people waking up at the crack of dawn, mindless of the crowded parking lots, long queues of shoppers wanting to get in and the icy cold weather of the day.

raj and i are grateful to that day of the year they call black friday.

our list of books purchased at borders oulet in tanger.

1. the bridges of madison county
2.american gods by neil gaiman
3. an unfinished life: JFK (1917-1963)
4. hannibal
5. great expectations
6. charlie chan is dead: an anthology of contemporary asian american fiction
7. can it happen again: chronicles of the holocaust
8. all that is gone by pramoedya ananta toer

all for $29.92.

 

cliché as it may sound but true

if you love someone, set him/her free

i suppose the same goes for things you truly love. if you love them, set them free (even though you know it's nigh possible for them to come back).

i got the cheque from Northwest Airlines today with a letter of apology for my lost luggage. the cheque's worth is 400 less the declared amount of my luggage items but 800 more than what i expected. i am happy, of course, to have that such money on my account especially these days that i feel worthless and useless.

but there are times when i remember an item that i placed in that luggage, like the pink blouse raj gave me for christmas last year or the white long flowery skirt that i really love or the pink RL sweater that was never used, and I feel sad.

i could never wear those clothes again.

i could never read my first harry potter book again.

i could never see my academic merit award again.

unless through some divine intervention, i get my bag again like that message in a bottle finding its way on the shore.

or, i'd rather that my luggage and all its contents were donated to the victims of hurricane katrina. at least, i know they have been put into good use.