My best friend sent me a message "Happy New Year 2023A", I was confused and asked her what that meant but I think she had slept off by the time I replied at 2 am. It is just my luck that I seem to spend most of my New Year's eve at my workplace and last night it was for an atypical reason as I was supposed to be post-call. I had a tasty meal of red bean curd 3-layered pork with organic cabbage leaves and bulls-eye eggs and washed my meal down with my favorite Hoegarden Rose. I was also enjoying some clips of my favorite actress - Dilraba Dilmurat on YouTube and was planning to have a video call with my Loved ones to welcome the New Year. Somehow my colleague called at 2230 and since I was postcall I was worried if there were any problems with my passover and decided to call back (my phone goes into auto sleep mode after 2130 and therefore I never noticed the call). My college wanted my help to get vascular access for a 3-month-old, 7.2kg infant as the infant was supposed to be sedated for cerebral protection but there was no vascular access. My immediate reaction was "Okay, I will be there" without giving a second thought, and notified my spouse that I am on my way back to the hospital and asked him to proceed to bed and not to wait for me.
I felt a little bad for not counting down with my spouse as he was pretty sleepy at 2200 but told me he would try his best to stay awake just so we could welcome 2024 together. Anyway, he made me feel better when his reply was "Helping others is more important, go ahead". This is the kind of support that I need and I am glad he is not the average spouse who would probably get disappointed or discourage me from going back. The only thing that worried me was the dark 300-meter road that I would be using and my house owner was also surprised I was going out so late. Again, I felt supported when my house owner texted me "Do let me know if you have any difficulties on your way to the hospital". It was 2300 by the time I arrived at the hospital and I was full of positive energy and confidence that I could finish the work within less than an hour and make it for the countdown. However, things did not go as how I visualized. Both me and my colleague struggled to get vascular access and the infant was like a worm moving its limbs (sorry worms have no limbs). After 45 minutes we decided to give up and I was like "It's gonna be New Year!". Our next decision was a better one as we decided to bring the infant into the operating theater give the child some sleeping gas and attempt to insert an internal jugular double-lumen catheter.
As 0000, 2024 arrived, I think about the kaffir lime leaves that I purposely bought from the store to boil and shower with to wash away the "bad luck" and have lots of good luck. I could only hold the single kaffir leaf I brought with me in my pocket (someone I know I would not make it back home in time) and wish myself a great 2024. To cut the story short we managed to get the job done smoothly in the theater and by the time I got home it was 0140. I quickly boiled the concoction for my shower and had a nice warm shower feeling nostalgic with the aroma as my dad will always boil a huge pot of kaffir leaves for me every time I am post-call and it is a great feeling to smell zesty. I replied to all my friends and family who wished me late and I was puzzled by "2023A". I slept at 0230 after 2 rounds of Gunbound (I am no longer addicted and have been able to play less now) and in the morning I finally understood what is 2023A. Basically, the number 4 is unlucky for some, especially in Asian countries the lifts or housing number will not have the number 4 and it is replaced by other numbers or skipped entirely. I totally forgot this superstition as number 4 has always been my lucky number.
I saw some memes created regarding 2023A and I find it funny, I can imagine how 2024 would feel - pretty offended to have no recognition of its existence. Anyway, I did not make a lot of resolutions but there is one thing that I would like to achieve this year - my running goals and passing the exam. I have also come to terms that I brought leftover work into this year - my second thesis write-up. Since the place I live now does not celebrate New Year (it is pretty weird and today is a work day), I decided to feel the New Year by wearing a new pair of earrings (which was part of my Christmas gift). It is my first time wearing ring-type earrings and I think it looks really good because a number of my colleague noticed and gave their compliments. It feels nice to be complimented and it made me feel warm knowing that the selection was made by my spouse. I excitedly reported to him that his taste for earrings is excellent and in the future, he will be helping me to select earrings. Come to think of it I am a lucky wife and I should put more focus in being the ideal wife myself.
I am finally at peace with all the happenings in my life for the last 365days and to quote the German poet, Ludwig Jacobowski - "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened".
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