to their homes on Sundays to watch MotoGP together and such.

And it was one Sunday, after my return from the MotoGP January testings, as we were catching up, sharing about the excitement from the trip, where we spoke about heading up to Sepang together this September.

Dave and Eileen had said how this year, they would head up to Sepang no matter what, cos they had missed the one last year.

I remember last year, when they met with an accident as they were heading to my place to get me started on my Tamiya model-making.

So, in jest, I joked, ‘Hahaha, what if you get pregnant now? I doubt you could make it again. But nevermind. Dave, we shall go without her!’

She did a quick calculation and said, ‘If I suey suey(unfortunately) get preggie now, I would be 9 months gone in September, and he doesn’t even have to dream about leaving me alone when I am gonna give birth anytime!‘

‘Then like that, too bad. Remember to point to the baby and acknowledge me when you see me on television!‘

We ended the mindless conversation.

Couple of weeks later, one early morning, I received an SMS from her, telling me how her test kit had tested positive and she would really not make it for the race this year.

Woops. Prediction #1 came true.

I called her to congratulate her, and laughed how our predictions had came true.

To top it off, I expressed my regrets in between sniggers that she wouldn’t be able to make it to the MotoGP again, while I would enjoy my trip without her.

It was one of those days when she came over to visit me, when we joked about the precise predictions we had made.

In my pretend-to-be-sweet, and oh-so-sorry voice, I said sardonically, ‘Don’t forget to tell the baby I am the god-mum when you see me carrying an umbrella on television, alright? I will try to wave.‘

It was just another mindless joke on my part, in an exaggerated cocky manner, even though I would have never believed I would ever be a brolly girl if you had told me then.

I shall not mention how Raf and I managed to get the gig as we sashayed down the paddock a month and half ago, and indeed, I got onto the grid.

And I was too embarrassed to broadcast about it. Thus, I decided to keep mum about it, just so that if anyone were to see me on television, it would be by chance, and not forewarned.

Eileen was the first to call and first to message me in utter flabbergastion when I finally got my phone back at the end of the event.

She was watching MotoGP, and nearly went into a state of hysteria when she noticed Raf on the television, and a glimpse of hope was shed that she would see me, too.

I watched the repeated telecast on some video clip I downloaded from the net, and nearly wanted to jump off the building when I realised that we both had the longest airtime amongst all grid girls(possibly due to the fact that we were both standing at the right position for the camera man to capture, hurhurhur).

So, she saw me. And she told me that she immediately ecstatically told the baby within her that it was me, her god-mum on television.

Woops. Prediction #2 came true.

Early 13th October, it was one of those late nights I frequently indulged in.

I was taking a toilet break, and suddenly had this feeling within me.

It was 5am, not a very sane time to message anybody, I know.

Out of nowhere, I had this incredibly urge to message Dave.

I messaged him that I must be the first person he ought to inform when the baby is due.

He messaged me back early next morning that the baby wasn’t due for another 2 weeks, and Eileen was supposed to go for her last checkup that very morning.

They later told me that they even laughed at how overly-eager I was, and that I was kiasu and kanchiong for getting flustered so soon.

It was in the afternoon, when he suddenly called me to tell me that they decided to admit Eileen to induce birth, cos baby’s heartbeat was a tad erratic.

Woops. Prediction #3 came true.

Then as I spoke to Eileen that afternoon, I joked(yes yes I should joke less often, I know) that it wasn’t too bad that if my god-daughter was borned on the 14th October, cos the guy who first held my hand when I was 14(at a NPCC camp, his name is Jason, and I got back contact with him through friendster!) was born on the same date.

Eileen then reminded me the date was 13th, not 14th.

I told her I was aware, but then I was just joking just in case the baby decided to delay her birth till the next day.

Woo yeah. Guess what? The stubborn little lass didn’t come out till 14th October, 8.06pm.

Woops.

So, now, they had forbade me making any statements about the little girlie.

Hahahaha.

See, how much affinity I have with the little bundle of joy.

And now, I am so glad to see that they have her to hold the entire family together, making them stronger than before.

I can also see the change in Dave, becoming a more patient man, with the added responsibilities in hands.

Seeing the change in them, also make me hope for the day, when her mum would come to an understanding that money shouldn’t be the gauge for the importance of kinship within a family.

And for that, darling, I wish you guys happiness.

Thanks for everything, and so much more.

***

Speaking of bliss, it was good news after good news within the group I used to hang out with. Incidentally, it was the same people who I grew closer post Philip-Ting days.

Ironically, they were the people I never get to know better when we were still a couple.

But, it was during harsh times, do you truly know the depths of big-hearted people around you.

Ben and Cat, were such, too.

Just like Eileen and Dave, they would come over and accompany me for dinner in the past.

And yes, after attending their wedding in September, they are the next couple, expecting a baby, after Eileen and Dave,

Poor Cat had to endure the discomfort of morning sickness and the whatnots caused by the pregnancy.

Hey dear, hopefully the fatigue will go away soon, and that you would be a happy mum.

The changes amongst these beautiful people, touched me in many ways.

Here, are the pictures she had sent me, of her wedding day, on 30th September.

Ting and the bride.

Cat, was always my evil partner when it comes to taking atrociously scandalous-looking shots.

Cat with her 2 emcees for the night. Kenneth, and I.

The 2 of us on stage, a bundle of nerves.

Our table. Seriously, besides Meiling and Joanne, I have no idea who the others are.

Looking freaking fat. Why is everyone hiding behind me?!

Wishing you guys, happiness, always.