faata pasta

The only classmate I’ve kept in contact with since graduating high school is a girl named Melanie Unitt. Looking back on it, I really don’t know how we became friends, because apart from biology, we did totally different subjects!
I can’t remember how they found out I’d been struck down by the brain tumour, but I remember Mrs. Unit and Mel coming to visit me in BIRU more than once.
However, the last time I saw Mel, after they let me out of the insane asylum (better known as the Princess Alexandra hospital XD), was back in 2009! See, for my birthday in 2010, mother had forbidden me to contact Mel, even though Mel actually tried ringing us to arrange lunch or something; then, for her birthday, my most beloved grandma had passed away with lung cancer and we’d rushed back to Hong Kong for the funeral. Then, come Christmas, mother for some reason again wouldn’t let me contact Mel. 2011 was a repeat story. Both for my birthday and Mel’s birthday, mother wouldn’t let me contact her. Dunno why. *sigh* but when Christmas 2011 came around, and I sent my Xmas greetings around to Mel, she responded with, “hey, I’m free on the 9th of January to catch up, how about you?”
Well, of course I was! Better yet, mother works on Saturdays, meaning I’d be free to have lunch and catch-up with Mel and her mum without any hindrances. XD
Mel lives in whoop whoop (okay, maybe not whoop whoop precisely, but out browns plains way and then some XD), so I asked could we please meet at the springwood Fasta Pasta.
We decided to meet at 12:45pm, and dad tootled me there, us bidding an early farewell to Tess (my Saturday morning carer).
When we arrived, Mel and Mrs. Unit hadn’t arrived yet, so we just took a seat and waited for them, browsing the menu.
When they arrived, dad stood up to greet them, and I hissed at him, “Dad, call Mrs. Unit ‘Cheryl”. XD
Hugs ensued all around. Like I said, I haven’t seen Mel since 2009!
Afterwards, dad took his leave of us, telling me, “just ring me when you leave.” Lol, mother had told me that also! Who would I ring first, then?
Instead, we turned our attention onto the menu, and we all decided that we’d get the lunch special: one small pizza/pasta plus one small dessert. I went for my favourite fettucine cabonara and added chicken, Mrs. Unit had lasagne and Mel chose pizza. The margarita one, I think.
When Mrs. Unit went to order, I asked Mel to please walk behind me to the loo once, where I managed fine by myself, also letting era open the tap lotsa times. Back at the table, I tried to pay back Mrs. Unit for my meal, but she wouldn’t have any of it! “You already gave Mel a Christmas present, remember?” she laughed.
We also shared one plate of cheesy garlic bread, yum. When our mains arrived, I tipped the salt shaker and parmesan cheese over my plate fifteen times each. Mel and Mrs. UnitT did likewise (dunno how many times, though; I didn’t count).
While we ate, we yakked away. I apologised to Mel that mother hadn’t allowed me to contact her over my birthday nor Christmas, and that for her birthday we’d gone back to Hong Kong for my most beloved maternal grandmother’s funeral. Mel told me that she’s gonna go over to work in Afghanistan sometime mid this year! At first, I was worried that she’d get blown into smithereens, but she reassured me that she worked with the radios and wouldn’t be in any danger whatsoever, phew. As for her brothers, one’s gone interstate to work. They’ve still got their old dog Rusty, but have also acquired another female puppy!
I’ve never considered myself a very slow eater (Fiona So, that title belongs to you XD) but why is it that every single Australian that I know eats faster than me? Meaning Mel and Mrs. Unitt gobbled up their meals in no time flat, then sat and watched me eat while we talked! XD
Also, I’ve developed this really strange habit … does anyone know why, often towards the end of a meal, I’ll suddenly start sneezing and my stupid nose will start leaking? Well, that happened this afternoon, so much thanks to Mel who grabbed me some serviettes.
And finally, when I’d finished, ‘twas time to order dessert! There were several to choose on the list, and I couldn’t decide! XD luckily, Mrs. Unitt chose the sticky date pudding for me, and wowee, was it yummy! It came with one scoop of vanilla ice-cream and some kinda syrup, and the waiter who placed it in front of me even warned me, “be careful, it’s hot.” Mrs. Unit had the chocolate mousse with the peanuts that mother had last time she ate there, while Mel just chose two scoops of chocolate ice-cream with chocolate topping. The funny thing was while Mel and Mrs. Unitt gobbled up their meals in record time, leaving me to enjoy my pasta slowly strand by strand while we all kept yakking, Mel must’ve really savoured her ice-cream! I mean, I finished my dessert and asked Mrs. Unit to please walk behind me once more to the loo, but when we got back, mel was STILL eating! XD
But she eventually finished, and we yakked for awhile longer, before Mrs. Unitt said she had to leave soon to pick up one of the boys. I rang dad, who came to pick me up.
We all walked out to our Camry together; hugs were exchanged. They wished me an awesome trip back to Hong Kong, and Mel says I can find them in March for lunch/dinner to celebrate my birthday!
All in all, an awesome catch-up. :)
Next post here … woah, I’ve got at least two waiting to be blogged about! Firstly, there’s the movie Warhorse that some carer/life coach/support worker/whatever they’re called now :P took me out to see on Tuesday that I’ve gotta post a review of, and secondly, it’s our monthly book club tonight! Well, cya toms, if I can get my act into gear! XD
Cheers,
Em. ^^