Aggie Wants to Know # 4: Who am I?

I am a self-confessed Aggie wants to Know fan. I am one lazy blogger (hahaha!) but this tag/meme got the best of me. I am hooked so here I am again heee! Everyone's very busy downstairs (as it hubby's big 3-0 celebration, the caterers are busy setting up) but here I am, finishing this entry. Bad. Bad. Pardon my entry. I am in a hurry. Sorry Aggie if this is not the best. I promise to make this close to being the best :)

The photos were taken a few minutes ago. I have so many recent photos in my camera but in all occasions, I was with someone else (Hubby, Lizzie, friends...). I am not really fond of taking photo taken solo so this is the best that I can share :)

What can I tell you about myself that is not yet in my blog? Hmmmm...

I am 30 and loving it. I grew up without my mom. She left for the US when I was 5 and I was left in the care of my dad and maternal lola. I have a brother who is 4 years older than me. We were taught to fend for ourselves early in life. My brother had a hard time. I didn't. That explains my independence to this day. Even in the absence my mom, I didn't feel as if I didn't have a mother. She would call everyday and write long letters. I first learned to read because of her letters for me. Even without seeing me and my brother, she knows our shoe sizes or my waist line or my brother's height or my weight. Perhaps, dad includes that in their taped conversations or in his letters. She's still there, this time with my dad. You may be wondering why we didn't follow. The petition papers came very late. We were already over 21. But no regrets, I love my life now.

The relationship I have with my brother is one for the books. Because we know that we only have each other, we depended on each other while growing up. He was overly protective of me that I hated his strictness when I was in my awkward stage. I was never allowed to entertain boys. I was never allowed to date. I was never allowed to go out. Until I turn 18. That was his only plea.

Before meeting the one person I was willing to share the rest of my life with, I was everywhere. Everywhere meaning I had my share of the biggest humps and bumps -- lovelife-wise. I was bruised a few times and that made me the strong woman that I am today. I am at a point where I can say I am finally home. I am settled and each time I think about it, I look back to the people who have touched my life in one way or the other -- my mom first of all, my dad who did good in being a mom to us, my big bro, my grade 4 teacher who became my personal adviser...

I wish to protect Lizzie from the humpy and bumpy road that I treaded. But I also wish for her to get her strength from me. I am strong because of all the experiences. Leave me alone in the middle of Timbuktu and I can still find my way home.

I am Farah. I am 30. A mother. A wife. A daughter. A sister. A friend. I am complete. I am me.