“A house is made of brick and stone. A home is made of love alone.” The quote we have heard countless times. And to me, the quote always pops to mind on special days especially birthday during past 10 years that I have been mostly working and living abroad. And this years as well only that this year , the feeling was not so bad.
I was born in a family that does not actually pay exceptional attention to festivals or special occasions except for birthdays. But even for birthday we keep it simply; no cake nothing fancy. Just “Happy Birthday” and more food on the dinner table but that was warm enough for our hearts when we really feel connected to our family in our own home.
Growing up, life has taken us to places and kept us away and away from home. Years passed and my birthdays came and went. I thought the first birthday away from home would be the toughest but I realized later ones were even harder. But on the third, the fourth, the fifth, and the sixth year, I learned to fight those wistful emotions. I started to become numb and forget being sentimental. Time made me forget why I would dread spending my birthday alone. Phone calls became text messages and greetings became just one Facebook click away.
And this year when I am here in Japan taking my 1 gap year before going back home for good, I thought it would be just like any other years that I would just let the day pass without anything special just a call to my parents. A simple thing but very special happened. I had one of simplest but warmest parties at my sharehouse Happy House Vitamin Color.
It began in one evening when we have a usual chit chat with the girls at the house and somehow we came up the idea of a small Thai food party and we happened to be free on the day. I did not tell them it was my birthday though and practically no particular plan just a Thai food dinner together. Not all the house members could make it of course but we had a really good time even our former house mate who have moved out join us and little dinner turned to a really lively and warm night in our small living room. And I was surprised with birthday presents from my roommates.
We had a good dinner. I made several Thai curry , spicy salad, spring roll, and Pad Thai．Some of the food was good. Though the spring roll turned to be a mistake. We had a good time and delicious talk about everything and anything. We surprising learned that one of our house mates is a singer of heavy metal band on a side, one is now going to acting school, one is a former model. And we conclude it with Umechu ganpai.
“A house is made of brick and stone. A home is made of love alone.” Thank you for making me “Home” again.
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