Change,

finding my way

September 30, 2014 J. 0 Comments

I've updated my book bucket list.. Kinda. I finally figured out that I could do more with Goodreads than just read reviews. I got this little widget that let's you know what I'm currently reading, what I'd like to read and what I have read. And of course you can add me if you want. :)
See "my bookshelf" on the right.
It's looking like i just might not complete my Nora Roberts Challenge this year after all because as much as I love romance books I just have to mix it up or else I get bored. I have about 50 books to go and less than three months left til the end of the year. I've already begun thinking about my "best things of 2014". Seems like every year i feel more blessed than the year before.. :)
Sometime last year I revisited a decision. It was three months after my graduation and I was left with an empty vacuum and the dreaded "what next?". So I decided to apply to med school and I did. Remember I applied to just one? What were the chances that I'd get accepted? The odds had to have been stacked against me. But somehow I got accepted. At this point I had been working (NYSC) for about 7 months. And classroom theories had become practical and well, more real. My tutor was right, I really did need a year off to think. Experience helped me realize that this wasn't the next step for me. 

Don't misunderstand me, I don't suddenly have it all figured out. I'm still feeling my way just like the next person but this work year has given me an opportunity to look through another pair of eyes.. And though I still don't know what exactly it is that I want to do, I have struck a few things off that list. And med school is one of those things. Maybe I'll get a Master's and then a Doctorate before my 30th birthday. (I didn't say anything about being less ambitious after all! Hehehe!). 

Let's just see where the wind blows.. :)

- J.  

0 comments:

Make a Wish

Make a Wish: Chapter 1

September 28, 2014 J. 0 Comments

Prologue

9th august 2000…

As Jade watched the sea of screaming faces she had but one thought - Cathy had ignored her wishes yet again. Over the crowd that was now singing “Happy Birthday”, all Jade could think about was the home-cooked meal she’d wanted with her closest friends, which Cathy had promised to provide. She hadn’t wanted to make such a big fuss about her birthday. Especially not right now. She had found out, the last in the world, that her boyfriend of 4 years, Jason, hadn't been exactly faithful to her. No one had been able to face her with the news and the one time that Cathy, her best friend, had tried to imply it, she’d thought it was because of the enmity that had always existed between the two. She had found out for herself eventually. A surprise visit to his University dorm room along with their mutual friend, Brad, had left her scarred and heartbroken.

That was 2 months ago.

She was still hurting and wanted her solitude. But still she smiled and laughed with the people who had gathered to celebrate her birthday. She even had something of a good time. Ryan, Cathy’s longtime boyfriend, came out with the birthday cake. It was shaped like a giant cupcake with sugar frosting and candles. Jade didn’t have to count the candles to know that there were 21 of them.

 “Blow out the candles, Cher. Make a wish!” Cathy called.
Jade stared into the flames, thought ‘why the hell not?’ and blew out the candles.


Chapter one

5 years later…

They were standing on the steps in front of the Institute of Advanced Science and Technology while Jade tried to explain what the bioengineering of the human genome and its probably outcomes could mean for the future of medicine.
Jason and Brad looked at the small figure standing in front of them. She had been determined to get them interested in whatever lecture she had just come out of and of course she had been unsuccessful.
“Makes no sense whatsoever. If the human genome carries all the important information you say it does, why should we let anyone mess around with it?”
Jade wanted to hit her head against a wall. Repeatedly.
Retired, she sighed. “You both are hopeless. I give up. Let’s go, I have to get there before she flips out on me.”
They were about to leave when somebody bumped into Brad. He looked at the person and recognition flared. They shook hands and exchanged pleasantries while Jade watched. The man was a bit taller than Brad but it looked good on him. He had an attractive smile, brown eyes and hair that just about needed the barbershop. Brad made the introductions.
Jade stuck out her hand, “Jade. Nice to meet you”. She had missed what his name was but he seemed to have thought as much because he said. “Drake. Pleasure’s all mine.” He shook hands with Jason too. He turned back to Brad to ask what he was doing here and Brad explained Jade’s insane obsession with biology.
“It isn’t insane. It’s Science, it’s the future! The seminar was awesome. The woman is a genius. Her theory on vector transfer is absolutely brilliant. Dr. Arundel is just… wow!” For lack of the appropriate word, Jade slipped into a language she was more comfortable speaking. “Elle est incroyable!”
“Incredible, huh? That’s one I’ll be sure to tell her.”
Jade paused and watched him. “You speak French? And wait tell her?”
“Yes, I do. Let me rephrase that, I have to.” When she looked puzzled he explained. “International relations. I speak 6 languages. German-in-training.” At her slight nod he continued, “She’s my mother.”
The look was back again. Drake had to admit that he liked when she had that expression on. She looked, in her own words, “incroyable”.
“Your mother? You are so lucky. The woman is a legend after all.” Then she said the most unexpected thing. “Can she adopt me?”
He had no response to that. She helped him, “As an honorary daughter of course. We could discuss theories at breakfast and conquer the world by supper.”
He laughed then and Jade felt herself flush. She’d been babbling.
“Yeah, I bet you would.” he said. “I’m actually here to pick her up so I better go in. Will you still be here when I get out?”
That was when Jade noticed that Brad was looking at them both with amusement while Jason was a little away, on the phone. She had forgotten both men were there. She was about to answer when a fleet on V12 race-cars sped by.
“Woo hoo, those are my show cars!!” She said, just as he whistled cheerfully.
He turned to her then and it was her turn to explain, “I’m going for a car show and those cars have the Madison’s logo on them. They’re part of the show.”
“Yeah? Sounds exciting. I’m a car enthusiast. Where is the show?”
“At the Nine’s.” She had a thought. “What are you doing Thursday night?”
“Nothing.”
“Well, I know the person in charge of the show and I can RSVP you if you want.”
He looked like she’d offered him gold. “Please and thank you.”
“Your mama raised you well.” She smiled, took out her phone and dialed Jeanne Louise.
She picked up on the first ring.
“Jade”. She was in a mood. This could be bad.
“Jeannie darling. How are you? And the preparations? Great, I hope. I don’t mean to keep you, just wanted to RSVP for the show with a plus one.”
There was utter silence on the other line.
“Jeanne Louise?”
A string of French curses flew from the earpiece. “You do not RSVP with a plus one at the last minute. There’s so much to do, to prepare. You know better. I am not paid nearly enough for this…” More French curses.
Jade put her hand over the phone and said to Drake, “She’s thinking about it… Fingers crossed.”
But she could tell from the amused look on his face that he had heard ever word. She listened to hear Jeanne Louise ask who the ‘plus one’ was.
“A friend of mine. I don’t think you know him though.”
“Him?”
“Yeah” but Jade knew where this was headed. “I’ll get you his number if you want.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah!”
“Okay fine. But you’ll have to talk to Johnny. He’s doing the seat allocation and we had a bit of a... misunderstanding earlier so he might not listen to me.”
“Misunderstanding?” Jade could just bet that there had been French and Polish curses alike involved in this ‘misunderstanding’.
“Yeah. Call him on Skype though. You know how he gets when he starts working. He probably has no idea where his phone is.”
“Okay, thanks again Jeanne Louise.” She hung up.
Jason was done as well and had rejoined them.
“I’m sorry about that guys but I’m going to have to make another call.” She turned to Drake.
“Anyway you’re in. And don’t worry about Jeanne Louise. She’s harmless! She’s actually smaller than I am.”
He mumbled something about those being the ones to watch out for and Brad burst out laughing. But said aloud, “Thank you.”

Jade nodded as she got her laptop out of her bag and turned it on. Drake watched as she made the call. Everything about her was graceful and petite. Even her laptop, which he was sure he could hide in his two palms. Without turning from her task she asked, “Speak any Polish?”
“No.”
“Shame!”
It took longer than a ring but Johnny finally picked up.
“Hey, hey girlfriend! How are you doing?”
Jade smiled. Knowing Jason and Brad were probably moving away at this very moment. Johnny was homosexual... and very eccentric. And that seemed to scare them both. She remembered a time when Jason had told her that he hadn’t wanted her to be friends with Johnny anymore. It’s a good thing she hadn’t listened. Look at where they were now.
“Hallo beautiful! Ooh I love the haircut. Very you.”
“Oh! This scruffy thing?” Another thing, Johnny was as humble as they came... sometimes. “You should see what I have planned for the show.”
“Really? Fab! Talking about the show I have a plus one and I was told to contact you.” She didn’t mention Jeanne Louise’s name, it would put her in the middle of their lifelong rivalry.
“A plus one? Ooh! You’ve been holding out on me, tell me more. Who is he? What does he look like?”
Jade knew that they wouldn’t move on if she didn’t answer so she sent Drake an apologetic look and went on, “His name is Drake. He’s very good-looking. Speaks 6 languages but regrettably no Polish.” Then added thoughtfully. “He looks like a cross between Paul Walker and Apollo.”
“That good? Oh honey! You always did know how to pick ‘em. Well, except...”
Jade knew who exactly Johnny was about to mention so she quickly deflected.
“Thank you so much Johnny! We’re kind of in a hurry right now but I will call you as soon I can.”
“You’re with him, aren’t you?” He made an excited sound. “Okay, okay, call me. Make sure you do. My love to the hybrid! Kisses!”
“Kisses!” She called out too as she hung up.
“Paul Walker and Apollo?” This from Jason. He gave Drake the once over.
“Yeah, don’t you think so too?” She winked at Brad then turning to Drake she said, “Well that’s that.”
Cutting off his ‘thank you’ she continued, “So Thursday, 9th August, 8pm at the Nine’s. Okay?”
“Yes of course.” He paused. “Can I have your number... and why don’t I pick you so we’ll go together? I am your plus one after all and it’s the least I can do after you got me into the show.”  He said it with laughter in his voice and eyes. Jade hesitated then said, “Sure. I’ll send you my address but here’s my contact.” She called out the numbers and turned to the other guys. “Can we leave now? I promise you Mama will have my neck if I’m any later than I already am.”
Drake, “Speaking of mothers...” and waved them goodbye as he jogged up the remaining steps. Jade watched him till he reached the top and smiled as she turned to follow the guys to the car park. Jason hadn’t missed a thing. He slowed down until she caught up and asked, “9th August.. That’s your birthday.”
“Thanks for pointing out the obvious. Why?”
“I just thought you’d have other things to do that night.”
“I’m almost 25 years old. Celebrating my birthday now just reminds me of how close to 30 I am.”
“I’m glad you’re going to be out that night and sorry about not making the show. I really wanted to go. Blame the old man.” This from Brad.
Jason, “You knew about it?”
“Yeah, of course.” It was true. Brad loved cars as much as Jade. They’d planned to see the show together but then his father had asked him to fly over. He was leaving the next day.
“How come I didn’t know then? I wasn’t asked.”
“You never showed any interest,” Jade answered. “So I didn’t see the point.”

Brad and Jade had maintained their friendship over the years. Unfortunately that meant that she had to see more of Jason as well - one of the curses of having mutual friends with your ex. But they worked around it and after a while, both she and Jason had had to learn to accommodate each other.
Not much was said on the drive home. They dropped her off and she went in to face the music that was her mother.

**

Dr Rachael Arundel didn’t normally eavesdrop on conversations. But she’d heard this person practically singing everything she’d just said word for word, adding a few more really good points. She’d had to see who it was. Outside her window were two young men and from the sound of it, a very exasperated girl who went on to discuss possibilities using her hands in demonstration. Dr Arundel was impressed and she didn’t impress easy. She’d watched too as her son had joined the party. Tall, like his father, he’d towered over the girl in question. Jade, she’d said. She was a pretty little thing with brains too from all indications.
After Jade had made the taking-over-the-world-by-supper joke, Rachael had decided that she liked the girl. And if Drake hadn’t asked for her number, she would have called out to him to do so. But apparently the boy knew a good thing too because he did. She watched him come up the stairs, saw as Jade stopped to watch him and Drake, as he smiled behind her back. Rachael smiled as well. Things were about to get interesting. She took her coffee cup back to her chair just as Drake came in. With a grin, she noted.
“Mother.”
“Good day?” She asked.
“Yes, I guess.” He answered as he quickly moved to the window to watch the car park. Drake searched until he found what he was looking for. For a moment though he couldn’t believe it. Then he burst out laughing. He didn’t know what had happened but Jade was hitting Jason with her bag. The same bag that was filled with encyclopedia sized books and her laptop.
“Something amusing going on out there?” Rachael moved as if to get up but Drake held her back.
“Nothing mother... It’s just a good day as you said.”
“Hmm... I bet it is.”
“By the way, I met a big fan of yours outside. She seemed fascinated by your work.” He was leaning on the wall now with his ankles crossed. “She asked if you would adopt her as an honorary child.”
Rachael picked up her coat and bag as she pretended to consider it. “Well, of course I would.” She couldn’t help but tease him. He was hers after all. “We could discuss theories at breakfast and conquer the world by supper.” She added, waited for his stunned expression before walking out the door, laughing.
**
Duchessa Eleonora Ricardo-LeGrande was not a very patient woman. And right now, she was almost at her limit.
“Quit fidgeting dear. She should be here shortly”. The duchess turned to her mother, who was sitting on the opposite settee, her legs crossed at the ankle, tilted slightly to the right. The dowager duchess was the epitome of elegance and grace. Even at 74, the woman could control everyone with a flick of her fingers. Nora watched her mother’s face, so like hers and wished she could ease her frustration out on her. Next to her mother was her younger sister, Bella, who for the life of her looked like she was having the time of her life.
As if on cue, Jade burst into the room.  “I’m sorry. Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry. I got held up and it took longer than I thought.”
“Jade Chérie LeGrande.” Yeah, Jade thought, she was in trouble.
“Do you have any idea how long you’ve kept us waiting? I thought you would know better.”
“I know I’m late but it couldn’t be helped.”
“I told you about this meeting weeks ago. If you were more responsible you would have made plans to prevent these kinds of inconveniences.”
“Yes, of course it’s my fault that my car picked today to act up. And I did tell you then that I had a seminar I couldn’t miss today. Not exactly my fault that you don’t listen.”
“I don’t listen??” Nora replied with indignation. “You’ve made a habit of this. You are always late. Just like with the Henderson event, isn’t that right, Bella?”
“I’d like to stay out of this one.” Bella said.
“The best thing I did was move out of here.”
“Enough, all of you.” She’d barely raised her voice but that was all the room needed to go silent. Donatella Ricardo could calm a storm if she chose. Now though she focused on her daughter and granddaughter.
“Jade dear, come give your Nonna a kiss and have some tea.” Jade kissed her gran and took the empty seat beside her.
“Hey Zia!” She grinned at her aunt.
Nora took the minute to calm down.
“Now…” She said. “Can we get started?”
At everyone’s nod, she continued.
“I had Rafe take Jacques out of town today so we could discuss his 50th birthday plans. I have booked the Queen Victoria for the 27th of November as arranged. I must reiterate that this must remain a secret and kept from Jacques at all costs.” She shot a look at Jade at that and Jade rolled her eyes at the implication.

---
  • Incroyable - Incredible (French)
  • Duchessa - Duchess (Italian)
  • Nonna - Grandmother (Italian)
  • Zia - Aunt (Italian)

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Story

First Love.

September 26, 2014 J. 8 Comments


You know how I love my stories right? I love all kinds – particularly love stories (you just made a face, didn’t you? Well, boohoo!!!). Today, I remembered one such story I’d once been told and decided to share with you. 

(Note: Slight embellishments might have been made by my overly active brain).

Enjoy!  - J.
 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

*Sim card blocked*
"Well isn’t that just great?"


Freya tossed her phone on her bed and fell down right next to it with a deep sigh. Back in the country barely 8 hours and everything was already falling apart. From her position on the bed, she glanced at her still packed and unopened suitcases. Why the hell had she needed three whole suitcases anyway? She was only home from college for a month after all.

Still dreading the unpacking process looming before her, she heard a knock on her door. She shouted, “Come in” without looking up, expecting it to be either her mum or sister.

It was neither. 
“So you really are back?”
“OMG! Jackson!”

Freya was out of bed and in her cousin’s arms in a second.
“Hey Kiddo! I thought you weren’t due back till next month?”
“Yeah I was, change of plans. What are you doing here?”
“Came to pick something up. Your mom said you were back here. Actually I could use your help getting some of the stuff out.”
"Sure!”
Freya helped her cousin move several boxes out, where she met his friend, Trevor. Turned out Jackson, who lived like a gypsy, was moving some of his stuff from Freya's house to his other cousin’s (paternal) house which was also on the same street.

Jackson took the last box down leaving Freya behind with Trevor. A very boring and quiet Trevor, she mentally added. Jackson returned after what felt like hours with Bruno and Gabe. Bruno was his cousin while Gabe was a friend of the family.

Gabe instantly began flirting with Freya, who actually told him to “calm down little boy”. This elicited a round of hearty laughter from the group because although Gabe didn’t look it, he was 24 and in his final year of med school while Freya was almost 19. After being on the brunt end of their jokes and innuendos, Freya was quickly becoming impatient. Bruno and Jackson then went away to see Trevor off which suspiciously took much longer than it should have. This gave Gabe and Freya some time to talk. (Freya had pretended not to notice when Gabe had practically shooed the others away).

A little while later,  Freya came to one conclusion which was that Gabe was insane; there was no other way to put it. His attitude towards her wasn’t one of someone he had just met. Instead he talked and acted as if they’d known each other forever. At some point he actually started throwing pistachio nuts in her direction. And of course, she threw them right back. This led to a 'battle of the nuts' in which no one won.. and then they both laughed like loons.

Serious conversation followed and they spoke about a range of topics… school, family, and well, life. He hadn’t yet chosen a specialization but was leaning towards surgery. He was the youngest of three boys and his dad had passed away when he was 9. She, in turn, told him about college and some other stuff she never thought she would be telling a virtual stranger. But though he was a stranger... He didn’t feel like one. That, she thought, explained the little twinge of disappointment she felt when she saw Jackson and Bruno finally return. Gabe asked for her number and she told him about the blocked sim card so instead he collected her twitter handle pending.

And that was the first time…

They wouldn’t meet for weeks after. But then they would and this time, it would be right. He would woo her and she would fall head over heels in love with him. Flowers, candle lit dinners, walks in the park, stolen kisses… all the trimmings. Their first kiss would be sweet with just a hint of that fierce passion. Ah, the butterflies and the deliciousness of first love! When she got the flu, he actually went to the pharmacy and made her a "flu pack" - containing all and various cold and flu medication. He would later confess that he had grabbed any bottle that was green in colour because that was a good, healthy colour, right? :)

But summer will then end and both of them would have to return to school.. on two different continents. At first they would try to make it work. A dozen phone calls a day, regular messages.. But then their schedules would get busier. With tests and assessments around the corner, planned Skype dates would be forgotten and missed and feelings will begin to dim to simply glowing embers. Eventually, calling it quits would be better than the burnt feelings and rain checks.


Back in school, Freya would make a new friend. And that is how I will come to know of Gabe. My friend Freya’s first love.


How did you meet your first love?

8 comments:

NYSC

About Call Duty..

September 23, 2014 J. 0 Comments


I realize that i haven't been updating my book bucket list, but i promise i will. Soon.

In 23 days, I will be completing my NYSC. Can you believe that it has been a whole year already? Do you remember how it all started? From Community Development to Weekend Shifts to The LFT bench to Call Duty.. I survived it all.

But you know what i am most excited about? The end of the torture of having to wear those khaki pants and orange jungle boots. Remember them? I shared a picture with you here once before. I just might have a bonfire and burn the entire outfit. *ideas* But i think i should wait till i actually have the certificate in my hands. yes, i'll wait. :)

I haven't told you about my Calls, have i? When on Call in The Chem Path Lab at The Hospital, there is just you and an medical assistant. The assistant will help you receive the samples, label them and spin them however, you have to do the actual test irrespective of what the request is. Essentially on Call you become an "All-Bencher" because you cover all the benches in The Lab overnight. You do remember all those benches i told you about right? And on the weekends or on public holidays you get the honor of having a solo 24-hour shift.

On the plus side, there are slow Call nights when you do actually manage to get some sleep. But mostly you don't. The Hospital where i work is HUGE. And at any given time there are nothing less than 100 patients on admission in ALL the departments (ICU, NICU, pediatrics, OB/GYN, A&E etc). So the sample just keep coming in with requests.. Blood, urine, CSF, pleural fluid and stool. It is a real party, she drawls.

I get about six of these a month and because i am a currently doing my NYSC, i do not get paid for Calls. Just peachy, don't you think? I'm actually on Call tomorrow night too.

Sigh, but it's bittersweet. More sweet than bitter though. The end of my service year. 
Next will be my obligatory internship year (exam included) to become a fully licensed Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS). Yaaay!

Growing up sucks! :P


- J.

0 comments:

Case of the ex

September 21, 2014 J. 3 Comments

First you should know that I am that silly girl. The one who is still in love with her ex. So you can understand my bewilderment and excitement when he called me up to ask me out to dinner "to discuss something VERY IMPORTANT" at our favorite restaurant. Perhaps he had felt it too. That feeling of incompleteness since we blew apart.

Now I'm sitting across from the love of my life watching his throat work as he obviously tries to work up how to tell me what he wanted to. I contemplated making it difficult for him but then I remembered that I have loved this boy since I was 17. And these last 6 months without him in my life have been absolute torture. So I placed one of my hands on his and prompted. He smiled. "You know me too well" he says and it's my turn to smile. He put his hand in his coat pocket and pulled out a velvet box. I stared at it as my breath caught then I both prayed and dreaded that it would be earrings. But he flipped it open and there sitting cozily in the center was a ring. An extremely beautiful ring. And then he said, "I think I've found the woman I am going to marry."
I felt so many things at once but at the forefront I recognized elation and happiness. I had grown up with this boy. Seen him change from boy to man and loved him every step of the way. First as a friend and brother than as a friend and lover.. We blew spitballs together, got grounded together, fought with each other and then made up a million times before. And here he was presenting me with a ring.. "She doesn't know it yet of course and I'm afraid she'll think that 4 months isn't enough time, you know? But I know she is the one, I just know it..."

---  ---  ---  ---

I woke up the next morning with a splitting headache. The sound of my alarm clock sounded like the bells of Notre Dame resided within my very skull. I wondered if I had finally broken my own rule and had alcohol. I'd swore I never would after dissecting an alcoholic liver in college once. Personal decision and I have never been tempted once. So why the headache? For a few moments I just lay there trying to remember the night before. And then suddenly I did, and wished I didn't. It came back. ALL OF IT.. 

The call, the dinner, the ring, his declaration ... And more. Him, telling me that I was his oldest and dearest friend and the one person he knew would tell him the truth. Him, looking nervous and excited as he awaited my response. Me, recognizing what this meant to him. Me, laughing and congratulating him. Me, walking around the table and hugging him. Me, convincing him that *not* trying would be a point of regret for him if he doesn't. Him, finally agreeing with me...

It played out like a movie in my head. I kept thinking about that woman. The one who had supported and basically pushed him into the arms of another woman. She wasn't me. She couldn't be. Because I was in love with him and there was no possible way that I could have said the words I had.. Except it WAS me and I had said those words... And I would say them again, I realized. 
I looked back at the numbers on the clock. It was three hours past the beginning of my shift. I picked up my phone and the expected 18 missed calls from my boss were waiting there. Just as I was about to fall back in bed, I felt my phone vibrate. 

It was him. 

 ---  ---  ---  ---

I blanked out again and woke up two hours later. And again, I recalled the fulll details of the conversation. Like a film being rolled back. 

Him, hi
Me, hi back
"Last night was.. "
"Yes, it was."
"I wanted to thank you.. For last night.. For everything really."
"It's alright. You would do the same for me. "
"You can count on it. Just let me know when you meet that special guy.."
I choked/laughed/grunted/groaned all at once and we had hung up after.

I picked up my phone again. An additional 5 missed calls from my boss, one from my sister and 2 from a colleague. 
And a text message from him. Just three words: She said yes! 

 I waited for the darkness. For it to engulf and protect me like it had before. But it didn't come. I waited, I hoped, I prayed and then I begged. But it didn't come. Instead came those annoying, frustrating tears and I wept. Did you know that there was a difference between crying and weeping? 
But eventually, the darkness came again and eagerly, I went away with it. 
My friend. 


- J.

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