There are some moments in your life that you know you will remember forever...Moments that fill your heart up so much you think it just might burst. Moments that no matter how old and senile you might get one day, you will NEVER forget the details. Moments that you will hear yourself retelling over and over to whoever will listen. This was one of those nights for me.
My ASD friends came together dressed in their Asian finest and threw me a fabulous farewell. I knew we were getting together on a particular night but the rest of the evening was a total surprise. The decorations were unbelievable, the food delicious and the company and well wishes were...well unforgettable. The Invitation read....(poetry by Carol Chew!)
Six in the Sand or Singapore Six,
Goodbye to a friend is a difficult trick.
From Texas she came to a land full of malls
And sandstorms and camels and buildings so tall.
She shared her bright smile and creative touch
To ASD families, she's just meant so much.
Her time here was short and we'll miss her so dearly,
She is off to the place known as Lion City.
Let's say our goodbyes with a true Asian touch,
And all wear cheongsam, kimonos and such.
With dragons and lanterns and silks to the floor,
Red and black is the theme, but there is so much more.
Let's keep that a secret, so please don't you share,
Just decide if the chopsticks look good in your hair!
Let's give her a wish, a hug and a kiss,
A farewell so special, you don't want to miss.
And soon she'll be settled in a land far away.
She'll unpack her boxes, probably all in a day!
A new town to wander, explore and to roam,
And working to make a house their new home.
Goodbye to a friend is a difficult trick.
From Texas she came to a land full of malls
And sandstorms and camels and buildings so tall.
She shared her bright smile and creative touch
To ASD families, she's just meant so much.
Her time here was short and we'll miss her so dearly,
She is off to the place known as Lion City.
Let's say our goodbyes with a true Asian touch,
And all wear cheongsam, kimonos and such.
With dragons and lanterns and silks to the floor,
Red and black is the theme, but there is so much more.
Let's keep that a secret, so please don't you share,
Just decide if the chopsticks look good in your hair!
Let's give her a wish, a hug and a kiss,
A farewell so special, you don't want to miss.
And soon she'll be settled in a land far away.
She'll unpack her boxes, probably all in a day!
A new town to wander, explore and to roam,
And working to make a house their new home.
 |
| WOW! I WAS SO SURPRISED TO SEE EVERYONE SO DECKED OUT IN THEIR ASIAN ATTIRE!     |
AT FIRST MY SWEET PARTY HOSTESSES GAVE ME THIS
TOP THAT BLAKE IS WEARING TO WEAR TO THE PARTY..
FLATTERED THAT THEY THOUGHT I WAS SO SMALL...
IT WOULDN'T ZIP! LUCKILY THEY HAD A BACK-UP!
MY HOSTESSES WITH THE MOSTESSES!!!!! THEY WENT
ABOVE AND BEYOND! THE DETAILS...THE DETAILS!
 |
| THIS LITTLE CAT WAS WAVING GOOD-BYE! |
THE DECORATIONS WERE STUNNING!
EACH OF THESE LITTLE COIN PURSES CONTAINED
A SPECIAL MESSAGE TO ME FROM EACH GUEST!
A TABLE FULL OF FRIENDS..WHAT A BLESSING
THE CAKE SAID "GOOD LUCK" IN CHINESE (I THINK)
LOOK CLOSELY AND YOU WILL SEE FISH
SWIMMING IN THE VASES!
NOT SURE HOW TO "EXPAT" WITHOUT THESE TWO
MY FRIENDS CAME UP ONE BY ONE AND READ EACH
SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM THE LITTLE PURSES.
I REALLY CAN'T PUT TO WORDS HOW ALL THESE SWEET
SENTIMENTS MADE ME FEEL! THEY GAVE ME WINGS!
 |
| FOR THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF THESE SMILES HAVE GREETED ME DAILY AT ASD. THESE FACES WELCOMED ME WHEN I WAS NEW AND SOME OF THESE FACES I WELCOMED WHEN THEY WERE NEW! THESE FRIENDS MADE ME FEEL AT HOME WHEN I WAS NOT. THEY ENCOURAGED ME WHEN I WAS BLUE. THESE ARE THE AMAZING MOMMIES OF MY KID'S FRIENDS. THESE ARE THE FACES THAT HAVE SAID OVER AND OVER "IT WILL ALL WORK OUT". DO YOU THINK THEY WILL ALL FIT IN ONE OF MY 17 SUITCASES TOMORROW? A few weeks later we enjoyed a very Nalco Christmas Bon Voyage party! Our Nalco friends came together to celebrate Christmas and to wish us well. One of Deric's coworkers Ron, and his lovely wife Satrece hosted a beautiful night for us and all the NAL-FAMILY. We invited a few extra special friends to share in the night!  THE NALCO GANG!  
OUR PARTY HOSTS RON AND SATRECE!
WE HAD A GREAT TIME PLAYING THE WHITE ELEPHANT GAME.
NALCO PAL MR. TODD WASIK DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB
LEADING THE GAME!
THERE WERE SOME VERY CREATIVE GIFTS!
WE WERE SO GLAD OUR FELLOW AGGIES ROD AND
ASHLEE DANIEL MADE IT IN FOR THE PARTY. ROD IS
A VET FOR GODOLPHIN, SHEIKH MOHAMMED'S HORSE
RACING COMPANY. HE LIVES IN DUBAI EVERY YEAR
FROM LATE NOVEMBER UNTIL AFTER THE WORLD
CUP IN MARCH! HE IS ALSO A FRATERNITY BROTHER OF DERIC'S!
WHAT A SMALL WORLD THAT THESE TWO ENDED UP IN
DUBAI AT THE SAME TIME. WE WON'T DISCUSS THE FACT
THAT WE LEFT A WEEK AFTER THEY ARRIVED.
  
MY FRIEND CATHY WAS THRILLED WITH HER
THREE FRAMED PHOTOS OF OUR HOST RON!
I DID NOT GO HOME WITH THIS COOL CANDLE LANTERN. STOLEN!
SATRECE OPENED THE GIFT I BROUGHT. A WORD COLLAGE
I MADE ABOUT DUBAI. SHE DIDN'T KEEP IT TOO LONG. STOLEN!
BY KATIE! HOWEVER, KATIE DIDN'T KEEP IT EITHER!
IT WENT HOME WITH ASHLEE!
I ENDED UP WITH THIS AMAZING STITCHED PILLOW SHOWING
ALL THE AMAZING LANDMARKS IN DUBAI! THANK YOU NANCY!
YES, I HAD TO STEAL IT! I LOVE IT!
HAVE I MENTIONED HOW MUCH I WILL MISS THEM!?
THANK YOU SNEEDONS FOR JOINING THE NAL-CROWD FOR THE NIGHT!
AND FOR BEING SUCH AMAZING JBR NEIGHBORS DURING OUR LAST DAYS!
DERIC GIVING A TOAST AT THE END OF THE NIGHT..NOTICE
HIS SNAZZY NEW JACKET I PICKED FOR HIM?
OUR FAVORITE IRISH JOINED US FOR THE NIGHT AS WELL...
THE NIGHT IS JUST NOT COMPLETE WITHOUT THE IRISH... THANKS NAL PALS FOR THE AMAZING SEND OFF! AS YOU CAN PROBABLY TELL IT WAS A NIGHT TO REMEMBER AS WELL! |
CHEERS FROM SINGAPORE!? (that will take some getting used to)
What amazing friends you have! Love all your pictures and glad you made it to Singapore safely! Love you and miss you tons! XOXO Jenn
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