Love is Art

J:

Stands for the power of secret thinking and the art of making wishes come true. Ever the intrepid traveller, she will fly to faraway destinations, even if it is just for the sake of doing nothing in particular with a few like-minded friends. Lover of straight talk and sound advice dished out in the form of bitter medicine, J will quicken your step with ninja impersonations (in Japan's most sacred shrine no less) and offers to carry your luggage in her gigantic silver Jac-in-the-Box.

She swept in and out of our days like a summer typhoon (J would insist her stay was more like that of a sperm whale but i really dont see the connection), colouring our trip with bats of her kohl-lined lids and her take on love, life and friendship.

Some things, however, dont ever change. like how J would still want to hurry back to the hotel to wash her hair even though it is now shortly cropped, or how we all try to look for yomogay in japanese bakeries.

XY:

Stands for "lean-on-me-i-will-take care-of-you" rock of gilbrator-worthy reliablity dressed with a healthy dose of mothering. i heeded her advice and turned off my inner GPS, content with following her stride.

her love of all things strawberry is cleverly juxtaposed against a nearly all-black ensemble and dark nail polish, but a quick look at her dressing table revealed what i always knew. pink cheek tint, berry lipgloss, Daisy perfume.

there is a girl in XY, and her feet will be swept off the ground by a man who knows and sees her for the person that she really is. XY only needs to believe.

R:

Stands for sheer gumption and the ability to deal with personal contingencies that is impossible for me to summon. hokkaido might be cold and sometimes unfeeling, but R's laughter is really the kind that would melt even the hardest of stones.

R is really not as clumsy as she thinks she is, although love for one's husband is best practised with a lot of care and caution. the next time a snowy mountain beckons, R really needs to tell herself that she will go home safe and happy.

R couldnt join us on our trip, but we thought of her every step of the way. hope she liked the package we sent her.

The Four of Us:

Stands for comic tension, endless conversation, blankets of comfort and rose-tinted friendships.

Love is indeed Art.