it's funny how associations get started. a while back, someone taught me to use the "alt" ES keys to get to the drop down menus in Office. before that, i'd always just used my mouse. now, everytime i want to paste special, and i invoke the "alt" ES key command, he comes to mind. memories work in funny ways sometimes. i wonder if anyone out there associates me with something like that. actually, i probably wouldn't want to know.

those of you who have visited hong kong will understand when i say it is a frenetic place. everything here is fast paced and upbeat. it is a city of motion - perhaps also a city that never sleeps.

there are however, a few pockets where there is relative calm. case in point - the marine department.

tomorrow we leave on a yacht race to the philippines. in anticipation of this, i submitted all port clearance forms two weeks ago. yesterday, i received a phone call telling me that our boat licence had expired and that i needed to renew it before they could clear us out of port.

so on a random wednesday morning, when i am supposed to be at work, i am instead sitting in the marine department. the atmosphere here is an oasis of calm. i am not sure if it is because sailors have an innate ability to be patient (i doubt it) or if civil servants just lead a more relaxed life. whatever the case, i feel as if everything has gone into slow motion. they walk slowly, they talk slowly and they process papers slowly. unbeliveably, although i have been sitting here waiting for the last 45 minutes, i am not too agitated. in fact, the word that comes to mind is "chill". who knew this was such a good place to spend a wednesday morning?

i realised today that i collect words like other girls collect jewels. instead of diamonds and rubies, it is a kind word or compliment that brings a smile to my face. perhaps it is the idea that someone has taken the time to select a certain word or phrase and gifted it to me.

i like the way letters can be strung together to create sounds that have meaning. i like the way words roll around in my mouth and invoke images in my head. i like how carefully chosen words can convey thoughts and feelings, even across great distances.

there are special people in my life, whose words i treasure greatly. these words, i store in a safe place so that i can take them out and examine them again and again, delighting in their ability to elicit a smile from me every time.

There are sparkles of rain on the bright
Hair over your forehead;
Your eyes are wet and your lips
Wet and cold, your cheek rigid with cold.
Why have you stayed
Away so long, why have you only
Come to me late at night
After walking for hours in wind and rain?
Take off your dress and stockings;
Sit in the deep chair before the fire.
I will warm your feet in my hands;
I will warm your breasts and thighs with kisses.
I wish I could build a fire
In you that would never go out.
I wish I could be sure that deep in you
Was a magnet to draw you always home.