BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION FOR “ATE” GIRLIE

By Naty Ocampo Cristi

We celebrated Girlie's birthday on November 29, 2012. The aroma of good food led us to a fine restaurant in Brampton, Ontario named WOK OF FAME. The place is famous for its Chinese and Japanese cuisine, complete with Tepanyaki where people line up for tender, juicy steaks, crisp Tilapia and veggies. So, who is this grand dame, this gregarious lady who treated us to this fine place? Why, it's our very own "Ate" Girlie of course! When it comes to fine dining, she is our version of the "Pied Piper of Hamelin", the only one who could lead us to excellent eating places at the snap of her fingers! I've known Girlie since our JASMS school days, practically grew up with her and literally "floated" with her in the swimming pool of PWU (come to think of it, did we ever learn to swim, Girlie?). Apart from her striking, big dark eyes perhaps she was best known for her height. Oh, yes. She was the tallest in the class then, and still the tallest in our group now. To formally introduce you to this fine lady that we all know as "Ate" Girlie: First, she is someone who knows how to treat a friend. She is close but not clingy; direct but not cruel; chic and yet simple. She treats people equally the same - no bragging, no need to outshine anybody. She can laugh at herself and doesn't hesitate to laugh the loudest and roll with gusto at your jokes. She gives good advice whenever her friends need it. She is "Miss Manners" and "Ann Landers" personified. You can't go wrong with a friend like her. Girlie comes from a loving, close knit family. She and her older brother took over when their parents died. What I've seen in their relationship as a family is quite enviable. All siblings living in one happy, rollicking house. All brothers and sisters adore her. I can just imagine the laughter that emanate from their house, what with Girlie and her siblings possessing a gift, the gift of humor. It is also this gift that draws all of us to her. She is the friend with a little girl's name who has the heart of a gentle giant. We're so fortunate to share this part of the globe with her, and it is comforting to know that we shall endure once more our long winter months, because we have a friend whose love and laughter never fail to warm us. Happy Birthday, dear friend, please --- don't ever change. Naty