Forever Friends, or something really cheesy like that

This year has been pretty incredible.
One of its biggest theme seemed to be Friends.

I started out this year depressed wondering what i had done by switching over from secure public job to crazy humanitarian work. It was a terrible start to the year. Too much questioning, too little faith.

I was completely disillusioned with people in the humanitarian field - so much hypocrisy, so little action, too many still dying and diseased while people feed off their misery through fat paychecks, gala dinners and global conferences. All glam, few results.

Didn't want to be a part of it all. It would have been the road to perdition.

but didn't know where else to go.

Then a Friend came along out of the blue and shoved me into my present organisation. I was so skeptical at first because it was not what i had envisioned for myself but this Friend was such a Friend she didnt give up until i was a part of it. Because she actually said "I know you. Trust me."

And now that i'm here, i cannot be more grateful. Thank you A.

And to the Other Friend who convinced me that the Other Road was the Wrong Road and who insisted that better things were waiting. And today she is Right. Thank you Z.

Also to H, who touched me deeply - and who continues to touch me deeply always by his words and his actions that are so genuinely selfless and who has my interests so much at heart it leaves me stunned. Thank you H.

Then I met my Clients. Who have enriched and coloured my world in ways they will never know. And give me a reason to get up in the morning and say - who on earth will i meet today, what are their stories, and how can we help?

And then I discovered my Crazy Colleagues. Where else can you meet a ex-deejay, theologian, ex-yoga instructor, metrosexual, women activists, human rights activists, ex-air stewardess, ex-journalists, ex-banking lawyers all in the same space, working for the same cause. People passionate about Balkan and Hebrew music, the Pink Martini, meditation and crystals, Kahlil Gibran and Jesus Christ. People who listen to Hula renditions of the Negaraku and recount bar fights with relish.

And possibly the only people whose daily conversations are full of accounts relating to rape, torture, deceit, abandonment, rage and frustration.

Working for bosses who insist on singing anthems first thing in the morning, who talk about auras and Tibetan prayer flags in the same breath as organisational goals, and who lap-dance with no inhibition during year-end parties.

People whom i have shared some of my most exciting and inspirational moments with. While getting paid for it at the same time. I have never felt so alive in a job before.

God i Love Them All. Thank you for renewing my faith in people and in the path i chose.

More renewals of:

....ties with an old family friend i had lost touch with for the longest time. Thank you M, for re-entering my life, strengthening my friendship with Mum, introducing me to LH and F and for the evening teas and gorgeous dinners.

....ties with a person whom i loved so dearly but had lost. Am just glad she's back. And looking forward to better things ahead.

.....and ties with rara and azuradec, who i adore! Here's to more good times in 2006. Thanks for having me back into your lives.

Then of course, there are the Gaggle of Girls. This year i believe we consolidated our grouping further, added 'honourary' members, and strengthened support for each other.

And while there were spectacular disagreements that showed up our true colours, the real test of Being a Friend is to accept that people are different, and to love them for all of what they are even if you don't agree with how they do things.

Because you Believe in their Person. And you're just really happy they're still your Friends.

Tributes -

A special mention must go out to my therapist:

I don't know what I would do without you. I don't know how you put up with me but am glad that you do. You saved me from myself so many times. And i hope you'll stick around with me for a long time because i will always need you. And maybe someday i can actually do something for you in return. Thank you S.

Thank You Inconditus for lighting up a room just by being in it and you make me happy just by your presence. And i know i can count on you babe.

Thank you Lita for being the friend everyone can depend on, for teaching me to have joy in the smallest of things and adding value to my life. I also had a spectacular holiday.

Thank you TheBody for appreciating and accepting me for the deranged person that i am and for still being my friend, and for giving me a bear hug everytime you see me

Thank you TheRose for introducing me to the sexy art of Belly Dancing (forever grateful) and for all the cool suggestions you always seem to come up with so we all have a really good time

Thank you Fazu for enriching all our lives by being so supportive and part of the group. Life is so much more fun with you and Ayah Cha around. Thanks also for taking time out to help me start this blog. This blog exists because of you.

This is beginning to sound like the bloody Oscars. So will stop.

I just owe it to a lot of people for helping through the year. And it was a damn good year.