Last Month of Last Year

First week: Searching for a Christmas tree in the fascinating and suffocating streets of Chinatown.

Second week: Finalizing the necessary preparations to receive an old friend who came from far away to spend the holidays with me.

Third week: I found a hand-written message left for me at work that said "Mr. ****** called you from ****** and left this telephone number****-**********". I knew  someone with that name more than 20 years ago. He was an old friend and life drifted us apart. I called back and it was him. I was curious how he could get my number but did not like to ask the question because I thought it might sound a bit rude. We had a warm conversation and exchanged our latest news. At the end he answered the unasked question. It turned out that a strange coincidence led him to read a copy of a work-related letter that mentioned my name. This letter was, funnily enough, posted by someone by mistake in a discussion group in Facebook! Very amusing.

Fourth week: I re-read an old post written in this blog in early 2012 under the title "2012, love me please" and I thought as much as I was loved in 2012, some of my close family and friends were hated. My country also suffered a lot and witnessed depressing setbacks. What should I wish then for 2013? A happier year for those who suffered in 2012? A less dim future for a country that burns everyday the bridges to its beautiful past? Another loving 2013? Many wishes, but very small is that "perch in the soul".