I received my first comment in November 2001 and it made me shout aloud with glee. It was the “wow, there are people listening to me?!” kind of feeling, and it just spurred me on to write more.

So, write more I did. I started writing about my day in full detail, emphasizing on the funny and interesting bits. The number of comments and readership grew. Soon, I began to spot a few familiar names appearing over and over again in my comments. Out of curiosity, I checked out their sites and was hooked.

We became blogging pals, familiar to one another on the web but still strangers offline. Some were based in Singapore and some, overseas. They knew almost every bit of information about me (thanks to my blog entries). Likewise, so did I.

One thing for sure, I didn’t expect back then that we’d actually meet in real life.

Dayna, Cherlynn, Terry and I meet regularly now. And just last weekend, Chien Yee from Brunei happened to be in Singapore and we all decided to meet up.

First stop, Chinatown. Terry, Chien Yee, Dayna and I.

If I remember correctly, Chien Yee started reading my blog in end-2005, back when I was a wee university freshman. My entries back then were plagued with angst and a whole load of indecisiveness. But she stuck with reading my blog anyway, which is really awesome.

Second stop, Singapore Flyer. Supposedly to check out a flea market that never was.

Dayna is easily the longest-standing reader among the four. The very first comment she posted on my site was “Hi Brenda, Have a happy new year and may your new year be filled with joy and happiness… Cheers! =D”. This was soon followed by her second comment, “That was a bad day, but cheer up. Things are going to get better when we look on the bright side of life. =)”.

This was way back in late-2004. Fresh out of Junior College and also, very very angsty. Like Chien Yee, she overlooked all that and still stood by me and my blog through the good times and the bad. Dayna and I only officially met up for the first time in end-2009 … five full years after our first contact online.

At the Marina reservoir overlooking Marina Bay Sands and the city.

I only started reading Terry’s blog sometime early last year, a recommendation through Dayna. During my very first visit, something in his blog header jumped right out at me, and it was his (now) distinctive trademark quote, “No, I am not a teddy bear.” Well, it definitely stuck. So many times, I was (almost) on the verge of calling him ‘Teddy’. I’m glad I’m past that stage now and am getting his name right. :P

Terry is very much like me. Very, VERY quirky. Just check out the photo below to get what I mean.

Terry photobombing Dayna’s profile shot.

There was none of the usual awkward silences as when two strangers first meet up. Our background of being fellow bloggers for so many years helped, and we were into the happy chitty chatty moments stage within seconds.

Dayna and Chien Yee enjoying a Titanic moment.

Chien Yee and I enjoying an I-don’t-know-what moment.

Now, we’re out almost every weekend. Throgging flea markets and shopping like there’s no tomorrow (Dayna), singing out in public like we’re the only people in the world (Cherlynn) and talking and laughing just about anything (Terry).

Sitting by the Kallang river, waiting for Cherlynn to arrive.

Cherlynn is another Singapore-based blogger whom I got to know through Dayna and Terry. Prior to meeting her, I’ve never read her blog before and so meeting her for the first time was like going on a blind date. Well, it definitely was a good date.

Now, the vocal prowess of Cherlynn and I combined will never fail to drive Dayna crazy, because we are always demonstrating it at all the wrong times, and at the wrong places.

Cherlynn finally arrives for a group photo.

It’s amazing, ain’t it? Five different people from totally different walks of life … initially strangers, but brought together through blogging. Our paths would never have met otherwise.

I’ve absolutely no idea what they were doing. But a great photo, nonetheless.

And I’ve realized that whatever I’m writing now bears no relevance to the photos I’m posting. I haven’t made any mention of how that group outing with Chien Yee went. But I’m pretty sure the photos say it all.

Well, I have loads of things to thank blogging for. It helped me write better, think and express myself more coherently. But one thing for sure, it brought me together with awesome people like you guys. And when I say ‘you guys’, I mean every single one of you out there reading this.

Closing the say with a snapshot in the toilet. (Well, humans need to pee after all.)

I am still oh so amazed at how our paths crossed. And Chien Yee, I hope you’ve had a great day out with us and see you again in December!

1. I’ve an awesome Dad who supports me 100% in any career I choose to do, and every decision I make.

2. I’ve an extremely patient Mum who is willing to tolerate all my shit, my mood swings, and patiently bringing me for my frequent doctors’ appointments.

3. I’ve really supportive friends who – even when we don’t meet or contact for a short while – still keep me in their minds, and I know they love me as much as I love them.

4. I’m working in a really awesome company, with bosses (who also happen to be my friends) who took me on despite knowing my medical history, in full faith that I can bring value to the team. Also, I’ve colleagues who care for me, cheer me on when I’m down, and remind me gently to slow down when I’m go on full-workaholic mode.

5. All the past opportunities I’ve had: Enrolling in and graduating from a university that I love (and enjoying almost every single course and module that I took – in contrast to most other students who faced each school day with dread). Having previously worked at another startup company with people who are elites in their field, and gained invaluable experience in user experience design and web programming.

6. My natural myriad of interests in computers (since young – I first touched HTML code when I was 11), reading, writing, photography and human-computer interaction design which gave me much insight and help in my work. This also allowed me to combine work and pleasure at the same time.

It’s a mixture of of all the above factors that led me to where I am now. There are times where things go downhill, but everything happens for a reason. Ultimately, there will always be people who care (despite the well-known perception that this is a cruel world) and the fact that you have to be the one who stays in control despite all the events that fate swings your way.

With all the upsides, there is still one downside – my poor health.

But looking at it from another perspective, I’m happy I’m still alive after the past 4 years of struggles, and that I’m not dead yet. :P

How about you? What are you happy for?

“Have you ever wished you were someone else?”

I’ve always known the answer to that one, although no one has ever directed that question at me before. It was just one of those questions which I’ve previously pondered about.

“I wish to be no one else except myself,” said I.

“Although, if I could change anything about myself – it’d definitely be my health,” I continued. “I wish I wasn’t a sick kid.”

A few seconds passed.

“No, wait. Scratch that. If I weren’t sick, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to find out who my true friends are.”

With every bad thing that happens, there will always be both positive and negative sides. We just have to unblind ourselves from all the negatives to find the positive.

As the day grows bright, we are turning pages
And we write new chapters of our life
Some are strong and long
Others weak with sorrows
Keep the focus on the rising sun

(Ace of Base – Beautiful Morning)

This song is for you. You know who you are. (: