Dates of Significance and Significant Days

I pay an extraordinary amount of attention to dates for some unknown reason. I remember birthdays, special days and commemorative dates quite well and often feel the need to acknowledge or celebrate such dates of significance so they can truly become significant days. 

Case in point, the birthdays of most of my close friends' are pretty deeply etched in my mind. I also notice patterns in these dates too, especially when co-related with horoscopes. Just recently, I pointed out to two of my gal pals this mysterious pattern in our birthdays.

                      24 Jan        24 01

                      14 Feb        14 02

                       4 Mar        04 03

So you can expect that I remember anniversary dates pretty well and most definitely expect my partners (current and past) to do so as well! And when any of these dates roll by, I think of that special someone and give thanks that our paths had crossed and for all the lessons gained. 

Then there are the national and international days which are so numerous and not always personally significant. But there are quite a few United Nations Observances that fall in this month of March which are pretty close to heart. 

• International Women's Day is easy to remember especially if you first learnt about it in Chinese. 三八妇女节 is also what I often use to help my Physics students memorise the speed of light. 
• Also due to my teaching background, I really enjoy having a pie on Pi Day which PM Lee also commemorated (here and here)! 
• I also particularly appreciate the existence of International Day of Happiness since happiness and joy really eluded me for a period of time. 
• Just yesterday, I found out the existence of World Wildlife Day, International Day of Forests and World Water Day which I think are not having the right level of attention to their significance in our current state of environmental crisis. 

However, the most significant day of this month has to be my wedding anniversary. A date I specifically picked to coincide with the day I first met my husband. And celebrate we did! With a relatively extravagant staycation at The Capitol Kempinski. This short getaway from home when borders are closed had been a great change of scene and a real pampering treat too!

Well, there is still one more (heartwrenching) date of significance for me coming up this month. I wonder if the tears will fall again when I think of Mr LKY.

The Proposal

So this happened today.

Honestly, if someone asked me if I will ever get married 5 years ago, the answer would have been a resounding "no". I was such a happy swinging single then, comfortable with my own company and ready for adventure wherever and whenever. Sure, I wanted companionship and even yearned for a special someone to spend my life with.. but marriage to me was non-essential. I was even a little anti-marriage - why do I need a piece of certificate to cement my relationship with the right one?

Thus, the fact that Axel was not keen on marriage was in fact one of the reasons I was attracted to him. Finally, I don't have to date someone who already had the objective of getting married in mind. I don't want to be a duty-fulfilling, child-bearing solution for someone. You want to date me then put that focus on me and us. That probably was the main reason why my dates with men were mostly doomed from the beginning.

Besides our opinion on marriage, Axel and I shared quite some common views and interests. We were pretty happy and contented the way we were but I guess life happens. Unfortunately, life consists of more than just us in our happy bubble, it encompasses interaction with family, friends, society and law and all that stuff which I prefer to distance myself from. But bit by bit, my resistance to the idea of marriage got chipped away that one morning while on holiday last year, as if inspired by a dream, I woke up and decided that 090918 was a beautiful date to get married on.

So apparently, although I was most definitely NOT the one to bring up marriage between the two of us, I was the one who had proposed marriage to my fiance. [He very smugly reminded me today.] Some of my well-meaning friends had previously suggested hello kitty themed proposals to him and personally I would have preferred a flash mob proposal with the man joining in in the dancing before popping the question but... after months of reacting adversely whenever he brought the m-word up, I just decided that if we are to do it, it should at least be done on a unique date.

I can never forget how a friend-and-ex-suitor once related to me that he was getting married. It was a shotgun and there was no proposal and they "decided on this course of action". I remember that moment quite precisely that I shuddered at the thought of a seemingly loveless union. It certainly reinforced my belief that marriage was not for me. How very ironic that my own marriage now is also somewhat the outcome of rational consideration for the pros of marriage.

But wouldn't you agree? that 090918 is a beautiful date?? 9 has always been my favourite number.. in Mandarin it also sounds like "久" which means lasting and who wouldn't want that for their relationship?! I was just that little bit sorry when I didn't had anyone to form a union with on 090909 but hey! 09 + 09 = 18... how perfect right! but alas that date can't be mine. Oh well, our final choice of date is even more special =)

Although marriage is certainly on the cards now, we both still preferred a simple affair without the usual and traditional and often extravagant rituals so I was genuinely surprised when Axel told me he wanted me to have an engagement ring. Venus Tears was actually my suggestion and although I don't really care for diamonds but this bling-bling - I can stare at it all day - especially after finding out how much thought he put into it. Who cares that he didn't get down on one knee....

I AM ENGAGED!